Women in Film
/OVERVIEW: Women in Film supports early-stage women filmmakers and other film professionals with workshops, fellowships and other programs.
IP TAKE: Women in Film is an important resource for women and nonbinary filmmakers and film industry professionals seeking mentorship and professional development opportunities. Its monetary grants mainly fund the organizations with which it partners in running these programs. This creates a crowded grantmaking space that favors multi-year grants, but the foundation is accessible and supportive, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Due dates and guidelines vary by program.
PROFILE: Tichi Wilkeson Kassell, the former publisher and editor-in-chief of the Hollywood Reporter, founded Women in Film in 1973. A member-based organization, Women in Film “advocates for and advances the careers of women working in the screen industries to achieve parity and transform culture.” Women in Film runs workshops, fellowships, advocacy and other programs that are predominately for women and LGBTQ filmmakers. Its monetary grants mainly go to organizations with which it partners in running these programs.
Grants for Women and Girls
Women in Film supports women filmmakers through signature programs that change from year to year. It currently runs the following programs.
Women in Film Fellowships are professional development programs for women that provide opportunities for mentoring and networking. Specific fellowship opportunities are available for women writers, directors, directors of photography, producers, executives, agents, managers and film crew members. Fellowships are geographically limited to professionals who are “local to Los Angeles” and who have “a clear career focus” within the film industry.
Helpline Support Spaces are eight-week programs run by mental health professionals who aim to support women working in screen industries. The most recent groups have focused on Black women and other underrepresented genders in the film industry and on addressing the effect of COVID-19 on the lives of women film professionals.
The Financing Intensive is a yearlong support program for women film producers and other professionals. The goal of the program is to help women, who have been underrepresented in the film industry, to strengthen their presentation skills and strategies for securing financing for projects in progress.
The organization’s Writing Labs support “promising non-professional television and film writers through workshops and master classes.” Writing lab themes change frequently; prospective participants should check the program page periodically for updates and new opportunities. Recent labs have included workshops for nonbinary and transgender writers.
Women in Film runs programs at no cost to participants and accepts applications for each program through its website.
Grants for Film and LGBTQ
Women in Film’s supports women and nonbinary filmmakers through all its programs, fellowships and workshops. Monetary grants mainly go to film institutes and production companies with which it partners in producing these events. The organization runs several ongoing programs with the Sundance Institute, including its Inclusion Resource Map and the Sundance Institute Financing Intensive. Other collaborators include the University of California Los Angeles, Women Make Movies, the American Film Institute and Red Nut Films of Brooklyn, New York.
Important Grant Details:
Women in Film’s programs mainly serve filmmakers with professional development and mentoring opportunities. The organization makes about $200,000 in grants a year ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to a select few organizations that partner with Women in Film in running its several professional development programs for women. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s program pages and recent tax filings.
Women in Film accepts applications from women and nonbinary filmmakers and film industry professionals for each of its programs and fellowships. Application procedures and deadlines vary by program. General inquiries may be directed to Women in Film’s staff via email or telephone at 323-935-2211.
PEOPLE:
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