Artist Development FAQs

General

Do you fund series or shorts?

At this time, SFFILM only funds feature-length fiction and documentary films, and does not have funds available for series, pilots, or shorts.
What are the differences between Rainin and Westridge? Can I apply to both?

The Rainin Grant is a narrative feature grant that supports projects focused on themes of social justice in the screenwriting, development, and post-production stages. In addition to a cash grant of up to $25,000, recipients secure a 2-month residency at FilmHouse and benefit from SFFILM’s comprehensive and dynamic artist development programs. The Rainin Grant welcomes filmmakers in the US and internationally who can commit to spending time developing the film in San Francisco. The Westridge Grant is a narrative feature grant that supports projects focused on themes of social issues and questions of our time in the screenwriting stage only. In addition to financial support, grantees receive guidance through peer engagement, feedback, and artistic development from SFFILM, the Westridge Foundation and a dedicated screenwriting advisor. There are no residency requirements for this grant. The Westridge Grant welcomes filmmakers whose stories take place in the United States. Eligible projects can apply to both funds at the same time for the same stage, but a project can only receive one grant per stage. (For example, you could not receive a Rainin screenwriting grant and a Westridge screenwriting grant, but you could receive a Westridge Screenwriting grant one year and a Rainin development grant the following year.)
Do I need to live in the Bay Area or does my story need to be set in the Bay Area to receive funding?

No. We support a diverse group of filmmakers and projects both locally and internationally that tell universal stories. Each grant opportunity has different requirements and we encourage all applicants to read through the prerequisites before applying.
Do I need a fiscal sponsor to receive an SFFILM grant?

No. We can transfer the funds to our grant winners directly.
I saw that some of your funding is “by invitation only.” How do I receive an invitation?

Any opportunities that are open by invitation only are generally curated from applications we’ve received for our grant programs. Submitting an application to one of our grant programs is the best way to make sure that you and your project are on our radar for all opportunities.

Rainin Grant

Do I need to live in the Bay Area?

The SFFILM Rainin grant is open to applicants who live anywhere in the U.S. or internationally. The stories can be set anywhere in the world.
What stages does the Rainin grant support?

Rainin supports films in the screenwriting stage, development/packaging, and post-production.
How much funding can I request?

Screenwriting and development grants can be up to $25,000. For post-production grants, if you intend to spend the money outside of the Bay Area, you can request up to $40,000. If you plan on spending at least half of the grant on post services in the Bay Area, you can request up to $50,000.
Is there a budget cap?

Yes, the film’s budget must be below $3 million.
What are acceptable uses of the funds?

For the screenwriting stage, the funds are awarded to the writer or writer/director and can be used for cost of living expenses and childcare while the filmmaker works on the project. Filmmakers have also used the funds for research trips, consultants, and table reads. For the development stage, the funds are awarded to the producer and should be spent on parts of the development process such as casting agents, location scouts, and/or lookbooks. As of 2019, up to 40% of the awarded funds can be used to create a proof-of-concept, mood reel, or a closely related short film if the producer feels that this is the best use of those funds to unlock additional support for the film. For post-production, you should clarify which elements of post-production you would like to put the grant towards.
Which phase should I apply for?
Applicants should apply for the phase of production they expect to be in around 6-months after the final submission deadline. Phases are as follows:
- Screenwriting Grant: These grants are open to filmmakers anywhere in the US, as well as internationally, and range between $15,000 and $25,000. The funds allow filmmakers to devote dedicated time to furthering their work, and the grant includes a two-month FilmHouse residency in the Bay Area to further develop the screenplay, and have access to both peer and established mentorship engagement. The screenplay must explore issues pertaining to social justice.
- Development Grant: These grants are up to $25,000 for Bay Area-based producers tackling social justice issues OR producers who demonstrate a need to relocate to the Bay Area to develop and package their films, including a minimum of a two-month FilmHouse residency with peer and established mentorship engagement. Non-Bay Area-based producers may apply, if willing to relocate to the Bay Area for the majority of this six-month granting cycle. The development grant continues the organization’s commitment to producers in film through financial and artist development support. Please note: the Rainin Development grant is almost exclusively designed for productions shooting in the Bay Area.
- Post-production Grant: These grants are up to $40,000 for films that are looking to spend the funds outside of the Bay Area, and up to $50,000 for films looking to do all or some of the post-production in the Bay Area (edit, sound mix, color, etc.). This stage supports films with an exceptional commitment to social justice. Projects should have significant creative work remaining in the editorial process or have a specific need related to sound or color in post-production. There is NO Bay Area residency commitment is required for this stage.
- Post-Production Loan: A new discretionary loan for filmmakers in post-production that will sit in second position to equity investors. Open to any previous recipient or alum following the first day of production. Please contact SFFILM Makers staff at grants@sffilm.org to learn more.
Is there a limit to the number of times I can apply?

A filmmaker can apply twice per project stage with the same project. (i.e. two times for screenwriting, two times for post-production, etc.)
The application asks how my project uplifts the Bay Area filmmaking community. I do not live there and my film is not set there. What are the expectations?

Projects and filmmakers do not have to be rooted in the Bay Area in order to apply. However, we ask applicants to consider how they can best both learn from and give back to the Bay Area filmmaking community to reach their goals. This can be done by shooting in the Bay Area, participating and hosting talks and events at Filmhouse during the residency, or connecting with local communities or resources within the Bay Area, among other contributions.
What is the residency? Is it mandatory?

All filmmakers applying for the screenwriting and development/packaging stage must complete a residency period of eight weeks. The 8 weeks do not need to be contiguous, and can be completed in 2-week trips. The residency does not include living arrangements, but is an open workspace at SFFILM’s FilmHouse office. The residency includes peer-to-peer engagement with SFFILM’s year-round residents and feedback sessions, one-on-one meetings with expert advisors working in various sectors of the film industry, space to work from including a quiet screenwriting room and editing suite, year-round programming including talks, workshops, table reads, and work-in-progress screenings, and support from SFFILM’s Artist Development team.
I don’t live in the Bay Area and am not shooting there. Can I still apply for the development/packaging grant?

While the Rainin grant is open internationally, because there is a requirement of eight non-contiguous weeks spent in the Bay Area, the development/packaging phase heavily favors projects shooting at least partially in the Bay Area so that filmmakers do not have to step away from their critical casting and location scouting work during this important time in a production’s lifecycle.
When are applicants notified?

All applicants will be notified of their status within four months of the final submission deadline.
What is the additional accessibility funding for Audio Descriptions and Closed Captioning?

In partnership with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and the SFFILM Disability Advisory Board, the Rainin grant is now offering up to $5,000 in additional funding to incorporate Audio Descriptions in the Screenwriting Phase or Audio Descriptions and/or Captioning in the Post-Production Phase. This is part of an effort for wider access and inclusion in film and is entirely opt-in for applicants.
Captioning and audio descriptions must be in accordance with the guidelines and/or common practices set forth by the American Council of the Blind and the National Association of the Deaf.

Westridge Grant

What stages does the Westridge grant support?

As of Fall 2019, Westridge supports films in the screenwriting stage that have at least one draft completed and that do not plan to start shooting within a year of the application deadline. Filmmakers should be committed to deepening the work on their screenplays and having a screenwriting mentor.
Do I need to live in the Bay Area?

The SFFILM Westridge grant is open to applicants internationally whose stories take place in the United States. There is no required residency period or mandatory travel to the Bay Area.
How many projects get funding? What amount are the grants?

Generally, five projects receive a grant during two cycles each year for a total of 10 projects annually. Each grant awarded is for $20,000.
Is there a budget cap?

Yes, the budget must be below $3 million.
What are acceptable uses of the funds?

For this screenwriting grant, the funds are awarded to the writer or writer/director and can be used for cost of living expenses and childcare while the filmmaker works on the project. Filmmakers have also used the funds for research trips, consultants, developing materials, and table reads, but the general expectation is that these funds can help offset some of the need to take on other freelance work or side projects to supplement their income and allow filmmakers time to solely focus on their scripts.
When are applicants notified?

All applicants will be notified of their status through the SFFILM grant platform within four months of the final deadline.

Doc Film Fund

Do I need to live in the Bay Area to be eligible for the SFFILM Doc Film Fund grant?

No. The SFFILM Doc Film Fund is open to filmmakers based anywhere in the U.S. or internationally.
What stage does this fund support?

The SFFILM Doc Film Fund supports feature-length documentaries in post-production. While we know the documentary production process is often nonlinear with various stages happening at the same time, films should be predominantly be in the post-production phase within six months of the final deadline.
What should my visual sample include?

We recommend sending 1-2 scenes so that the review committee can get a sense of the story and characters and if it can sustain a feature length film, your access to the central subjects, and the artistic voice and direction of the film. We recommend sending the scene(s) you feel most strongly portray these elements in lieu of a trailer. We understand the scenes will be in progress and do not expect them to be picture locked, color corrected, or finalized in any way. If you have a longer sample already cut, you are welcome to send that. If you send materials over 5 minutes, we cannot guarantee that the review committee will be able to watch more than the first five minutes of the materials you send. If you do not want the first five minutes to be watched, please include the timecode of the five minutes you would like the committee to watch.
What types of films does this fund support?

The SFFILM Doc Film Fund supports a range of films from around the world. Films do not have to have a strong social issue and most often do not have that at the center of the film. The fund supports documentaries that exhibit compelling stories, intriguing characters and an innovative visual approach. Recent examples of this include Honeyland, Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Midnight Family, The Feeling of Being Watched, Midnight Traveler, and Cutie and the Boxer.
How many projects are granted each year?

The Documentary Film Fund grants its support to approximately 4 projects each year with grants of $20,000.
When are applicants notified?

All applicants will be notified of their status through the SFFILM grant platform by mid-August.

FilmHouse Residency

Do I need to live in the Bay Area?

Yes, all residents must reside full-time in the Bay Area.
How many days a week should I plan to work from FilmHouse?

FilmHouse is open to residents at all times, but residents are required to work from FilmHouse at least two half-days each week when not shooting on their film.
Am I eligible if I have a full-time job?

Applicants who work Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm are not ideal candidates for this residency as 90% of the program takes place during these times. If you are still interested in coming to any programming we have in the evening, we recommend becoming an SFFILM member with a Filmmaker Add-On.
When are applicants notified?

Applicants will be notified of their status by mid-November.
Do you only support Feature-length Documentaries and Narratives?

The residency program supports filmmakers working on documentary, fiction, and hybrid feature-length films as well as shorts and episodics.

SFFILM Sloan Programs

Do I need to live in the Bay Area to be eligible for the SFFILM Sloan Fellowship?

No. SFFILM Sloan is open to filmmakers based anywhere in the U.S. or internationally.
What is the difference between the Sloan Fellowship and the Sloan Stories of Science Development Fund?

The Sloan Fellowship supports narrative features and series centered around scientific and technological themes in the screenwriting stage. Two fellows are selected annually and awarded cash grants of $35,000, a two-month FilmHouse residency, and a science advisor to support the scientific accuracy of the project.

The Sloan Stories of Science Development Fund awards a $10,000 cash grant to four filmmakers in the earliest stages of writing screenplays inspired by articles and discoveries from the Stories of Science Sourcebook. In addition to a cash grant, awardees must attend a two-day writer’s retreat at SFFILM FilmHouse. The Development Fund runs every other year and will resume in 2021.
Are science fiction films allowed to apply to the Sloan Fellowship or the Sloan Development Fund?

Science fiction films are defined as projects that incorporate fictional elements that expand beyond today’s scientific capabilities and are not eligible to apply for any of SFFILM’s Sloan opportunities.
What is the FilmHouse residency and is it mandatory?

All filmmakers selected for the Sloan Fellowship must complete a residency period of eight weeks. The 8 weeks do not need to be contiguous, and can be completed in 2-week trips. The residency does not include living arrangements, but is an open workspace at SFFILM’s FilmHouse office. The residency includes peer-to-peer engagement with SFFILM’s year-round residents and feedback sessions, one-on-one meetings with expert advisors working in various sectors of the film industry, space to work from including a quiet screenwriting room and editing suite, year-round programming including talks, workshops, table reads, and work-in-progress screenings, and support from SFFILM’s Artist Development team.
How much science does my film have to include to be eligible?

Eligible films for both Sloan opportunities must portray scientific or technological themes at their center that directly drive the story arc and/or character development forward. Films with peripheral scientific characters or ideas will not be competitive.
What is the Stories of Science Sourcebook? Will the articles included change between grant cycles?

The Stories of Science Sourcebook compiles compelling reported articles and momentous recent discoveries in the scientific and technological fields. Applicants must choose a story or discovery from the Sourcebook to apply for this grant. Filmmakers who are already working on similar stories may apply, but must still be in the early development stage and must not yet have a script draft. Articles and discoveries chosen for previous grant cycles will be removed from the sourcebook, and additional articles and discoveries will be added to reflect the ever changing scientific and technological landscape.
When will the Sloan Stories of Science Development Fund Reopen?

The Sloan Stories of Science Development Fund operates every two years and will reopen again in the Spring of 2021.
Are there other Sloan opportunities for filmmaking?

Yes! The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation offers many film grants through various organizations and universities across the country. You can find a complete offering through their Grants Database.