The Transgender Film Center and Duplass Brothers Productions are partnering to launch the Found Footage Feature Fund, a $25,000 production grant for trans filmmakers developing independent feature films.
The initiative, unveiled at Fantastic Fest on Wednesday evening, is designed as a fully financed greenlight for a micro-budget production. The selected winner will be expected to complete their film within a year of receiving funds, without additional development deals. The initiative will accept applications cross all genres, as long as they use found footage, archival, collage or other economical approaches.
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Applications for the grant will open on Oct. 23. Submissions close on Nov. 7 and a grantee will be selected in December.
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“The Found Footage Feature Fund is about meeting the moment with clarity and action,” says Sav Rodgers, executive director of the Transgender Film Center. “We’re thrilled to partner with Mark and the Duplass Brothers team to support independent storytellers who are ready to do the work, leverage their resources, and get their films made. This is about empowering trans filmmakers to make something bold and real without waiting for permission.”
“Sav Rodgers and I became friendly over the past few years, and once I discovered the incredible work he’s been doing with the Transgender Film Center, I just knew that Duplass Brothers had to find a way to support and get involved,” Mark Duplass said. “I’m so thrilled to bring our micro-budget found footage experience, and some of my ‘The Morning Show’ cash, to the table and see what we can do together.”
The full $25,000 grant will be provided by Duplass Brothers Productions and includes private consultation sessions from Duplass and “Creep” series director Patrick Brice. The Transgender Film Center will provide submission waivers to certain festivals, including Fantastic Fest. The grant also comes with two script consultations from Kevin Nicklaus, partner at Sandstone Artists and the former SVP of development for The Wolper Org; fifteen days of post-production services from Aesthetica Post; a marketing and deck strategy session; and ongoing support via email.
