The Chicago Digital Media Production Fund (CDMPF) seeks socially progressive video and media projects that are compelling, authentic, and impactful.
Donor Name: Chicago Filmmakers
State: Illinois
County: Cook County (Il)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/27/2022
Size of the Grant: Up to $20,000
Details:
The Chicago Digital Media Production Fund is a grant designed to support Chicago-based filmmakers and digital media artists whose work encourages social change.
Local artists with varying levels of experience are welcome to apply, including both accomplished as well as emerging artists. All genres are eligible but the content must address current social justice issues and/or represent points of view of those who have been historically marginalized by mainstream media because of their sexual orientation, race, class, religion, ability, immigration, or other minority status. Projects by women, transgender and gender non-confirming people, and artists of color are especially encouraged.
Project more likely to be funded
- Social Change. The CDMPF is designed to support projects that are mission-driven with the purpose of advancing social change. The ideal project will address a current social justice issue in a new way or from a fresh perspective that will create meaningful impact and dialogue.
- Creativity. Artistic merit will count heavily toward final decisions. There should be a unique style, approach, or voice to the project that illuminates the subject in a special way. Traditional storytelling is good, but they’re also interested in projects that explore new or experimental forms of storytelling.
- Education. Proposals may consider including a study guide, curriculum, or interactive educational element in the distribution section to help facilitate discussions and activate your audiences to take further action.
Funding Information
- In 2022, award winners will receive up to $20,000 in cash grants for the production and/or post-production of their projects.
- Additional benefits available to grantees this year include the option to work with a mentor provided by Chicago Filmmakers; access to Chicago Filmmakers’ facility for meetings, casting, rehearsals, or similar uses; opportunities for rough cut feedback screenings in our theater; and sponsorship of the Chicago premiere of your work.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants may apply individually or with a non-profit fiscal sponsor organization. A fiscal sponsor organization must agree to accept funds on behalf of the applicant and will be responsible for redistributing funds to the project accordingly.
- Individual applicants must reside in Cook County.
- Associated fiscal sponsor organizations must be located in Cook County.
- Applicant must be the project director, producer, or developer with creative control.
- Production and/or post-production must take place in Chicago.
- Project must be independent of commercial objectives (no advertising, promotional, industrial, or contract work – even for non-profit organizations).
- Project must be in or starting the production phase as funds may only be used to cover production or post-production costs; not pre-production.
- All digital video genres (narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, webisodes, etc.) and digital media projects (apps, games, etc.) are eligible to apply.
- *Projects must account for captioning and should also consider similar costs (e.g. audio description) for increased accessibility in the proposed budget.
For more information, visit Chicago Filmmakers.
