TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund: 2012 Rules and Regulations

2012 SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED

In 2012, the TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund will award up to $140,000 in grants from $10,000 to $40,000 towards compelling narrative filmmaking that explores scientific, mathematical, and technological themes and storylines, or that features a leading character who is a scientist, engineer, innovator or mathematician. In addition to financial support, grantees will receive professional guidance and mentorship through the Tribeca Film Institute, as dictated by the unique needs and status of the project and the level of experience of the filmmaking team. This ancillary support may include project notes, networking assistance, and exposure to financing and distribution executives.

FILMS

The TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund seeks exceptional narrative features at any stage from treatment to completed film that are scientifically relevant, accurate, and exciting. Eligible films should creatively address the role of science and technology in everyday lives, and/or depict the lives of scientists, engineers, innovators and mathematicians in new, but still accurate, ways.

SELECTION PROCESS

Grantees will be selected from an open call for submissions. Consideration will be given not only to the creative merit of each project, but to the accuracy and/or feasibility of scientific content, and the strength of your plans for seeing the project realized. Initial rounds of evaluation will be conducted by Tribeca Film Institute staff while final grantee selections will be made by an Awards Committee comprised of noteworthy professionals from science and cinema.

All applicants will be notified of their status via email no later than March 31, 2012.

SUBMISSION RULES & REGULATIONS

In order to qualify for the TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund, entrants must comply with ALL of the following Rules and Eligibility Requirements. Failure to comply with these rules will render a Submission ineligible.

• We accept projects at any stage: treatments, scripts, footage, rough cuts and completed films. Projects completed prior to January 1, 2011 are NOT eligible.
• Submissions must be narrative feature-length motion pictures with an intended length of at least 70 minutes that accurately depict scientific themes, storylines, and/or primary characters.
• Projects at the treatment stage MUST have a screenwriter in place.
• Projects must not have secured any form of distribution, and completed projects may not have aired on any form of television or via the internet, may not have been distributed in theaters, and may not have had an extended festival run.
• Short films, student films, documentary projects, and science fiction or fantasy film are NOT eligible.
• Films must be suitable for an American audience, and any projects not in English must be subtitled.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

All submissions must include the following:

• A completed online application form. (CURRENTLY CLOSED)
• Bios and contact information for key filmmaker(s)/applicant(s).
• An uploaded copy of the most recent draft of the treatment or script. Treatments must be at least ten pages, and films in production or post, as well as completed films, MUST submit a copy of the shooting draft. All submitted screenplays must be registered with the WGA or copyright office.
• Two (2) DVD copies of any project footage, scene assemblage, a rough cut or the completed film (as applicable) is required of all films in production or beyond. Label all DVDs with submission number, project title, running time, applicant’s name and contact information. DVDs must be formatted for Zone 0 and 1.
• Projects in development with directors attached MUST include one sample of his or her previous work, sent on DVD as described above.
• It is strongly suggested that treatments include either 15-30 page sample scenes or a 15-30 page sample of the writer’s previous work.
• We may request a budget top-sheet or summary from projects in pre-production or beyond. If available, it is suggested you upload a budget with your application.

Previous award recipients from Sloan Foundation film school or film festival programs are encouraged to apply for the support of the TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund if they can demonstrate progress made towards production and/or completion. Projects that receive funding in one grant year will be able to re-apply for funding in the next, thereby building the feature film in stages, provided the recipient can demonstrate significant progress with the project since last applying.

SUBMISSION DATES

August 8, 2011 – Submissions Open

October 11, 2011 – Submissions Close

ENTRY FEE

$25.00 USD

If paying by check or money order, they should be made payable to Tribeca Film Institute and drawn on US funds. Please reference your submission number on the check and on all of your submission materials.

SHIPPING

All materials must be sent prepaid to:

Tribeca Film Institute
73 Spring Street, Suite 406
New York, NY 10012
Attn: TFI Documentary Fund
(212) 274-8080 x28

Entries will not be considered complete until all of the materials are received. All submissions must be postmarked within the entry deadline date.

All hardcopy submission materials must have the application number written on each item, and must be postmarked within the entry deadline dates.

Tribeca Film Institute will make every effort to safe-guard the materials submitted; however neither Sloan nor TFI will be responsible for lost or stolen submissions. Submissions will not be returned.

QUESTIONS?

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions

Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions regarding the entry process: tfisloanfund@tribecafilminstitute.org or (212) 274-8080 x22.