NM film group has grant program for students
The New Mexico Girls Make Movies Grant offers New Mexico girls and young women (ages 12 to 25) the opportunity to submit their original screenplays, shorts stories, comic books, poems, etc. for the chance to win a $1,000 production budget and the support of a professional film crew to turn their story into a short film.
Since 2013, producers of television series have been allowed to deduct 30 percent of the money they spend in the state.
The New Mexico Film Foundation announced two new grant programs for New Mexico students.
The New Mexico Girls Make Movies Grant offers New Mexico girls and young women (ages 12 to 25) the opportunity to submit their original screenplays, shorts stories, comic books, poems, etc. for the chance to win a $1,000 production budget and the support of a professional film crew to turn their story into a short film. All finalists will be invited to join the crew on the winning short film.
From screenwriting to editing, costume design to camera, girls learn every aspect of the filmmaking process to make their short film great. Professional mentors guide them every step of the way and the girls gain on-set experience.
The program was created by New Mexico Girls Make Movies Grant directors Jocelyn Jansons, a Santa Fe-based filmmaker and winner of the George R.R. Martin Grant through the New Mexico Film Foundation for her upcoming feature film, “WOLF,” and Carrie McCarthy, the marketing and creative director for Santa Fe Photographic Workshops and founder of Santa Fe Women in Photography.
Applications opened Jan. 15 and close March 15. For complete rules and to download the application, visit nmfilmfoundation.org or nmgirlsmakemovies.org.
In addition, Tale Writers Scholastic Script Contest encourages New Mexico high school and college students to further their screenwriting abilities. Students submit a complete short film screenplay of 10 pages or less with a theme of “New Mexico history.” Local professional screenwriters will judge the competition. Cash prizes will be provided by the Governor’s Mansion Foundation.
That contest is open to March 15. Submissions may be made at talewriters.org/script-contests.
The top three finalists of both grant competitions will receive an invitation to the New Mexico Film Foundation Gala at the Governor’s Mansion in April, where their screenplays will be performed as staged readings. The staged readings are made possible through the support of the New Mexico Governor’s Mansion Foundation.
