Filmmaker Grant Launched In Honor Of Lynn Shelton

Lynn Shelton was in a league of her own. The indie filmmaker was well-known for her “ad-lib style,” as well as her deeply complex female characters that are often absent in larger Hollywood productions. Shelton created several notable films, including The Sword of Trust, and Your Sister’s Sister, and even directed several remarkable series like Mad Men, and Glow.

Lynn Shelton was a pioneer in her field. And she should be celebrated and remembered and honored for paving the way for other female filmmakers who help to share important stories on film. The Independent filmmaker died unexpectedly in May, and now a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant will be awarded each year to a U.S.-based woman or non-binary filmmaker, age 39 or older, who has yet to direct a narrative feature. The Grant is stewarded by the Northwest Film Forum together with Duplass Brothers Productions.

Megan Griffiths, Shelton’s longtime friend, and collaborator, who is working in her capacity as a member of the board of Northwest Film Forum to help establish the grant, had this to say:

“This grant seeks to reinforce that great filmmakers can emerge at any age and to elevate the voices of a segment of the filmmaking community who have precious few resources dedicated to supporting them yet plenty of stories to tell.

Lynn was 39 when I met her on her first feature, and I watched her grow as an artist and become more certain in her path with every passing year. She wore her ‘late bloomer’ status as a badge of honor and we know she would be thrilled that this grant exists in her name.”

Megan Griffiths

Here are some of the eligibility requirements for this grant:

• Eligibility will be by nomination only.
• Eligible filmmakers must have “director” credit on at least one short film or feature documentary and have a desire to work in the narrative space. Filmmakers with “director” credit on a feature-length (70+ min) narrative film will not be considered.
• The filmmaker should be a woman or non-binary individual and be 39 years or older at the time of nomination.
• Filmmaker must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident with a Green Card.
• Filmmakers should be at a point in their careers where such recognition would be meaningful and provide needed support.
• In a directing team, both directors must meet the above criteria.

Artists that are not of a certain age should log on to the arts and culture category on GrantWatch to locate hundreds of grants for artists.

Here are a few grants for artists of any age:

• Award of $30,000 to a USA individual to recognize artistic contributions that have enhanced the community. The award recipient will also receive additional financial and in-kind support for further learning, collaboration, and professional development.
• Grants of up to $5,000 to USA, Canada, and International individuals to address emergency needs. Grant funds may be used to respond to urgent needs such as food, medical and dental expenses, transportation, housing, and utilities.
• Opportunity to USA, Canada, and International artists and arts organizations to participate in a program that offers financial assistance and promotes their work during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis.
• Grants of up to $5,000 to USA, Canada, and International individual artists, collectives, and artist-journalist teams to support innovative journalistic projects.
• Grants to USA musicians for urgent needs in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis. Funding is intended to provide emergency assistance to jazz and blues performers and their families to cover basic living expenses.
• Grants to USA and territories television and film producers to create documentaries about the culture and history of the people of the Pacific Islands.