November 3, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Pavlik - (310) 247-3000

Beverly Hills, CA - The Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has allocated $250,000 to 17 U. S. film festivals for calendar year 2004 programming, the Academy's Festival Grants Committee Chair Buffy Shutt announced today.

Two festivals will receive $30,000 each, five will get $20,000 grants, one will receive $15,000, six will be given $10,000 and three will collect $5,000.

The $30,000 grants will go to the Chicago International Children's Film Festival and the Miami International Film Festival.

$20,000 Grants - to Austin (Texas) Film Festival, Mill Valley (California) Film Festival, OutFest: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival and The Hamptons International Film Festival (East Hampton, New York).

$15,000 Grant - to San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

$10,000 Grants - to African Diaspora Film Festival (New York City), Hot Springs (Arkansas) Documentary Film Festival, Newfest: The New York Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (New York City), San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Taos (New Mexico) Talking Pictures, USA Film Festival (Dallas, Texas).

$5,000 Grants - to CinemaTexas International Short Film Festival (Austin), Maine Jewish Film Festival (Portland), VC FilmFest: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film & Video Festival.

The Festival Grants Program was established by the Academy six years ago and to date has made 78 grants to film festivals.