#CreateLouisiana Launches New Documentary Film Grant
On July 10 #CreateLouisiana announced a new slate of grant opportunities to support and empower Louisiana filmmakers. In collaboration with institutional partners Deep South Studios, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH), and the New Orleans Film Society (NOFS), along with support from new film industry sponsors ARRI Rental and Kyotocolor, #CreateLouisiana will award two new grants this fall.
The new slate focuses on supporting feature-length projects in both the narrative and documentary genres. The first narrative grant will provide $35,000 of combined cash and resources. A $10,000 cash grant, supported by Deep South Studios, along with a $25,000 camera rental package from ARRI Rental will be awarded to one director-cinematographer team for the production of a feature-length narrative film. For the documentary community, #CreateLouisiana will offer a $40,000 grant package. One documentary director-producer team will receive a $10,000 cash grant, with support from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the New Orleans Film Society, along with a $30,000 post-production package from Kyotocolor.
“We are thrilled to return to our filmmaking community this year with a grantmaking slate that both helps filmmakers achieve feature-length projects and supports their professional development on the national stage. The number of phenomenal submissions the #CreateLouisiana team has reviewed to date is truly astounding. We want to see more of these stories brought to life and for these filmmaking teams to have the resources they need to truly deliver on their vision,” said #CreateLouisiana executive director Jolene Pinder.
#CreateLouisiana was created in 2015 to champion local filmmaking talent and celebrate the diverse culture of Louisiana. The inaugural #CreateLouisiana grantee, a narrative short entitled “Plaquemines” created by New Orleans native director Nailah Jefferson and producer Jon Wood, debuted at the 2016 New Orleans Film Festival and is scheduled for a broadcast on HBO in February 2018. In April, #CreateLouisiana—with support from TV5MONDE USA and its institutional partners—awarded a $32,500 French Culture Film Grant to director Austin Alward and producer Sam Claitor for the production of a narrative short film entitled “Le Grand Remix.”
Applications will open for the narrative and documentary grants on August 1 (applicants must submit at createlouisiana.com). The deadline for both grants is September 8, 2017, by 5:00 PM CST.
#CreateLouisiana and its partners will judge the originality of each proposal and the qualifications of the team to realize the project. After the first round of judging, five finalists will be invited to pitch their projects and to be interviewed before a panel of entertainment professionals in early October.
For more information, visit www.createlouisiana.com.
About #CreateLouisiana
#CreateLouisiana is designed to champion indigenous talent and support the entertainment industries that are integral to the region. Through the use of grants, development programs, educational initiatives, and social media, #CreateLouisiana is able to share the valuable stories, information, and resources that contribute to our state’s vibrant creative economy. This organization celebrates our diverse culture and the talented workforce that drives the growth of creative industries statewide. Louisiana has left an undeniable footprint on the global arts and entertainment community; inspired by this rich history, #CreateLouisiana recognizes the potential to expand upon this tradition by showcasing the economic and artistic value of the state’s creative industries. For more information, visit www.createlouisiana.com.
About ARRI Rental
ARRI Rental is a leading provider of camera, grip and lighting equipment to the feature film, television, advertising, broadcast and events markets. Operating through a network of rental facilities in the US, UK and across Europe, the group’s combined resources and expertise allow ARRI Rental to develop and roll out exclusive, proprietary technologies. These include the ALEXA XT B+W, and the ALEXA 65, a large-format solution for high-end theatrical motion pictures, comprising a 65 mm digital cinema camera, custom-designed prime and zoom lenses, and fast, efficient workflow tools. For more information, visit www.arrirental.com.
About Deep South Studios
Deep South Studios is a new full-service motion picture, television and digital media production facility. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Conveniently located a mere stone’s throw from the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District (CBD) and the world-renowned French Quarter. It is the largest design-built independent film and television full-service facility ever constructed in the Southeastern United States. Deep South Studios is the lead sponsor and founding partner of Create Louisiana. For more information, visit www.deepsouthstudios.com.
About Kyotocolor
Kyotocolor is a highly specialized boutique dedicated to delivering major studio level digital intermediate color grading to independent feature films. Founder Bradley Greer is an award-winning content producer and post-production specialist. From production to post, Bradley’s 25-year career has spanned multiple disciplines allowing him to cultivate a holistic perspective of both the technical and artistic process of making movies. Recent notable credits include 12 Years A Slave (2014 Best Picture Oscar winner), Spike Lee’s Old Boy, Lee Daniel’s The Butler, Paperboy, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and Looper. For more information, visit kyotocolor.com.
About Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to all Louisianans. The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ mission is to provide all Louisianans with access to and an appreciation of their own rich, shared and diverse historical, literary and cultural heritage through grant-supported outreach programs, family literacy and adult reading initiatives, teacher professional development institutes, publications, film and radio documentaries, museum exhibitions, cultural tourism, public lectures, library projects, and other public humanities programming. For more information, visit www.leh.org.
About New Orleans Film Society
The New Orleans Film Society celebrates the transformative power of film to inspire, delight, and enrich our lives. Our destination film festival offers a cinematic taste of place unlike any other, where vibrant new films, filmmakers, and voices are discovered and cultivated. Founded in 1989, NOFS’ programming focus is its signature event—the Oscar-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival—which is held each autumn, typically in October. The festival has grown into a major showcase of local, regional, national, and international films and attracts hundreds of filmmakers each year. To provide year-round benefits for local audiences, NOFS also hosts the French Film Festival in the summer and regular screenings and events, attracting thousands to high-quality films around the city. For more information, visit www.neworleansfilmsociety.org.