THE BIRNS & SAWYER GRANT X FILAM CREATIVE FILM FESTIVAL

Key Dates

  • Submissions Open: March 24, 2025

  • Regular Deadline: June 27, 2025

  • Late Deadline: July 25, 2025

  • Finalist Notification Date: August 1, 2025

  • Winners Announced: Fall 2025 at the 3rd edition of the FilAm Creative Film Festival

  • Project Completion Deadline: Six months from grant issuance

  • Festival Showcase: 2026 at the 4th edition of the FilAm Creative Film Festival

Grant Details

  • 1st Place: $4,000 worth of camera gear and lenses

  • 2nd Place: $3,000 worth of camera gear and lenses

  • Access: All finalists can test equipment and access educational opportunities at Birns & Sawyer's Los Angeles office

  • Eligibility: Open to both members and non-members of FilAm Creative

  • Usage Period: Winners have six (6) months to utilize the grant; failure to begin principal photography within this period will render the grant invalid

  • Showcase: The three completed short films will be screened at the 4th annual FilAm Creative Film Festival in 2026

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  • All applicants must review and sign our Grant Submission Agreement prior to

    submitting their proposal (available on FILMFREEWAY)

  • All applicants will submit via FILM FREEWAY.

  • All applicants must submit all their required materials at the same time.

  • Incomplete submissions, or projects submitted in any other format such as email, snail mail, or hand delivery will not be accepted.

  • All scripts received after the deadline are considered void.

How To Apply

To be considered, please submit your application via Film Freeway and include the following:

  • Signed Submission Agreement

  • Applicant(s) contact information

  • Director & producer reels

  • Email of team members

  • Phone number of team members

  • NOTE: One member must be Filipino-American or Filipino descent

PROJECT

  • Project Title

  • Project logline (no more than 3 sentences)

  • Project website (if applicable)

  • Applicant’s statement - “Why this project?”

  • 15 page script (.pdf)

CAMERA & LENS PACKAGE

  • Arri Alexa Mini

  • RED Komodo-X/Gemini

  • Sony Venice 1 or Venice 2

  • Desired Lenses: Vintage or modern, zooms or primes

  • NOTE: All equipment is subject to availability

BUDGET

  • Budget Summary and breakdown of project timeline

  • RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS

  • Pitch deck

  • Storyboards

  • Location photos

  • Bios of Director, Producer, and Writer no longer than one page

For more information on the non-profit, FilAm Creative, please go to www.filamcreative.org and their film festival  www.filamcreativefilmfest.org