August 2022 Opportunities
AFI BACKLOT
We are excited to invite you to join AFI Backlot – the new, exclusive networking platform for AFI Alumni! There’s also exclusive career opportunities that are only listed in Backlot! You can register in under two minutes by following the simple steps below:
- Visit backlot.afi.com
- On first visit, click ‘Get Started’
- Fill out the information requested, including name and email
- Choose your own unique password
- Verify your email address when prompted
- Upon approval, start using the site!
Looking forward to seeing you there! Don’t know how to navigate Backlot very well? Here’s a couple of step-by-step tutorials:
Directory: https://vimeo.com/329074511/e50b834df3
Update profile: https://vimeo.com/335661218/170d7d987b
How to post or find jobs on platform: https://vimeo.com/347532238/edf245bc5f
COMPETITIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS
The MiFILM 2021 Lab was a mentorship-based virtual lab designed to develop and accelerate the careers of underrepresented groups in film. Over the course of four weeks, five Directors were paired with respective industry leaders and challenged with responding to briefs from our agency partners.
Created to demystify the process of working in the commercial and advertising space, The Branded Lab seeks to ensure representation that reflects the overall population.
Deadline: August 1, 2022
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THE LYNN SHELTON “OF A CERTAIN AGE” GRANT
The Lynn Shelton “Of A Certain Age” Grant is a project-based award that provides $20,000 to an individual woman, non-binary, and/or transgender U.S. filmmaker, age 39 or older, who is working on their first narrative feature (65 minutes or over) as a director. This grant seeks to recognize a film director for their distinct vision, storytelling, and singularity.
Deadline: August 2, 2022
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PBS/FIRELIGHT WILLIAM GREAVES PRODUCTION FUND
The PBS/Firelight William Greaves Production Fund will resource documentary productions by mid-career filmmakers from diverse communities in the United States that are intended for distribution on PBS through finishing funds or co-production funding.
Deadline: August 8, 2022
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WILLIAM GREAVES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND
The William Greaves Research and Development Fund resources talented, mid-career nonfiction storytellers from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the United States, as well as filmmakers from Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Colombia with a particular interest in those who identify as being of Indigenous and/or of African descent.
Deadline: August 8, 2022
The Program aims to find great original IP that is prime for production as an animated short, with the potential of becoming the next hit Nickelodeon long-form series.
Deadline: August 26, 2022
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Catapult gives early support to propel projects forward that hold the promise of a story that should be uniquely told in film. Funding is provided through the Catapult Development Grant and Catapult Research Grant.
Deadline: August 31, 2022
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Starting at the height of the pandemic in 2020, TFF was one of the first kind of funds in the United States solely dedicated to supporting South Asian filmmakers. Winners receive a monetary grant and year-long mentorship, to help bring their scripts to life.
With partial support from Netflix, Tasveer has expanded the annual funding program to support three projects – narrative, documentary and LGBTQIA+ short film projects, in addition to a feature narrative project.
Deadline: September 15, 2022
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Do you love children’s storytelling? Or dream of writing animated films? Oak Tree Comics would love to read your stories. Oak Tree Comics is a new independent publisher of children’s graphic novels that’s currently accepting story submissions. Founded in 2020 by a former AFI fellow, Oak Tree Comics focuses on socially and environmentally-conscious storytelling for readers of all ages. Want to learn more about submission policies? Visit www.oaktreecomics.com/submissions _________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Applications are now open for Wscripted’s Second Cannes Screenplay List presented by MUBI. Wscripted’s inaugural list was unveiled in Variety and highlighted a selection of 25 diverse screenplays written by women during the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Women and non-binary screenwriters or writer-directors from AFI with a screenplay in English or French, are encouraged to apply by April 15th here! Read the Press Release in Deadline.
X4Y is a new type of content marketplace, to help you turn your spec content into sold content.
With X4Y, you can sell your spec commercials to brands around the world, giving your work instant credibility and earning you a profit. You can even repurpose your existing short films and other content into 30- and 60-second, brand-agnostic spots that could work for multiple companies. (Just remove any logos or other brand references.) You’ll also be able to create a personal profile that showcases your skills and work to the world.
Sign up for an exclusive, free X4Y early membership and start sharing now! x4y.com/creators
X4Y is built by Sugar23, the team behind 13 REASONS WHY, THE KNICK, MANIAC, DICKINSON, SPOTLIGHT and other award-winning projects.
A new co-writing space in the heart of the Culver City Arts District, Writers Blok provides structure, support and community for writers. Modeled after a gym or a yoga studio, this dedicated writing space is available for writing sessions seven days a week. If you’re looking for a place to get work done where you’ll also find a great community of writers, you’re in luck. Writers Blok is offering a free session to AFI alumni.
Need to find film-friendly locations in the Los Angeles area? Visit Giggster.com to search and book diverse commercial, residential and studio locations.
Kitsplit is a community of tens of thousands of vetted filmmakers and production companies renting gear to and from each other. It has been called “the AirBNB for creative equipment” by Forbes and Fast Company. Kitsplit invites AFI alumni to join as LA Founding Members and list gear with exclusive benefits. Those who reach out in August will receive free concierge service — email your gear list to contact@kitsplit.com and mention AFI. To receive 20% off your first rental, sign up for KitSplit and use exclusive code AFI15 at checkout.
Looking for studio space and equipment rentals? Loyal Studios in Burbank offers 10% discounts to the AFI community. Contact Sadie Dean (AFI Class of 2011) at sadie@loyalstudios.tv.
Sundance Creative Distribution Fellowship — open until full Bertha BRITDOC Documentary Journalism Fund — ongoing Big Vision Empty Wallet Kickstart Diversity Program — ongoing Catapult Film Fund — ongoing Cinereach Grants — ongoing Digital Bolex Grant for Women Cinematographers — rolling Film Independent Labs & Programs – ongoing Film Independent AbelCine Camera Grant — rolling Film Independent Camera Grant – ongoing Film Independent Fiscal Sponsorship — rolling Film Independent Sloan Distribution Grant — rolling Firelight Media Producers’ Lab — rolling The Fledgling Fund — ongoing Ford Foundation: JustFilms — ongoing Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund — rolling ITVS Open Call — ongoing Jerome Foundation Grant Programs — ongoing Kaleidoscope — rolling Merge AR VR Developer Fund — rolling NewFilmmakers Los Angeles — ongoing nextPix/firstPix Crowd Funding Grants — ongoing OSVR Developer Fund — rolling Panavision New Filmmaker Program — ongoing Roadmap Writers Diversity Initiative Program — ongoing San Francisco Film Society’s Narrative Grants & Programs — ongoing Scottish Documentary Institute Consultancies — ongoing Screen Australia: Feature Film Production Program — ongoing Screen Australia: Documentary Producer Equity Program — ongoing Sundance Documentary Fund — ongoing Visions Sud Est Fund — ongoing World Cinema Fund: Distribution — ongoing YouPix Competition (Directors and Writers) — ongoing
UTA ENTERTAINMENT JOB LIST
The UTA Job List is refreshed weekly. Simply bookmark the link below or reference the newsletter and use it whenever you wish to view the updated list. CLICK HERE FOR JOB LIST NOTE: The UTA Job List is intended for the personal use of its recipients. Posting of this list or any information derived from the list on any website or message board in its entirety or in part without the express written permission of the list administrator is neither permitted nor within the spirit of the efforts put into its creation. All rights are reserved. ©2020