The Denver Film Society is proud to announce the Music on Film-Film on Music (MOFFOM) Documentary Grant Program. The MOFFOM grant will provide up to $20,000 annually in finishing funds for documentary productions specifically for music licensing, scoring and composition. Awardees will be announced at the 41st Denver Film Festival (November 2018).
MOFFOM APPLICATION:
Important Dates:
LOI Deadline (2 pages max): April 16
Notification of Invitation to Submit a Full Application: May 1
Early Deadline: May 30
Late Deadline: June 15
GUIDELINES:
MOFFOM offers grants to selected feature-length documentary films in production and post-production
A film over 70 min in length is considered a feature-length film
We do not consider proposals for fiction films, docu-dramas, student projects, or outreach campaigns
Applicants must be 18 years or older
A fiscal sponsor is required to receive funding. The Denver Film Society offers a fiscal sponsorship program, but applicants can select a program of their choice. International applicants may apply, but must have a U.S. based fiscal sponsor should a grant be awarded. Grant recipients and their fiscal sponsors will be asked to review and sign a grant agreement and will be asked to submit progress reports on the project.
HOW TO APPLY:
Letter of Inquiry
The LOI is an online application that filmmakers can submit within a one month period. The LOI should be no more than 2 pages and include the following items:
• Logline: In a few sentences, describe the crux of your film
• Project synopsis
• Amount requested and proposed specific use of the grant (how does music choices impact your budget)
• To date, what support have you received for this project? List all sources of contributions.
• List examples of music you will use in the film, their cost and the name and company of your music supervisor
LOI’s will not be accepted until a payment of $25 is complete. The fee is waived for Denver Film Society Filmmaker members.
Approximately ten applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Finalists’ materials will be reviewed by a panel of industry professionals including composers, music supervisors, producers, etc.
Full Application
• Two-page treatment
• Three work samples. One should be footage from the project intended for the grant
• One-page director statement
• How will you measure the success of this project?
• List of names, roles, and qualifications of key individuals involved in the project including a music supervisor and fiscal sponsor
• Full budget including money raised to date
Review Panel
The Denver Film Society will convene panels to evaluate applications and award grants at its sole discretion. Winners will be announced in a press release and on the DFS website.
Payment
Payment will be made via business check and can be made out to an individual or company name according to recipient specifications. The Denver Film Society will issue a 1099 form at the year’s end reflecting grant income.
Fine Print
Filmmakers with incomplete applications will not be considered. LOI’s without payment will not be considered.
Filmmakers shall provide acknowledgment to the Denver Film Society and MOFFOM grant program. Logos will be provided by DFS.
Full Application:
Review Panel:
The Denver Film Society will convene panels to evaluate applications and award grants at its sole discretion. Winners will be announced in a press release and on the DFS website.
Payment:
Payment will be made via business check and can be made out to an individual or company name according to recipient specifications. The Denver Film Society will issue a 1099 form at the year’s end reflecting grant income.
Fine Print:
For more information about MOFFOM, please contact:
Denver Film Society
1510 York Street, Third Floor
Denver, CO 80206
In its inaugural year (2017), three projects were chosen for funding – GOING TO MARS, BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY and CALL HER GANDA. The filmmakers from the awarded projects and the jury – Cathy Carapella (music licensing), Shawn King (composer), and Jonathan Palmer (music supervisor and soundtrack producer) were joined together for a discussion about making the most of music in a documentary film during the 40th Denver Film Festival.
“The Denver Film Society is proud to announce the first round of funding through the Music on Film-Film on Music (MOFFOM) Documentary Grant Program,” says Festival Director, Britta Erickson. “This grant will provide much needed help to documentary filmmakers by awarding up to $20,000 annually in finishing funds for documentary productions, specifically for assisting with music for their films.”
The following films were selected as recipients in 2017:
GOING TO MARS
Director: Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project pushes the boundaries of biographical documentary storytelling to reveal the enduring influence of one of America’s greatest living artists and social commentators. Combining parallel cinematic story editing with visually innovative treatments of her poetry, together with intimate vérité, rich archival footage, and Giovanni’s own captivating contemporary performances, Going to Mars recounts the story of the artist and activist and the tumultuous historical periods in which she lived—from the Civil Rights Movement, to the Black Arts Movement, to present-day Black Lives Matter.
BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY
Director: Dava Whisenant
Once upon a time in the USA, Broadway and Business had a baby: the corporate musical. The film tells the story of one of Capitalism’s strangest creations and the comedy writer obsessed with rescuing this hidden world from obscurity.
CALL HER GANDA
Director: PJ Raval
Grassroots activists in the Philippines are spurred into action when a local transgender woman, Jennifer Laude, is brutally murdered by a US Marine. As they demand answers, and a just trial, hidden histories of US colonization and abuse come bubbling to the surface.
