Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

GFI Grant Deadline Sep 15

By Cyndi Greening. Phoenix, Arizona USA (Cinema Minima) — The Global Film Initiative announced the grant recipients for their 2005 Funding Cycle. Filmmakers telling stories in such locations as Iran, China, Congo/Senegal, Palestine, Lebanon, Chile and Argentina received up to $10,000 to complete their films.

The NEXT Grant Deadline is September 15. (Follow this link to the guidelines and application forms in English, Spanish and French.) The stated mission of the GFI is to promote cross-cultural understanding through the medium of cinema. The Initiative will be awarding 10-20 grants of up to $10,000 per year. These funds are made available to filmmakers once the Initiative selection committee evaluates applicants’ scripts and early footage of their films. The Initiative supports films that promise artistic excellence, exhibit accomplished storytelling and offer American audiences a variety of cultural perspectives on daily life around the world. The Initiative also seeks films that substantially contribute to the development of local film industries. Filmmakers use monies received from the Initiative to complete initial production and to pay for post-production costs, such as laboratory fees, sound mixing and access to modern editing systems.

In addition to the Grants program, the Global Film Initiative has Acquisition, Distribution and Education programs.