Vimeo is launching its second annual Short Film Grant Program, doubling last year’s prize pool to $300,000 to be split among five emerging filmmakers.
In addition to receiving funding to create an original short film, the five selected filmmakers will also receive mentorship and resources to aid their filmmaking process and accelerate their careers.
“So many filmmakers attribute their success to the moment when someone took a chance on their work before the rest of the world knew their name. We want to create more of those opportunities,” said Ina Pira, the head of curation at Vimeo. “With Vimeo’s Short Film Grant, we’re looking to discover the next generation of filmmakers and give them the resources, encouragement and community support they need to bring their creative vision to life.”
The winners will be selected by an all-new jury consisting of filmmakers Kogonada, Josephine Deck and Pete Ohs, as well as producer Sarah Winshall and cinematographer Jomo Fray. Submissions for the Short Film Grant Program will open Sept. 21 on the Vimeo website, with winners being notified by March 15.
In its inaugural year, the program received more than 3,100 submissions. This year’s grant is supported by Panavision, Other World Computing, AJA and ShotDeck.
“Last year’s Short Film Grant program showed us there was a real need within the industry for programs that support emerging filmmakers with financing, equipment, mentorship and distribution,” said Matteo Danieli, the co-founder of Bending Spoons, which acquired Vimeo last year. “After the overwhelming response to our first edition (over 3,100 submissions), relaunching the grant and doubling-down on the award was a no-brainer. We hope this additional capital — plus the support of our partners and jury members — will help our grant winners achieve their greatest short film ambitions.”
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