02 September 2011

First Light funding for young filmakers
By Bianca on 01 Sep 2011 10:42 am

First Light is now accepting applications to the First Light Young Film Fund. First Light has also announced some updates to the Pilot and Studio Grants, as well as other news:

• 90 Second Comedy Shorts Grant
Organisations can apply for up to £20,000 to make between 3-6 comedy shorts up to 90 Seconds each in duration. First Light has recently become a YouTube partner and acknowledges that YouTube is accessed by many people and this grants scheme hopes to inspire young people from across the UK to create their own films. All projects are to be delivered by 14 March 2012. There is a 20% match funding requirement. First Light will be accepting 50 applications for this grants scheme.

Deadline: 2:00 on 12 October 2011
Website: http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/fundingstream/young-film-fund

• Changes to Pilot Grants
Organisations can now apply for up to £5,000 to make 1 short film up to 3 minutes in duration. There is a 20% match funding requirement First Light will be accepting 80 applications for the Pilot Grants scheme.

Deadline: 2:00 on 12 October 2011
Website: http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/fundingstream/young-film-fund

• Changes to Studio Grants
Organisations can now apply for up to £30,000 to make between 2-4 short films up to 3 minutes in duration. There is a 20% match funding requirement. First Light will be accepting 80 applications for the Studio Grants scheme.

Deadline: 2:00 on 12 October 2011
Website: http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/fundingstream/young-film-fund

• BBC Mentor Opportunity
First Light is taking part in a mentoring scheme by BBC Connect and Create, which gives BBC employees the opportunity to volunteer as a mentor for First Light projects. The First Light website says that "by having a BBC Mentor on your project, your First Light project could benefit with industry skills transfer, one to one mentoring, group mentoring and an enhancement of your current planned project activity." There is a box on the First Light application form to tick if you are interested in this mentoring scheme when applying for a grants scheme, and you can state particular areas that support from a BBC mentor would help your project.

• Film Nation Opportunity
Film Nation is one of the national Cultural Olympiad projects, managed by First Light and Screen WM, working with the Olympic Lottery Distributor and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). First Light will be looking for Pilot and Studio Grant applications that take the Olympic ideals as inspiration and that enable young people to explore what the 2012 Games means to them and their communities.

The Olympic Ideals are:
• Respect
• Friendship
• Excellence for the Olympic Games
• Courage
• Determination
• Inspiration
• Equality for the Paralympic Games.
Please note that not all Pilot and Studio Grants applications must have this theme, see the criteria for each fund for more information.
Applications must be made online for the above grants schemes.
All Young Film Fund projects for this round have almost 4 months to deliver a project. All projects are to be delivered by 14 March 2012.
To find out more about the schemes and news above, visit the First Light Website here.
Contact: First Light
Email: info@firstlightonline.co.uk
Website: http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/news/new-funding-round-opens-with-a-twist