Black Creators Forum Short Film Grant
$5,000 in cash available
Presented by Indie Memphis & TONE
We are excited to announce the return of the Black Creators Forum Short Film Grant!. This grant will provide $5,000 in cash to a Memphis-based Black filmmaker to be used to produce an original short film.
Sponsored by:
Mark Jones
2022 RECIPIENT
Janay Kelley for “Kiss Me Softly”
(she/her)
After breaking up with her doting boyfriend, a young college student battles with her anxiety as she struggles with wanting to love but being too scared to be loved.
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Janay Kelley (she/her) is a nationally recognized literary and visual artist, focusing on themes such as intimacy, community, and spirituality through a Black Southern lens. Raised and based in Memphis, TN, her love for the written and spoken word as well as film has expanded into an extension of herself. Using prose and filmmaking as primary mediums, Kelley combines history, family anecdotes, and personal narratives to create meaningful artistic experiences that provide a connection between her work and the viewer. Currently, she attends Rhodes College, double-majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and Media Studies with a concentration in Media Productions.
Quote from Jurors
“Janay’s project demonstrates a strong command of visual language- evoking a sensibility that harkens back to cornerstones of the Black filmmaking canon. The characters and story engaged and captivated us. The jury is excited to support her work and is grateful to all the Memphis filmmakers who shared their projects and ideas.”
Short Film Grant Jury
Franco Clarke
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Growing up in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York, Franco showed a great passion for sports, primarily basketball. However, upon attending St. John's University, he discovered a different passion--Filmmaking.
After receiving a Bachelor's degree in Film & TV, he began interning for the Entertainer's Basketball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park. While filming and editing footage of celebrities and NBA stars such as Jay-Z, Fat Joe, Lebron James, Stephon Marbury, Rafer Alston (Skip-To-My-Lou) and Chris Brown, he became an editor at NBATV for several years.
Following that, he began to hone his craft as a filmmaker: writing, directing and editing a variety of films that have screened at film festivals across the country, as well as music videos for several musicians.
Franco is an award winning filmmaker whose recent feature film, THE PILL, was awarded Best Screenplay at the 2021 Indie Memphis Film Festival.
Lovia Gyarkye
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Lovia Gyarkye is a critic at The Hollywood Reporter. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic and The Nation. She lives in New York.
Funa Maduka
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Funa Maduka is a filmmaker and the former head of International Original Films at Netflix where she worked with the world's top global and emerging filmmakers. Over six years, she was positioned at the frontline of the company's global expansion, managing the launch of the film offering across 100+ countries. She pioneered Netflix' move into international film production, building a development slate across Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa. Meanwhile her film acquisitions brought Netflix its first film nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. Previously she worked at Participant Media developing and managing campaigns for film and television projects. She is an awarded filmmaker, credited with producing and directing the first Nigerian film to world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Project Guidelines
Black filmmakers and artists currently living in Memphis (or one of the surrounding counties) may apply.
All genres and film categories (Fiction, Documentary, Experimental, Proof of Concept, etc) are accepted and eligible for this grant.
All production must take place in Shelby, DeSoto, Crittenden, Tipton, Fayette, Marshall, and/or Mississippi counties.
Submissions that do not require additional fundraising after the amount given by this grant are strongly recommended.
Submissions should be for projects that do not plan to exceed 12 minutes in length.
Principal photography should be completed within 120 days after the announcement of the awarded filmmaker.
Only one submission is allowed per filmmaker.
If you are submitting as a team, there can only be one individual's name listed as the director and primarily applicant.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Black directors living in Shelby County (Tennessee), DeSoto County (Mississippi), Crittenden County (Arkansas), Tipton County (Tennessee), Fayette County (Tennessee), Marshall County (Mississippi), and Mississippi County (Arkansas).
Required Materials for Submission
Please read this carefully and make sure that you are submitting ALL of the required materials for the type of film that you are proposing.
Completed application.
Sample of past work (submitted within the application). Memphis filmmakers applying for this grant must submit previously produced film work, director’s reel, or screenplay. If you have never made a film, please submit an artist portfolio. If you have a website or a link to something that best represents your work, you may submit that. Film work or reels must not exceed 15 minutes in length.
Film Budget. You may either submit your own budget OR download our budget template to use. Template link and instructions can be found within the application.
Script, detailed treatment, or pitch deck. Narrative fiction & Proof of Concept submissions must include a script that does not exceed 12 pages. Documentary, Experimental, or other submissions must include a treatment (no longer than 5 pages in length) or visual pitch deck of the proposed film.
F.A.Q.
Click to expand each question.
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Grant funds need to be spent on production expenses. The details are up to you.
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Yes, you are! However, the recipient that is awarded this grant will not be eligible to receive other Indie Memphis funding opportunities for at least 18 months.
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We only want to provide funding for projects that can begin production within a reasonable amount of time. Please keep this in mind when applying. Is this a film that you can safely produce in the amount of time provided? If it appears that you will not be able to begin photography within the 120 days due to the ongoing pandemic (or other) concerns, we ask that you wait until another grant opportunity opens. We will, of course, work closely with the awarded filmmaker in the event that unforeseen circumstances arise. We are very understanding and can provide extensions where necessary.
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Yes, but we're not going to want to fund a project that might not be able to raise the money it needs to be completed. It is probably best to keep things small, unless you already have additional money committed.
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No, sorry. This grant is for shorts that can completely be shot in the Memphis area and its surrounding counties - specifically Shelby County, DeSoto County, Crittenden County, Tipton County, Fayette County, Marshall County, and Mississippi County.
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An independent jury of Black film professionals from outside of Memphis will review submissions and award the filmmaker of their choice.
Previous Winners
2020
Zaire Love
for Slice
2021
Courtney LeFlore
for R&B
