The Greenlight Grants seek to support entrepreneurial projects that can accelerate business and careers in film, by encouraging collaboration between Iowa filmmakers and producing a project that will take the applicant to the next level in their career while feeding a more robust, diverse and sustainable creative ecosystem in Iowa.
Donor Name: Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State: Iowa
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/01/2023
Size of the Grant: $50,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
The program is administered by the Iowa Arts Council on behalf of Produce Iowa-State Office of Film and Media.
Greenlight Grants support entrepreneurial and collaborative Iowa filmmakers who are ready to produce a film and media project that can take them to the next level in their career and contribute to a more robust, diverse and sustainable creative ecosystem in Iowa.
Greenlight Grants are intended to provide Iowa filmmakers with a financial boost to launch a well-written script to screen and the opportunity to stretch creatively, think big and expand beyond their comfort zones. A goal of the program is that Iowans become the job creators that grow their film and television industry organically, as a whole.
Funding Information
Applicants may request funding for eligible one-time project expenses that are incurred and expended within the eligible funding period. The department reserves the right to adjust funding levels based on the quality of submitted applications and available funding.
- Minimum Grant Request: $10,000
- Maximum Grant Request: $50,000
Match Requirement
Applicants are required to demonstrate investment in a project by providing 50% cash matching funds to the grant request for project expenses. For example, an applicant that requests $10,000 in grant funds must have at least $5,000 in cash match for a minimum total project budget of $15,000.
Funding Period
Funding period of July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects include the production and post-production of an original film or digital media project within the state of Iowa. Applicants may request funding to support a specific phase of a larger project within the funding period but are encouraged to resource the phase and overall project appropriately. Applicants may only receive support from Iowa Arts Council once in the lifetime of the project and are, therefore, encouraged to apply at the appropriate time when state funding will be most impactful.
Funds must be used for one-time production expenses for goods and services provided by businesses located in Iowa. Examples of eligible project activities include:
- Production
- Casting
- Set Construction
- Location Scouting
- Costuming
- Filming
- Post-production
- Picture Editing
- Sound Engineering
- Musical Scoring
- Dubbing
- Animation
- Sound/Visual Effects
Eligible Genres of Projects
The following genres of film or digital media productions are eligible.
- Animation
- Documentary
- Episodic
- Experimental
- Narrative
- Reality
Eligible Types of Projects
The following types of film or digital media productions are eligible.
- Feature including sequels
- Short
- Web Series
- Trailer
- Episodic including pilot episodes or new seasons
- Proof-of-Concept
- Sizzle Reel
Eligible Use of Funds
Grant funds must be used for direct expenses related to the production and post-production of a film or digital media project. Funding may be used only for goods and services acquired through vendors located in Iowa. Project activities may occur before or after the funding period; however, the grant funds can support expenses and activities that occur only within the funding period. Funded projects must place Produce Iowa-State Office of Film and Media and Iowa Arts Council logos in credits on screen, as well as a suggested “Produced in Iowa” graphic.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Individuals who do not meet these requirements are not eligible to apply.
- Individual filmmaker
- If awarded funding, the individual filmmaker will be legally and financially responsible for the grant award and meeting contract requirements
- Current, full-time Iowa resident with permanent address in Iowa
- Legal Iowa resident as defined by Iowa Code 422.4 and Iowa Administrative Code 701.38.17 (422)
- 18 years of age or older
- An application must support a project that is initiated, produced, and/or managed by the individual filmmaker, not another entity or organization
- Maintain current registration in the Produce Iowa-State Office of Film and Media Production Directory
Ineligible Applicants
Ineligible applicants include the following types of entities:
- For-profit corporation or business
- Federally tax exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
- Public and private school that serves grades pre-K through 12
- Nonprofit institution of higher education
- Unit of local, county or federally-recognized tribal government
- Artist groups, collaboratives and collectives
For more information, visit Greenlight Grant.
