Grants & Awards
Grant Priorities & Guidelines
Grant Making Overview
Each year Cinereach grants over $500,000 to well-crafted feature-length documentary and fiction films that depict underrepresented perspectives, resonate across international boundaries, and spark dialogue.
Cinereach’s ethos favors good storytelling over didacticism and complexity over duality. It supports films that demonstrate creativity, visual artistry and take a character-based approach.
Grants range from $5,000 – $50,000 and are awarded to films at any stage, including development, production, post-production, audience building and distribution. There are two letter of inquiry deadlines per year (Summer and Winter), after which a selection of applicants are invited to submit full proposals. The Cinereach grants committee meets twice a year to review the proposals. Each cycle, between five and 15 projects are selected to receive support.
Funding Priorities
Through cinematic artistry and storytelling, Cinereach supported films:
• Provide insight and spark dialogue
• Challenge prejudice and advance human rights
• Discover humanity and hope
• Foster global community
Philosophy
Cinereach seeks to form lasting and meaningful relationships with the talented, dedicated, and creative people we support. In addition to our funding, Cinereach provides networking opportunities, community and recognition. We invite an open and continuing dialogue.
Sample Work
We strongly encourage submission of sample work with letters of inquiry. Sample work can include one or more of the following: Previously completed film, trailer of current project, work-in-progress or rough-cut of current project.
Discs MUST be labeled with title of film, running time, format (PAL/NTSC), contact name, email and tel number written on disc. PLEASE WRITE ALL REQUESTED INFORMATION ONTO THE DISC WITH A SHARPIE PEN – NO LABELS OR STICKERS!!
If submitting sample work by mail, please send one DVD copy (in a slim jewel case or plastic sleeve) to:
Cinereach Grants
126 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10011
USA
Only letters submitted via our online form by Midnight (EST) on June 1, 2010 will be considered for our Summer 2010 grant cycle.
All sample work sent to Cinereach must be postmarked by June 1, 2010.
Decision Process
The Cinereach grant committee meets twice a year to review grant applications and assign awards. The grant committee also meets twice yearly with prospective and past grantees.
Cinereach requires prospective applicants to submit an initial 2-page letter of inquiry and will consider full applications only upon invitation.
The letter of inquiry enables Cinereach staff to determine the relevance of the proposed project to our granting priorities. Cinereach will then invite selected applicants to submit a full proposal to be reviewed by the grant committee.
Unfortunately, due to the large volume of submissions, Cinereach does not have the time nor the resources to provide feedback for your project during the LOI stage. However, if your project was invited to submit a full proposal but did not receive a grant, the Cinereach Grants Manager will provide feedback based on the review committee’s notes.
Grantee Expectations
If a grant is approved, a grant award letter will be issued detailing specific expectations. The grantee will be required to submit interim and final reports explaining how the funds were used, projections and reports on expected and achieved outcomes, and monitoring and evaluation results. Prior to funds being released, grantees will be expected to sign and return the grant award letter indicating their agreement with the terms and conditions of the grant award.
Cinereach staff may request an opportunity to visit with filmmakers requesting support either at the filmmaker’s or Cinereach’s offices. Additionally, grantees may be asked to make presentations before our grant committee.
Exceptions
Cinereach does not award multi-year grants, grants for capital or endowment campaigns, grants for research, or individual scholarships for study or travel.
Charitable Status
To qualify for a grant from Cinereach, a prospective grantee must be tax-exempt under United States Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) or be fiscally sponsored by a certified 501(c)(3) organization. Please visit the Resources page for more information about fiscal sponsorship for filmmakers.
Internationally based prospective grantees must provide one of the following: 1) proof of 501(c)(3) status or, 2) proof of fiscal sponsorship by a certified US-based 501(c)(3) organization or, 3) an affidavit satisfying IRS requirements for tax-exempt equivalency. Please be sure to get in touch with Cinereach’s Grants Manager, Adella Ladjevardi, for further details.
Term of Funding
Most grants are awarded for a one-year period. Grant awards may be renewed or extended as determined by the grant committee. Cinereach generally does not award grants to organizations for more than three consecutive years.
Priority Funding Areas
From time to time, the grant committee may determine specific priority or thematic funding areas. If such decisions are made, they will be clearly posted on our website.
Conflicts of Interest Statement
Cinereach does not make grants to projects in which a Cinereach Board or staff member, or a family member of a Cinereach Board or staff member, has a direct or indirect financial interest resulting from current or potential financial investment or support, salary income, or the providing of goods or services.
Discrimination Policy
Cinereach does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or national origin.
Please note: Cinereach is not currently accepting applications for organizational support.