SFFILM Rainin Grant

Overview

The SFFILM Rainin Grant program is the largest granting body for independent narrative feature films in the US. Grants support films that address social justice issues—the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges—in a positive and meaningful way through plot, character, theme, or setting and benefit the Bay Area filmmaking community in a professional and economic capacity.

Awards are made to multiple projects once a year in the fall, for screenwriting, development, and post-production. In addition to a cash grant of up to $25,000, recipients secure a two month residency at FilmHouse and benefit from SFFILM’s comprehensive and dynamic artist development programs.

The program is open to filmmakers in the US and internationally who can commit to spending time developing the film in San Francisco.Since 2009, the SFFILM Rainin Filmmaking Grants program has funded more than 100 film projects, including Fernando Frias’s I’m No Longer Here, Channing Godfrey Peoples’ Miss Juneteenth, Antoneta Kastrati’s Zana, Joe Talbot’s The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Nijla Mu’min’s Jinn, Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You, Reinaldo Marcus Green’s Monsters and Men, Jeremiah Zagar’s We the Animals, Chloé Zhao’s Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Destin Cretton’s Short Term 12, Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, and Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild. Supported films have premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, South by Southwest, the San Francisco International Film Festival, and the Tribeca Film Festival. Learn more about the Kenneth Rainin Foundation.

Current SFFILM Rainin Grants are as follows:

• 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 two-month FilmHouse residency in the Bay Area to further develop the screenplay, and have access to both peer and established mentorship engagement. In consideration of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, our goal is to hold this residency in person and require proof of vaccination, but we plan to make virtual accommodations for those who are unable to do so. The screenplay must explore issues pertaining to social justice.
• Development Grant: These grants are up to $25,000 for producers of narrative features tackling social justice issues who demonstrate a need to engage with the Bay Area to develop and package their films. The grant includes a two-month FilmHouse residency with peer and established mentorship engagement. In consideration of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, our goal is to hold this residency in person and require proof of vaccination, but we plan to make virtual accommodations for those who are unable to do so. Successful projects will be at a stage to pursue financing, casting, location scouting, and/or other key activities to package the film before production. Major screenwriting work should be complete by this stage. Please note: the Rainin Development grant primarily aims to support 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 required for this stage.

Evaluation Criteria

Applicant Criteria:

• Filmmakers must be at least 18 years old.
• Filmmakers may not be an SFFILM or Kenneth Rainin Foundation employee or member of any SFFILM or Kenneth Rainin Foundation Boards.
• Applicants must be actively engaged in one of the following phases: screenwriting, packaging, or post-production and should apply for the phase of production they expect to be in six months after the final submission deadline.
• All grant recipients and co-applicants must become SFFILM members at the Film Fan level or above prior to SFFILM distributing funds to the project.
• Filmmaker agrees to sign a contract with SFFILM.
• Primary applicants must be in a key creative role for the film: screenwriter, director or producer.
• All primary applicants in post production must be the writer and/or director. If there is a co-writer or producer they must be the co-applicant(s).
• Development grant applicants must have the primary applicant be the producer and the writer and/or director as co-applicant(s).
• Screenwriting applicants must be the writer and/or director. If there is a co-writer or producer they must be the co-applicant(s).
• Screenwriting applicants must reside in the Bay Area during the writing phase for a minimum of two non-contiguous months (no less than two weeks at a time). You may apply if you are co-writing a screenplay. In consideration of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, our goal is to hold this residency in person and require proof of vaccination, but we plan to make virtual accommodations for those who are unable to do so.
• Development applicants must reside in the Bay Area during the development phase for a minimum of two non-contiguous months (no less than two weeks at a time). In consideration of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, our goal is to hold this residency in person and require proof of vaccination, but we plan to make virtual accommodations for those who are unable to do so.
• Post-production applicants can do post production outside of the Bay Area. The post-production grant is most heavily weighted towards films that have a deep exploration of social justice. Please note: SFFILM has additional post-production funding available for alumni as last position loans. Please reach out to SFFILM staff for more details.

Project Criteria:

• Filmmakers can apply with each project a total of two times for the screenwriting and/or development phase, and one additional time for post-production when the project reaches that stage. If reapplying, significant progress should be made since your last application.
• Film must feature plot, character, theme and/or setting that explores social justice issues, such as human and civil rights, antidiscrimination, gender issues, sexual identity and/or other social issues of our time.
• Film must NOT be a documentary, short film, or episodic series.
• Project may not be work for hire.
• Film must be consistent with the SFFILM mission and represent an imaginative contribution to film.
• Project is vibrant, intelligent, original, moving and innovative and illustrates a sense of hopeful transformation or a movement towards positive social justice.
• Project has strong and recognizable social value, contributing, for example, to a greater public appreciation of a disenfranchised group, identifying an area where social change is needed or bringing to light a difficult or inspirational story, condition or issue.
• For more information about our grants and fellowships, visit our FAQ page.
• Project budgets shall be $3,000,000 or under including all phases of production.

Application Criteria:

• Filmmaker has clearly articulated their intended goals for the grant, how those accomplishments will be measured and what the next steps will be for the project.
• Applicant directly answers all questions on the application and does not go over the word count. Applications that go over the word count will be considered ineligible.

Grantee Responsibilities

Bay Area Support:

• Grant recipients agree to offer SFFILM a “first look” and first right of refusal—only for the Bay Area premiere—at SFFILM Festival and/or other SFFILM exhibition venues.
• Grant recipients are required to write an article or participate in an interview about your work for one or more publications.
• Grant recipients are required to lead a FilmHouse workshop or professional development course in your area of expertise.
• Grant recipients are required to meet with filmmakers to discuss work. Show a work-in-progress or present your project at an appropriate forum.
• Grant recipients are required to mentor or otherwise assist filmmakers who participate after you in these programs.
• Grant recipients are required to participate in community outreach activities around the issues addressed by the film.

Financial Stipulations:

• All grant funds are to be used solely for the purpose of supporting the project. Spending must be consistent with the budget submitted to SFFILM (screenwriting applicants excluded).
• Please provide updates to the budget as needed (screenwriting applicants excluded).
• If the grant represents 25% or more of the project budget, credit will be above-the-line.
• Filmmaker agrees to submit a progress report detailing how the funds were spent, and a new work sample at three and six months.
• Filmmaker agrees to submit a progress report detailing how the funds were spent.
• Funds must be spent directly in ways that support the Bay Area as outlined in the application guidelines, EXCEPT post-production grants which may be spent entirely outside of the Bay Area, if indicated on the application.
• Grant recipients will be required to submit a progress report and a new work sample after three months, and then again six months after the date of funds received.
• If you are unable to complete any of the requirements stated in your contract or application you must inform SFFILM in writing right away. It is possible if you become unable to adhere to the requirements of the grant the money may not be awarded or could be returned to SFFILM.

Additional Requirements:

• Upon completion, a copy of the film will be made available to SFFILM.
• Filmmaker shall provide acknowledgement to SFFILM in the film’s credits, in line with other funding partners.
• Offer SFFILM a “first look” and first right of refusal for potential Bay Area premiere at SFFILM Festival and/or other SFFILM exhibition venues. Please note: While we encourage filmmakers to apply to the SFFILM Festival, and SFFILM Makers project development program, winning a grant does not guarantee acceptance into any of the aforementioned programs.
• Filmmaker understands that SFFILM may issue a press release for the finalist and the winner phases of the grant review process. Unless otherwise specified for confidentiality reasons, the submitted bios and logline will be used in press releases.
• Filmmaking Grant winners are asked to help us in our marketing efforts by filling out a questionnaire and providing links to trailers and/or reviews. Unless otherwise specified for confidentiality reasons, the log line submitted for the application will be used in our press releases.
• Filmmaker shall provide acknowledgement to the SFFILM Rainin Grant. If the grant represents up to 25% of the project budget, the SFFILM Rainin Grant is to be listed with other comparable funders/grants, with language that mirrors or is similar to “Made with support from SFFILM Rainin Grant”-onscreen in end titles and in marketing materials tied to other grants / funders. If the grant represents between 25% and 50% of the project budget, the SFFILM Rainin Grant will receive an “in association with” credit-onscreen in main titles or end titles, and in marketing materials tied to other “in association with” credits. If the grant represents 50% or more of the project budget, the SFFILM Rainin Grant will receive an “SFFILM Rainin Grant presents” credit-onscreen in main titles or end titles and in all marketing materials. Logos will be provided by SFFILM. If a project is supported multiple times by SFFILM and/or Rainin, the budget percentage threshold may change for where the SFFILM and Rainin logos appear in the end credits.

If you are unsure if you meet the requirements or have any questions regarding what phase you are in, please email grants@sffilm.org.

How to Apply

To begin the application process, navigate to the “Apply Now” page to review the required items for submission. If you have not yet created an account for the SFFILM Grant Platform, please do so (please note: this is separate from your SFFILM member account).

If you are a member of SFFILM, your application fee is waived. If you are not a member of SFFILM, there is an application fee that must be paid in order for your submission to be considered. To pay the application fee, enter your credit card information at the end of the application after you hit “submit.” Email grants@sffilm.org if you have any technical questions.

The application form includes the following elements (subject to change):

• Logline. In a couple sentences, please describe the crux of your film. (75 words or less)
• Bio. (200 words or less)
• Project synopsis. (300 words or less)
• Describe how your film, through plot, character, theme, or setting, explores urgent social issues of our time. (150 words or less)
• What made you want to tell this story and why is now the right time for you to tell it? (300 words or less)
• How does the film contribute to or uplift the Bay Area filmmaking community professionally or economically? For Screenwriting or Development Phase (150 words or less)
• Please describe your artistic vision and stylistic approach. How will your film look and feel? (150 words or less)
• List the names and roles and briefly describe the qualifications of the other key (up to 5) individuals involved in the project. These individuals could include producers, directors of photography, editors, actors or other key cast and crew. State the date they became attached to the project. (300 words or less)

These additional application materials may be submitted as well:

• Current script sample: Ten pages of the script you are applying with. The ten pages do not need to be the first ten pages. Please select what you believe to be the best ten pages. Please include a page introducing the script pages that provides any necessary context.
• You are welcome to submit a 5–10 minute visual sample however, we can’t guarantee that review committee members will view the sample or view it in its entirety.

Finalists

Approximately twenty applicants will be chosen as finalists. The following materials will be required for further consideration before the winners are selected. Finalists will have approximately three weeks to submit these items:

Screenwriting

• A one-page writer/director’s statement. This should provide insight into who you are and your process.
• A three to five page treatment. This should give us a clear sense of the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
• A minimum of ten pages of a previous script. The ten pages do not need to be the first ten pages. Please select what you believe to be the best ten pages. If you don’t have a previous screenplay, you can submit a visual sample, with an online link in an attached document alongside an explanation of the visual sample.
• A one-page explanation that gives context in terms of where we are in the script as well as orientates us as to where we are in the story.
• A minimum of ten pages of the script you are applying for. The ten pages do not need to be the first ten pages. Please select what you believe to be the best ten pages.
• A one-page explanation that gives context in terms of where we are in the script as well as orientates us as to where we are in the story.

Development / Packaging

• A one-page director’s statement. This should provide insight into who you are and your process.
• A one-page producer’s statement. This should provide insight into who you are and your process.
• A three to five page treatment. This should give us a clear sense of the beginning, middle and end of the story.
• Full Script: Please submit the latest draft of the script you are applying for.
• Full Script Explanation: Provide any relevant context for your script submission. Please note that some members of the review committee may be unable to read the full script. Make sure to include page numbers for an excerpt of at least 10 pages you’d like the committee to read if they’re unable to read the script in its entirety.
• Previous Work Sample. A ten-minute sample of a previous work of the writer/director (short or feature). This can be one ten-minute sample, two five minutes samples, etc. We will only accept online links.
• A full budget that includes all expenses AND revenue. *Revenue section must include: Actual funds raised to date, in-kind donations with associated market value and any outstanding or pending funds.

Post-production

• A one-page writer/director’s statement. This should provide insight into who you are and your process.
• A one-page producer’s statement. This should provide insight into who you are and your process.
• A three- to five-page treatment. This should give us a clear sense of the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
• Current Script Sample: A minimum of ten pages of the script you are applying for. The ten pages do not need to be the first ten pages. Please select what you believe to be the best ten pages. You are also welcome to submit your full screenplay – however, we can’t guarantee we will read it in its entirety. Should you choose to submit it please send it as a separate PDF.
• Work sample one: A ten-minute sample of a previous work of the writer/director (short or feature). This can be one ten-minute sample, two five minutes samples, etc. We only accept online links.
• Work sample two: A ten-minute sample of the work in progress. We also invite you to submit a full copy of the film but we can’t guarantee we will watch more than ten minutes. Should you choose to submit the entire project please submit it as a separate link.
• Work sample explanations. Three pages – A one-page explanation that gives context in terms of where we are in the script pages (if they are not the first ten pages). A one page that introduces work sample one and explains how this work has led to your current project. A third page that contextualizes the work in progress.
• A full budget that includes all expenses AND revenue. *Revenue section must include: Actual funds raised to date, in-kind donations with associated market value and any outstanding or pending funds.

FAQs