Funding Criteria
- Quality of cinematic form and technique
- Originality of filmmaker’s voice, vision, and point of view
- Resonance and power of the film’s core idea or story
- Feasibility of production
Eligibility
- Projects must be long format; running times of 40 minutes or more.
- Primary creative personnel (director and/or producer) must reside in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont).
- Projects must not be commissioned or work-for-hire, and the director/producer creative team must have creative control of the project.
- Projects with directors or producers enrolled in high school, undergraduate or master’s degree programs at the time of application are ineligible for consideration.
- Multi-channel or installation work will not be considered.
- LEF no longer requires you to have a confirmed fiscal sponsor at the time that you submit a letter of inquiry or application. However, if you are awarded a grant, you must have a confirmed 501c3 fiscal sponsor in place in order to receive any grant funding. (Find more details about locating a fiscal sponsor on our FAQ page, and reach out to us if you have other questions.)
- For prior grantees, a final report on previous LEF grant funding is required. Previous LEF grantees, please click here for important eligibility information
Early Development Funding
A maximum of (6) grants of $2,500 each will be awarded to projects in the Early Development phase. This opportunity shares the same August deadline as LEF’s Pre-production grant deadline. Learn more about how to apply.
Appropriate Use of Funds: Early Development funds may be used for research, travel, location scouting, script or storyboard development, experimentation with shooting picture and sound, distribution planning, fundraising, creating a trailer, schedule and budget development, and staffing (creative, technical, or otherwise).
Pre-production Funding
A maximum of (6) grants of $5,000 will be awarded to projects in the Pre-production phase of development. This opportunity shares the same August deadline as LEF’s Early Development grant deadline. Learn more about how to apply.
Appropriate Use of Funds: Pre-production funds may be used for research, travel, location scouting, script or storyboard development, experimentation with shooting picture and sound, distribution planning, fundraising, creating a trailer, schedule and budget development, and staffing (creative, technical, or otherwise).
Production Funding
A maximum of (8) grants of $15,000 each will be awarded to projects in the Production phase during LEF’s major grants review. The January deadline for Production Letters of Inquiry is shared by Post-production. Learn more about how to apply.
Appropriate Use of Funds: Production funds may be used for shooting picture and sound, early stage editing, equipment costs, materials, travel, and staffing (creative, technical, or otherwise).
Post-production Funding
A maximum of (6) grants of $25,000 each will be awarded to projects in the Post-production phase during LEF’s major grants review. In order to be eligible for Post-production support, the project for which you are applying must have received previous LEF support. The January deadline for Post-production Letters of Inquiry is shared by Production. Learn more about how to apply.
Appropriate Use of Funds: Post-production funds may be used for editing costs, rights, online, sound mix, color correction, transfers, distribution strategy, and staffing (creative, technical, or otherwise).
