Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
OVERVIEW: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences supports projects that encourage filmmaking, screenwriting, promotion of the film industry, filmmaking education and a general appreciation of motion pictures.
IP TAKE: The organization behind the Oscars — arguably the most prestigious awards in the entertainment industry — makes a handful of grants a year focusing on screen writing and film. It is accessible in it’s areas of grantmaking, but bureaucratic and not particularly approachable.
It has been noted that the Academy struggles with inclusion and transparency. While the Academy has implemented new membership quotas, as well as inclusion guidelines through its Academy Aperature 2025 initiative, it remains to be seen how this new commitment will evolve into policy or grantmaking.
PROFILE: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was established in 1927 as the brainchild of Louis B. Mayer, along with other influential members of the film industry. It is most widely known as the organization that hosts the Oscars and presents the Academy Awards each year. As an organization, the Academy seeks to “recognize and uphold excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences, inspire imagination and connect the world through the medium of motion pictures.” It makes grants to support projects that encourage filmmaking, screenwriting, promotion of the film industry, filmmaking education and a general appreciation of motion pictures.
Grants for Film
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences currently has three grant funding areas. FilmWatch grants support film festivals, film societies and other organizations featuring curated screening programs in North America. The Academy prioritizes funding for programs “that create culturally diverse viewing experiences, promote motion pictures as an art form, provide a platform for underrepresented artists and cultivate new and dedicated audiences for theatrical film.”
FilmCraft grants support educational programs that promote burgeoning filmmakers with “nontraditional backgrounds.” The grants prioritize programs that encourage film appreciation and programs that allow for hands-on learning. Funded programs include craft workshops, artist residencies, and training programs. FilmCraft only supports nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations with a minimum three-year history with film programs. Academy Film Scholars grants support established film scholars seeking to complete a new work of film scholarship. Applicants must have at least one published book. The Academy prioritizes proposals that examine underrepresented elements of the film industry.
Grants for Writing
Created in 1985, the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition funds up to five screenwriting fellowships of $35,000. Only amateur screenwriters, who have not earned more than $25,000 writing for film or television, are eligible.
Applicants must submit a feature length screenplay, the entry fee and complete the online application to apply. The submitted screenplay should be between 70 and 160 pages; however, the foundation strongly suggests the true page count should range from 80 to 125 pages, and “scripts exceeding 125 pages may have their length counted against them.” Applicants are allowed to submit up to 3 scripts in a grant cycle. The Academy asks finalists to write to the fellowship committee explaining “the writer’s personal and professional interests” if selected. View past grantees here and winning scripts here.
Important Grant Details:
PEOPLE:
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