Since 1985, LEF Foundation has served as a resource for New England arts, particularly nonfiction filmmakers. The organization has an upcoming grant opportunity for New England filmmakers and just announced recent awards.
Funding Opportunity
LEF New England is now accepting submissions for Moving Image Fund grants from New England-based filmmakers making feature-length (40+ minute) non-fiction film projects. The organization is offering $5,000 Pre-Production grants and $2,500 Early Development seed funding grants. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read the LEF New England Moving Image Fund guidelines and frequently asked questions, and to contact LEF staff by e-mail to determine whether your project is eligible and a good fit for LEF’s funding priorities. Submission Deadline: June 5, 2020.
Recent Awards
The organization recently announced its Spring 2020 Production and Post-Production grantees, with 11 Moving Image Fund grants totaling $205,000 in support of feature-length documentary works by New England-based filmmakers. Among the artists working on funded projects are past Mass Cultural Council awardees Allison Cekala (Film & Video Fellow ’15), Margo Guernsey (Film & Video Fellow ’19), Kathryn Ramey (Film & Video Fellow ’15), and Jeff Silva (Film & Video Finalist ’09).
Also, further congratulations to Kathryn Ramey, who was selected as the 2020-21 recipient of the Harvard University Film Study Center-LEF Foundation Fellowship with her project El Signo Vacío (the empty sign). The FSC-LEF Fellowship, open to Boston-area nonfiction filmmakers who are not currently affiliated with Harvard, receives a $10,000 grant, access to FSC resources and opportunities. The inaugural, 2019-20 Harvard FSC Fellow was James Rutenbeck (Film & Video Finalist ’19, ’11).
The LEF Foundation is also the force behind the nonfiction film and discussion series The DocYard, though programming is currently on hold due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Further research: read advice from LEF’s former Program Director Sara Archambault in the ArtSake discussion To an Artist Seeking Funding.
Image: still image from EL SIGNO VACÍO (THE EMPTY SIGN), a film-in-progress by Kathryn Ramey (Film & Video Fellow ’15).
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