Imagine Science Films is more than a film festival—we are a collaborative community of filmmakers, audience, venues and neighborhoods. One of our most innovative programs which we will announce shortly is The Imagine Science Filmmaker’s Fund, a slate of grants given to selected filmmakers whose work has screened at the festival.

Imagine Science Films not only exhibits science films from around the world, we also collaborate with the filmmakers whose work we screen to make new movies through the Imagine Science Filmmakers’ Fund. So often, filmmakers spend so much of their resources making one film that it’s hard for them to produce another. But unlike festivals which give away awards for filmmakers’ past work, the Imagine Science Filmmakers Fund is an opportunity to help deserving filmmakers make their next movie.

Imagine Science has grants available for short films. We believe that short films do not receive the attention they deserve in the world of film, and that all too often even a festival which prominently includes short films does little for the filmmaker in the long run.

For the short film grant, Imagine Science Films earmarks one dollar from every regularly-priced ticket sold and every submission fee received for the Filmmakers’ Fund. Twice a year, all filmmakers whose movies have screened at Imagine Science Films are eligible to apply for grants for their future productions. We believe that instead of giving each filmmaker ten dollars, giving away a few larger sums (up to $3,000) toward specific projects is a better way to help the filmmakers and the independent filmmaking community in general.

It is our mission to provide a full-service outlet for makers of independent films—from production to exhibition to distribution and back to the next production. In this way, Imagine Science Films works like no other festival to promote and further the art of the short film and support independent filmmaking.

** Please note that only directors and producers of films which have previously screened at Imagine Science Films are eligible for grants. If you were a key collaborator on a film that screened at Imagine Science Films, or have questions regarding your eligibility, please e-mail info@imaginesciencefilms.com