• Screenwriting Grant: These grants are open to filmmakers anywhere in the US, as well as internationally, and are up to $25,000. The funds allow filmmakers to devote dedicated time to furthering their work, and the grant includes a one 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 O. The development grant continues the organization’s commitment to producers in film through financial and artist development support
• 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 required for this stage.

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.

Yes, the film’s budget must be below $3 million.

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.

Rainin supports films in the screenwriting stage, development/packaging, and post-production.