Washington Filmworks (WF) recognizes that one of the largest concerns among local filmmakers is finding funding for their projects. The Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) recently launched their 2014 drive to raise funds for the Documentary Film Fund. WF attended the kickoff event and heard from three talented documentary filmmakers, Enrique Cerna, Stephen Silha, and Tracy Rector. The trio discussed their current projects and the essential role of funding resources, such as the Documentary Film Fund, in supporting their work.
The NWFF’s Documentary Film Fund supports excellent new documentary film projects in the Northwest at any stage of completion. This fund offers vital support to emerging filmmakers, helping promising films transition more rapidly from the planning state to production, and providing a platform to introduce excellent new documentaries to the world. NWFF’s mission is to discover and champion the work of visionary filmmakers, and to engage the general public and artists alike in deeper exploration of art of film. NWFF screens over 200 independently made and classic films annually, offering a year-round schedule of classes for local filmmakers (including summer camps for young people).
Through funding opportunities like the Documentary Film Fund, NWFF endeavors to support filmmakers at all stages of their careers. This competitive grant is an important source of funding for regional documentarians. Since 2011 the Documentary Film Fund has supported four Northwest films with $30,000 in cash grants and more than $50,000 of in-kind support from partners, including legal consultation for artists and post-production support. This funding is available to Washington productions, as well as those in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.
If you’re a filmmaker interested in the NWFF Documentary Film Fund, please visit the NWFF website for more information. If you’d like to support Northwest documentaries by contributing to the fund, you can make a donation online or contact NWFF Development Director Line Sandsmark by emailing Line [at] nwfilmforum.org for more information.