The Global Film Initiative - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What type of films are eligible for a production grant?
Our production grants are available for narrative, feature-length film projects (more than 65 min.) in pre-production production, and post-production that meet all application requirements, and are produced in Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East; please note directors must have been born in and retain citizenship from the same country of production. See DAC List for a complete list of eligible nations. We do not accept documentaries or short film submissions for either the Granting or Acquisitions Programs. Short films are considered to be 64 minutes or less.

2) I am a first-time filmmaker and have no previous work. Can I still apply?
Yes, we encourage first-time filmmakers to apply with their eligible projects.

3) If my film is in its final cut, can I submit it for consideration?
You may submit your film if it is in the final cut stage, as long as it does not premiere before grant decisions are made in March (Winter cycle) or September (Summer cycle).

4) Can I submit my project if it is only in its first draft, or I only have a treatment?
Our production grants are not available to projects without a complete script. If your project is in its first draft or you only have a treatment, please apply to our program once your script is complete.

5) Do you support feature length documentaries or docu-drama films?
We do not give grants to documentaries or docu-drama films. If the film is primarily composed of documentary material, then it is not eligible for grants. If the film is primarily composed of fictional elements – including reenactment – then it is eligible for grants.

6) In order to be eligible for granting consideration, what stage of production does my film need to be in?
Applications are accepted for projects in pre-production, production and post-production only with a finished and English-translated screenplay, 50% or more funding secured and at least three (3) months before the film’s world premiere.

7) If a group of short films is made into a feature-length film, is that an acceptable submission to the Granting Program?
A collection of short films will only be considered for feature film grants if: (i) the films are thematically tied, (ii) they are produced through the same production company, (iii) the total running time is between 70 and 120 minutes and (iv) the films were intended to be screened together from the screenplay’s inception.

8) What countries and regions are eligible for the Granting Program?
Applications are accepted only from the following regions (please note directors must have been born in and retain citizenship from the same country of production): Africa, Asia (excluding Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), the Caribbean (excluding Cuba), Central and Eastern Europe (excluding European Union), Latin America, the Middle East (excluding Iran and Israel) and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand). Please see DAC List for a complete list of eligible nations:
http://www.globalfilm.org/pdfs/DAC_List.pdf

9) Are applications from some countries ineligible for consideration?
Yes, some countries are ineligible. Applications are accepted only from the following regions (please note directors must have been born in and retain citizenship from the same country of production): Africa, Asia (excluding Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), the Caribbean (excluding Cuba), Central and Eastern Europe (excluding European Union), Latin America, the Middle East (excluding Iran and Israel) and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand). Please see DAC List for a complete list of eligible nations: http://www.globalfilm.org/pdfs/DAC_List.pdf

10) If my film is set in the United States, but its director, crew and cast are from an eligible country, is my film eligible for a grant?
No. Applications are accepted only from the following regions (please note directors must have been born in and retain citizenship from the same country of production): Africa, Asia (excluding Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), the Caribbean (excluding Cuba), Central and Eastern Europe (excluding European Union), Latin America, the Middle East (excluding Iran and Israel) and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand). Please see DAC List for a complete list of eligible nations:
http://www.globalfilm.org/pdfs/DAC_List.pdf

11) If my film is meets all eligibility criteria, but has a co-producer from an ineligible nation (e.g. France, U.S.A., etc.), can I still apply?
Yes. You may have a co-producer from an “ineligible” nation, but please note the production itself must take place in an eligible nation, and the director must have been born in and retain citizenship from the same nation as the production.

12) Why don’t you accept grant applications from Cuba or Iran and/or for films produced in Cuba or Iran?
Unfortunately, due to current U.S. sanctions against Cuba and Iran, the Global Film Initiative is prohibited from awarding grants to filmmakers residing in Cuba or Iran and/or for films that will be produced in Cuba or Iran. For information regarding these sanctions, please visit the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) website:
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/index.shtml

13) Do you have grants for script development?
No. We do not provide grants for script development, only for projects with a completed and English-translated screenplay.

14) Do you provide education and training grants for students or aspiring filmmakers?
No. We do not provide any grants for education and/or training.

15) How often do you accept grant applications?
We currently have calls for entries twice per year, in the winter and summer.

16) What is the best way to send my application (by e-mail attachment, fax or mail)?
Complete submissions, including all script copies and additional materials, should be sent to us by international courier with a tracking number. Packages can also be sent by mail but there is a significant chance of damage or loss in transit. We do not accept applications via e-mail or fax.

17) I do not have the money to send my application. Will you reimburse me for postal expenses?
No. All costs associated with submission are borne by the applicant.

18) Do applications need to arrive in your office by the deadline?
Applications must be postmarked by the deadline. Applications can arrive in our office after the deadline, if they are postmarked on or before the stated deadline. In addition, all materials must arrive in our office no later than one week after the stated deadline.

19) What happens if my application is incomplete?
Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed.

20) Will you return my application materials after the granting process has been completed?
No. Upon submission, all applications are reviewed confidentially and then destroyed after evaluation to maintain applicant privacy.

21) How long will it take to review my project? When can I expect a decision?
The review process is approximately 8-10 weeks and notification is typically made in the last week of March (Winter cycle) or September (Summer cycle).

22) Who reviews my application?
Applications are reviewed carefully via a four-stage process by a granting committee comprised of staff and industry professionals.

23) What is considered a "complete" application?
A complete application consists of at least the following materials: English-translated screenplay; 50% or more of production funding secured; production budget and biographies of key personnel; production schedule; additional materials. Check application and guidelines for full list of required materials:
http://www.globalfilm.org/guidelines_en.htm

24) On the application form, can I choose both the Grant and the Pre-Sale Option, or do I have to choose just one?
You may apply for both. Please note that details of the Pre-Sale Option are only disclosed when and if an offer is extended.

25) If my film is in production or post-production, do I still need to send in all the required materials as part of my grant application? If my film only needs funding for a "blow-up" or telecine, do I need to send in a script or screenplay?
We do require you to send all materials listed in our granting guidelines in order for your application to be considered complete. These materials are necessary to ensure a complete and thorough review of your project. Productions that have only dailies, rushes or a rough cut must submit complete copies of the translated script as part of their grant application. Productions at the final cut stage do not need to submit screenplays as part of the application, as long as you submit DVD copies of the final cut with your application.

26) Do my script and other application materials need to be in English?
Yes. All non-audiovisual submission materials must be in English. Audiovisual material (VHS/DVD) and financial agreements can be in another language, but if a translation is available please include it.

27) How many copies of my previous work, or rushes/rough cut/final cut of my current project should I submit with my application?
Please submit two (2) copies only of previous works and/or film footage.

28) Can I send a VHS or DVD of previous work or my current project in PAL format? What other formats do you accept?
We accept DVDs in NTSC or PAL of your previous work, rushes or your current project. We no longer accept VHS submissions.

29) Do you have a preferred format for presentation of my production budget?
We accept budgets in any format. Please supply us with your most current and detailed budget. If it does not contain enough information for our purposes, we will contact you.

30) The guidelines state I must provide biographies of key production personnel. Who does this include?
At minimum, you must provide biographies for the Director, Writer and Producer. If available, you may also include biographies for any other additional key production personnel.

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EDUCATION FAQs

1) How does an organization get to participate with the Educational Program?
The Education Program is made available in conjunction with the Global Lens film series, through partner institutions. Institutions apply to the Global Film Initiative for consideration each year.

2) How are the partner institutions selected?
We select cultural institutions with demonstrated excellence in community outreach, who are willing and able to implement the Education Program in a comprehensive way. These institutions are able to offer the Global Lens series to the general public, as well.

3) What is being provided in the Educational Program materials?
The following resources are available for download on our website:

Lesson Plans — performance–based assessment tools developed on the Project-based Learning (PBL) model, designed to encourage reading, writing, presentation and collaboration skills through warm–up and post-screening activities.
Discussion Guides — comprehensive background resources about each film, including information about the geography, history and cultural setting, the filmmaker’s statement and biography, and a guide to filmmaking techniques. Post-screening discussion questions are theme–based, designed to encourage deeper understanding of the characters, stories and cultural setting of the film.
Presenter’s Guides — film highlights and talking points to support presenter introductions.
Fact Sheets for each film, similar to the Presenter’s Guides but with more information about the filmmaker, where the film has been screened and awards received
Curriculum Maps to support the Project Arts and Social Studies Programs of the New York City Department of Education. These curriculum maps suggest post–screening activities that are aligned with NYCDOE Standards, Key Ideas and Benchmarks.
Subtitle Lists that correspond to the subtitles shown on the screen. Subtitle Lists can be valuable for post–screening activities that focus on the details of particular scenes or character development.

4) What cultures or regions does the Initiative cover?
Africa, Asia (excluding Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan), Latin America, The Caribbean, the Middle East, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand).

5) What is the current calendar for the film series and collateral Educational Program?
January 1st — December 31st is the calendar year for the Global Lens film series. Films for students are presented in conjunction with the Global Lens film series venues and dates. Check the Global Lens Calendar for dates and locations of upcoming Global Lens films for students. Films from prior years are available through First Run Features/Icarus Films.

6) Where do students see the films?
In a theater setting in conjunction with Global Lens partner institutions. Films for students may be presented in large–format auditorium settings, with approval from participating institutions.

7) Which films are included in this year's educational program?
The films in this year's educational program are:

2013 Educational Program
About 111 Girls. Iraq, 2012. Nahid Ghobadi & Bijan Zamanpira, 79 minutes
Beijing Flickers. China, 2012. Zhang Yuan, 96 minutes
Cairo 678. Egypt, 2010. Mohamed Diab, 100 minutes
Life Kills Me. Chile, 2007. Sebastián Silva, 92 minutes
Shyamal Uncle Turns Off the Lights. India, 2012. Suman Ghosh, 65 minutes

2012 Educational Program
Craft. Brazil, 2010. Gustavo Pizzi, 85 minutes
The Finger. Argentina, 2011. Sergio Teubal, 93 minutes
Mourning. Iran, 2011. Morteza Farshbaf, 84 minutes
The Prize. Argentina, 2011. Paula Markovitch, 99 minutes
Toll Booth. Turkey, 2010. Tolga Karaçelik, 96 minutes

2011 Educational Program
Belvedere. Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010. Ahmed Imamović, 90 minutes
Street Days. Georgia, 2010. Levan Koguashvili, 86 minutes
A Useful Life. Uruguay, 2010. Federico Veiroj, 63 minutes
The White Meadows. Iran, 2009. Mohammad Rasoulof, 93 minutes

2010 Educational Program
Masquerades. Algeria, 2008. Lyes Salem, 92 minutes
My Tehran for Sale. Iran, 2009. Granaz Moussavi, 95 minutes
Ocean of an Old Man. India, 2008. Rajesh Shera, 84 minutes
Shirley Adams. South Africa, 2009. Oliver Hermanus, 92 minutes

2009 Educational Program
Mutum. Brazil, 2007. Sandra Kogut, 86 minutes
Those Three. Iran, 2007. Naghi Nemati, 80 minutes
What a Wonderful World. Morocco, 2006. Faouzi Bensaïdi, 94 minutes

2008 Educational Program
The Bet Collector. Philippines, 2006. Jeffrey Jeturian, 98 minutes
The Fish Fall In Love. Iran, 2006. Ali Raffi, 96 minutes
The Kite. Lebanon, 2003. Randa Chahal Sabbag, 80 minutes
Let the Wind Blow. India, 2004. Partho Sen-Gupta, 93 minutes

2007 Educational Program
Enough!. Algeria/France, 2006. Djamila Sahraoui, 94 minutes
Kilometre Zero. Iraqi Kurdistan/France, 2005. Hineer Saleem, 96 minutes
Of Love and Eggs. Indonesia, 2004. Garin Nugroho, 90 minutes

2006 Educational Program
Border Café. Iran, 2005. Kambozia Partovi, 105 minutes
Max and Mona. South Africa, 2004. Teddy Mattera, 98 minutes
Stolen Life. China, 2005. Li Shaohong, 90 minutes

2005 Educational Program
Daughter of Keltoum. Algeria, 2001, Mehdi Charef, 101 minutes.
Hollow City. Angola, 2004, Maria João Ganga, 88 minutes.
Rachida. Algeria, 2002, Yamina Bachir-Chouikh, 100 minutes.
Uniform. China, 2003, Diao Yinan, 92 minutes.

2003-2004 Educational Program
Angel on the Right. Tajikistan, 2002, Djamshed Usmonov, 88 minutes.
Margarette's Feast. Brazil, 2002, Renato Falcão, 80 minutes.
Ticket to Jerusalem. Palestine, 2002, Rashid Masharawi, 85 minutes.
Women's Prison. Iran, 2002, Manijeh Hekmat, 108 minutes.

8) Where can I find out more information about the educational program?
Check the Education Program page of our website.

9) Where can I get copies of the Initaitive's EDU guides?
To download a PDF file of a Global Lens study guide click here.

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