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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Academy Foundation will award $450,000 to 24 U.S. film festivals for the next year, it was announced by Festival Grants Committee chair Buffy Shutt.

Grants are awarded each year to support a variety of festival programs, but the most successful proposals appear to be those which seek to make festival events more accessible to the general public, provide greater access to minority and less visible filmmakers, and strengthen the connection between filmmakers and the community at large.

Notable recipients of funds for the upcoming 2010 calendar year include the Chicago International Children's Festival, Cinequest, the Los Angeles Film Festival, Outfest and the Santa Barbara Film Festival.