August 10, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  John Pavlik - (310) 247-3090

San Francisco International
Film Festival Selected for
3-Year Academy Grant

Beverly Hills, CA — The San Francisco International Film Festival has become the third major U.S. festival to receive a "secure foundation" grant from the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The festival will receive $50,000 from the Academy in 2007 and $50,000 a year for the next two years, for a total of $150,000.

"With the Academy guaranteeing funds for three years, our hope is that this type of grant will help a festival build a sturdy foundation for a project," said Festival Grants Committee Chair Gale Anne Hurd. "That kind of security will permit a festival to take some chances with programs they might otherwise not be willing to try."

Last year, the Los Angeles Film Festival received this special grant from the Academy and two years ago, the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado was the first to receive the three years of funding.

"Next year we'll take a look at how Telluride and Los Angeles have fared with this funding and see if it's an idea we want to continue in future years," Hurd said.

In addition to these special grants, the Academy's annual festival grants program last year dispensed $300,000 in grants to 24 festivals, said Academy Grants Coordinator Shawn Guthrie, and later this year will allocate another $300,000. Under this annual program, the San Francisco International Film Festival received a $30,000 grant in 2000 and $25,000 grants in 2003 and 2005.

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