Granting Program | Acquisitions Program | Distribution Program | Education Program Philanthropic efforts in the developing world are normally concerned with providing the impoverished with food, shelter and other basic necessities. While this mission continues to be of utmost importance, it has become clear that cultural outreach needs to supplement these efforts. Authentic self-representation can be a vibrant partner to economic growth, providing a structure to understand global change while remaining true to a rich cultural heritage. Self-sufficiency and sustainability are not achieved through financial and industrial assistance alone; specifically supporting original filmmaking in the developing world celebrates the power of local storytelling traditions and acknowledges that a powerful fusion with modern cultural media can sustain and nourish these traditions. The Initiative will be awarding 10-20 grants of up to $10,000 per year. These funds are made available to filmmakers once the Initiative selection committee evaluates applicants' scripts and early footage of their films. The Initiative supports films that promise artistic excellence, exhibit accomplished storytelling and offer American audiences a variety of cultural perspectives on daily life around the world. The Initiative also seeks films that substantially contribute to the development of local film industries. Filmmakers use monies received from the Initiative to complete initial production and to pay for post-production costs, such as laboratory fees, sound mixing and access to modern editing systems. Click here for Granting Applications and Guidelines
Current grant recipients for the Summer 2009 funding cycle: 40 DAYS OF SILENCE (40 KUN CHILLA), dir. Saodat Ismailova (Uzbekistan)
Passion, shame, love and motherhood leave an indelible imprint upon the lives of four generations of women living together in a traditional Uzbek village. THE INCA, THE SILLY GIRL, AND THE SON OF A THIEF (EL INCA, LA BOBA Y EL HIJO DEL LADRÓN) dir. Ronnie Temoche (Peru)
Three disparate characters, seeking acceptance and community, travel to Peru’s capital city in a journey fraught with absurdity, hardship and humor. LUCÍA, dir. Niles Jamil Atallah (Chile)
In the weeks following the death of General Augusto Pinochet, a woman and her aging father struggle through the monotony of a life burdened by the oppressive dictator’s legacy. STRAW MAN (DAO CAO REN), dir. Peng Tao (China)
A crematorium worker trading in the lonely and macabre market of “ghost wives” is forced to face his own need for companionship when diagnosed with a terminal illness. WAITING THE VOTE (EN ATTENDANT LE VOTE), dir. Missa Hebie (Burkina Faso)
In the fictitious African nation of Golfe, a griot recounts the story of a brutal dictator’s rise to power through fixed elections and the supernatural force of a sacred meteorite. A YEAR WITHOUT A SUMMER dir. Tan Chui Mui (Malaysia)
A past-his-prime rock musician returns home to a small seaside village, eager to reconnect with family and start life afresh as a fisherman. For a list past grant recipents, click here. | 
