Guidelines and Requirements

Grants awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences reflect the basic goal of the Academy, that is, to advance the arts and sciences of motion pictures and to foster cooperation among the creative leaders of the motion picture industry for cultural, educational and technical progress. Under the following guidelines, the Academy Festival Grants Committee considers all applications that encourage appreciation of and excellence in filmmaking:

1. Grants are available only to United States-based film festivals.
   
   
2. Grants are available only to film festivals that have been held on at least five occasions over at least five years.
   
   
3. Festivals may not receive grants in consecutive years.
   
   
4. Film festivals are encouraged to submit proposals that make festival events more accessible to the general public, especially to underserved segments of the population; that give screening access to minority and less visible filmmakers; and that bring the public into contact with films and filmmakers.
   
   
5. Grants must be used for the support of a particular event or element within a festival.
   
   
6. Grants may be used to support seminars, conferences or other educational events within a festival.
   
   
7. Grants are not awarded to support the screening of an individual new film.
   
   
8. Grants are not awarded to support competitions or awards programs.
   
   
9. Grants are not awarded to cover the expenses involved in the screening of works produced specifically for television or any other event or program that primarily involves work produced for television.
   
   
10. Grants are not awarded to support parties, hospitality suites, tribute dinners or any other similar events within a festival.
    
    
11. Grants are not awarded to support the development, production or completion of motion pictures.
    
    
12. All grants are awarded with the understanding that the Academy has discretion over the type and degree of recognition it receives from the grant recipient or others.
    
    
13. The Academy reserves the right to amend the above guidelines if extenuating circumstances or other unusual situations warrant such action.

Sponsorship Credit Requirements

The Academy requires grant recipients to acknowledge the Academy’s sponsorship in appropriate and reasonable ways. As each festival is unique, the Academy will assess sponsorship credit requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, the Academy has very specific views about the representation of its name and marks. Festivals must obtain prior approval of any mention or representation of the Academy Foundation, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or the Academy’s sponsorship.

As appropriate, please provide the following:

• prominent recognition on all printed material;
• mention in press releases;
• prominent recognition on any trailer or on-screen slide produced specifically for the festival;
• prominent recognition on the festival Web site with hyperlinks to the Academy’s Web site;
• recognition on banners and signage at the festival;
• ability to display an Academy banner or similar signage at the festival;
• ability to run an Academy-produced trailer at sponsored event(s);
• full-page ad in the festival program, brochure or magazine;
• a certain number of festival guest passes and reception invitations; and
• all other benefits offered to other sponsors at the equivalent level.
  

In lieu of or in addition to the placement of an Academy logo, the following acknowledgment line may be used:

Special support provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.