Film Student Scholarships
Make Your Indy Film Hobby a Reality
Following in the shoes of a Coppola or Spielberg can be exciting stuff to dream of, but going to film school doesn't have to be that lofty a pursuit. Believe it or not, your indy film hobby may pay off in big scholarships that can help you with college costs.
Be prepared to jump right in and show off your stuff because this is a hyper-competitive field. If you expect to be behind a camera as a director or cinematographer or work as a screenwriter, you will no doubt go head-to-head with top, emerging talent. But there are plenty of other film-related careers that are an essential ingredient to any good film. Professionals find well-paying and rewarding jobs behind the scenes in costuming, special effects, editing, film scoring, production and even marketing.
Scholarship Programs
If you are female and tackling film school, better familiarize yourself with the organization Women in Film. This notable non-profit dedicates itself to women in all areas of the film industry. Entertainment has always been a tricky profession for women, especially when it comes to being regarded in the same light as their male counterparts and women behind the film camera have been often overlooked. Women in Film is instrumental in funding the professional projects of women filmmakers as well as supporting students passionate about the art form. The Women in Film Foundation Scholarships are extremely competitive, the awards are in themselves a type of recognition for talent and creativity. Eligible students must be enrolled in affiliated film schools in California and be able to demonstrate significant financial need. Scholarships are given for a variety of film-related specialties.
The fraternal organization Phi Delta Theta offers a very attractive scholarship to filmmaking students and you don't have to be a member of the Phi Delts to qualify. The Francis D. Lyon Scholarship for Film Students is named in honor of a Phi Delta Theta member who had a rewarding career as a filmmaker. Eligible applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate film major and be able to demonstrate financial need. Awards are $3,000.
The American Film Institute is one of the premier organizations in the world of film. The AFI Conservatory provides competitive educations to next-gen film greats whose visions and creative drive have set them apart. Students are immersed in a comprehensive film production environment in which creative collaboration and innovation are encouraged. Graduate students may qualify for the AFI Fellows scholarships awarded to outstanding filmmakers each academic year.
The Screen Actors Guild Foundation (SAG) is the most well known professional organization uniting and supporting professional screen actors. The SAG funds internships for students with disabilities. Recipients of the internships are fitted to positions and jobs in various behind the scenes areas of the film industry. SAG also funds the John Dales Scholarship, which goes to members or dependents of members who can demonstrate professional and financial need for college funding.
Eastman Kodak Scholarship Program is a competitive program for student filmmakers. Funded by Kodak, the program intends to cull the best future filmmakers at the same time it bestows rich scholarships of $5,000. Applicants must be able to furnish a student film that demonstrates vision and creative talent. They must also have a solid academic record and letters of recommendation from film school faculty. Recipients are chosen by a jury of leading industry filmmakers and cinematographers who also base their selections on student leadership abilities and extracurricular engagement in film-related activities.
The University of Colorado-Boulder provides a very reputable and award-winning Film Studies program. Students are regularly chosen to receive the lucrative Sundance Institute Internships. Qualified students may also earn University Research Grants that assist with costs for student projects.
Those students whose film interests lie in film scoring may be qualified for the ASCAP Steve Kaplan TV and Film Studies Scholarship. The award provides funding for travel and tuition at the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop.
