Film Scholarships

Can You Get A Scholarship for Film?

Some film scholarships are academic and help pay for a film studies degree. Applicants often need to submit a short film they directed. There may be other criteria for eligibility too. Things such as financial need, minority status and/or grade point average.

For this type of scholarship, the provider may specify the format and length of your film. But the applicant usually selects the genre. Popular film categories include:

• Animation
• Alternative/Experimental
• Documentary
• Narrative

Winning entries often reflect the merits of two things. One, the film itself when viewed as a whole. Second, the professional quality of each part. Things such as script, dialogue, direction, cinematography, lighting, acting, editing and scoring.

Scholarships for Film Makers Interested in Television If you more a fan of the Emmys than the Oscars, there are scholarships too. Many providers want to support aspiring TV journalists.

One such provider is the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. NATAS offers a few scholarships for students interested in the television industry. There are awards for students in Chicago, the Upper Midwest, San Francisco, and the Northwest.

Video Contests

Other film scholarship opportunities are more like contests. They may be open to anyone who sends in a short video on a certain topic. These may not look at your grades, or financial need, only your message and how you convey it.

One example is the Pursuit Scholarship. Applicants submit a 5-minute video to enter for a chance to win $500 or $1,000. There are many more like this and you might apply to more than one at a time.

Grants for Film Makers

A film grant may be perfect if you need to complete a film for a college capstone. Like a scholarship, a grant is money you get and do not have to repay (assuming you meet the conditions).

If you are pursuing a degree in film or media, a grant might offset production costs. But it may not pay your tuition. Still, putting your film in the running might land you a few thousand dollars.

To apply, you usually need to submit a proposal. This means figuring out your story line. Plus, your budget for things like editing, filming and location.

Why Consider Film Scholarships?

If your goal is to produce a motion picture or TV show, it helps to have a college degree. A film studies degree might ready you with the skills to pursue a wide range of careers. You might choose to work as a producer, director, video or film editor for example.

Film and video editors earn an average of $61,450 in the motion picture and video industries. Job prospects are positive, but the field is competitive. Recent estimates point to 14% more job openings by 2028.

Working as a producer or director, you might earn about $71,680 per year. Demand is on-the-rise by 5% as streaming services and reality TV continue to lure viewers.

As exciting as it sounds, to get a film career off the ground takes money. At last check, the cost of pursuing a degree in film, cinema and video studies at a public in-state college is $8,091. Add the cost of film production and the numbers climb.

Luckily, there are many film scholarships to help you pay for college. Or, fund creative projects that make use of your talents and help you build a portfolio.

Your college may set scholarships aside for film majors. So, make sure when you apply to check them out. But there are many other providers to source too.

Top Upcoming Film Scholarships

Lights, camera, action! These top 11 film scholarships might help you parlay your filmmaking talents into money for college. Some are video contests and others entail a project that is larger in scope. Apply to the ones that match your goals.