Grant Press Releases


April 10th, 2019


ScreeningRoom, Jigsaw Productions and Points North Institute partner to launch, Follow Focus, a new post-production grant for short cinematic documentaries

ScreeningRoom, Jigsaw Productions and Points North Institute and are excited to announce Follow Focus, a new grant developed to support a filmmaker working on a short documentary film currently in post-production who is looking for financial assistance and mentorship to help them cross the finish line. The selected documentary filmmaker or video journalist will receive $10,000 towards the creation of a short, cinematic documentary film, a one year ScreeningRoom Pro account, and consultations from industry producers and editors. The selected documentary filmmaker will also have the opportunity to premiere their film at the 2019 Camden International Film Festival in September. The Camden International Film Festival is a program of the Points North Institute, and will celebrate its 15th edition September 12-15, 2019.

“We are delighted that Alex Gibney and the Points North Institute are supporting this new grant to help filmmakers,” says Micah Garen, a founder of ScreeningRoom. “Our goal at ScreeningRoom is to help build a sustainable ecosystem in the independent filmmaking space, and funding and mentorship is essential,” says Marie-Helene Carleton, another founder at ScreeningRoom.
“Jigsaw is delighted to help sponsor this grant with our great partners ScreeningRoom and the Camden International Film Festival,” says Oscar winning filmmaker Alex Gibney. “Jigsaw is focused on helping to amplify new voices in documentary film. This grant with financial and mentorship support is an exciting step in that direction.”
“Supporting creators of shortform documentary has been a commitment of ours for over a decade,” said Ben Fowlie, Points North Institute’s Executive and Artistic Director. “This grant will provide the resources that many filmmakers need to get their stories out into the world, but are still too rare the world of independent short docs.”

Applications will open on April 10th, and will be accepted through June 1st. There is a $20 fee to submit to the grant and applicants will need a Basic, Premium or Pro ScreeningRoom account. Visit screeningroom.org or pointsnorthinstitute.org for more information on how to apply.

ScreeningRoom is committed to supporting independent filmmakers by providing collaboration tools, community and grants to help address the challenging problem of sustainability for independent filmmakers and video journalists.

Jigsaw Productions is an award-winning documentary production company helmed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney.

Points North Institute is a Maine-based media arts organization that produces the Camden International Film Festival and other programs that serve as a launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers.