Fests get AMPAS coin
The Academy Foundation of the AMPAS has doled out $450,000 to twenty-four U.S. film festivals. Producer Gale Anne Hurd, who chairs the foundations's fest committee, announced the grants, which encourage festivals to make their events more publically accessible.
The coin comes as financially strapped corporations slim down their sponsorship roles, forcing many fests to tighten their belts. Jackson Hole Film Festival shuttered this month, citing the economic downtown.
Though for some, it may be a small drop in the bucket, compared to the gap they need to fill.
Two big winners, Nashville and New Orleans film festivals, will each get $75,000 over a three-year period. San Francisco Intl. Film Festival will collect $50,000 while Chicago Intl., Heartland, Mill Valley, Sarasota, and Seattle Intl. will pocket $30,000 each. Roger Ebert's Film Festival in Urbana, IL, gets $20,000.
The Academy Foundation grants over $1 million to scholars, orgs, and fests. Since 1999, its Festival Grant Program has awarded 198 grants totaling $3.5 million.
Full list:
$50,000
San Francisco International Film Festival
$30,000
Chicago International Film Festival
Heartland Film Festival (Indianapolis, IN)
Mill Valley Film Festival (San Rafael, CA)
Sarasota Film Festival (FL)
Seattle International Film Festival
$25,000
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival (Durham, NC)
Nashville Film Festival
New Orleans Film Festival
Virginia Film Festival (Charlottesville)
$20,000
Portland International Film Festival
Native American Film & Video Festival (New York City)
Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Urbana, IL)
Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival (Birmingham, AL)
Woodstock Film Festival (NY)
$10,000
Asian American International Film Festival (New York City)
$5,000
Arizona International Film Festival (Tucson)
BAMKids Film Festival (Brooklyn, NY)
Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival (AZ)
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival (WY)
Olympia Film Festival (WA)
Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival (Colorado Springs)
San Francisco Black Film Festival
Washington Jewish Film Festival (D.C.)
The coin comes as financially strapped corporations slim down their sponsorship roles, forcing many fests to tighten their belts. Jackson Hole Film Festival shuttered this month, citing the economic downtown.
Though for some, it may be a small drop in the bucket, compared to the gap they need to fill.
Two big winners, Nashville and New Orleans film festivals, will each get $75,000 over a three-year period. San Francisco Intl. Film Festival will collect $50,000 while Chicago Intl., Heartland, Mill Valley, Sarasota, and Seattle Intl. will pocket $30,000 each. Roger Ebert's Film Festival in Urbana, IL, gets $20,000.
The Academy Foundation grants over $1 million to scholars, orgs, and fests. Since 1999, its Festival Grant Program has awarded 198 grants totaling $3.5 million.
Full list:
$50,000
San Francisco International Film Festival
$30,000
Chicago International Film Festival
Heartland Film Festival (Indianapolis, IN)
Mill Valley Film Festival (San Rafael, CA)
Sarasota Film Festival (FL)
Seattle International Film Festival
$25,000
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival (Durham, NC)
Nashville Film Festival
New Orleans Film Festival
Virginia Film Festival (Charlottesville)
$20,000
Portland International Film Festival
Native American Film & Video Festival (New York City)
Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Urbana, IL)
Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival (Birmingham, AL)
Woodstock Film Festival (NY)
$10,000
Asian American International Film Festival (New York City)
$5,000
Arizona International Film Festival (Tucson)
BAMKids Film Festival (Brooklyn, NY)
Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival (AZ)
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival (WY)
Olympia Film Festival (WA)
Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival (Colorado Springs)
San Francisco Black Film Festival
Washington Jewish Film Festival (D.C.)
Michael Jones is the film festival editor at Variety.com. 
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