ARRI offers support for junior filmmakers and film students who are seeking for high-end cinema equipment to accomplish their vision. Currently, ARRI has two main programs that offer that support: The Franz Wieser Grant, and ARRIse. All details below.

Supporting young visionaries

For junior filmmakers, cinematographers, directors, and producers, who are eager to accomplish their vision and tell their story, but don’t have the budget to rent high-end cinema equipment, ARRI offers some help. “Through our service subsidiaries, ARRI Rental and ARRI Media, we routinely offer assistance to film students and young professionals by providing special conditions on equipment and individual postproduction solutions” as stated by ARRI. Currently, there are two main programs that offer support: The Franz Wieser Grant (for US-based productions), and ARRIse (for filmmakers based in East Asia Pacific).

Franz Wieser Grant

The Franz Wieser Grant offers camera and lighting equipment support for qualified US-based productions. Till now, the program has supported over 25 projects by providing camera and lighting equipment for feature films, TV pilots, documentaries, shorts, and still photography projects. Last year ARRI recognized the need to revisit the program and made necessary changes to extend the commitment to the filmmaking community. Starting in 2021, new media projects, live performance, PSA, and Livestream have been added as eligible formats for grant support.

Who can apply?

Whether you are an experienced filmmaker or just starting out, you can apply for the grant sponsorship for ARRI camera systems and lighting products.

Requirements & Submission

ARRI encourages you to include as many details as possible to give ARRI the complete picture of who is behind the project, what it is about, your visual style, and timeline.  The application process is open all year.  Furthermore, applications must be received three months in advance of the shooting date for optimal consideration and availability. Review of application may take 3-4 weeks). Download the documents and send them to grants@arri.com.

Selection process

As stated by ARRI: “Our focus is on unique stories and diverse filmmakers. We recommend including all required documents and carefully reviewing the guidelines before submitting your request. If you have any questions, reach out to us at: grants@arri.com”. The selection process is conducted all year round.

ARRIse

The ARRIse program is dedicated to emerging filmmakers based in East Asia Pacific.

Who can apply?

1. The applicant must have a key creative role in the film’s production: Director, cinematographer, or producer. The applicant must be at least 18 years old and a citizen from one of the following countries:  Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (the Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam.
2. The applicants must have produced less than five feature films in the same role.
3. The applicant must own the copyright of the film and/or will be able to grant ARRI the copyright to use any of their film-related content for our purposes. These include, but are not limited to, film excerpts, still photos, behind-the-scenes materials, quotes, and interviews.

Requirements & Submission

1. Feature and short films can receive the support.
2. The total production budget, including all phases of production, must be within US$300,000.
3. The project should have insurance to cover any damage, loss, and theft of the equipment
4. Non-English language films must have English subtitles.
5. The application must be received at least 4 months in advance of the shooting date for optimal consideration and equipment availability.
6. All submission documents must be in English.
7. The application process is open all year and will be reviewed on a cyclical basis.

Selection Criteria

Potential of the filmmakers, Uniqueness of the topic, Artistic merit, and Viability of the project

Offering

ARRIse can offer free rental of ARRI equipment, including:

1. One ALEXA Mini or AMIRA camera body and basic accessories
2. Electronic Viewfinder
3. An electronic control system, e.g., WCU-4
4. Ultra Prime Lenses (16mm, 24mm, 32mm, 50mm and 85mm)
5. SkyPanel S60-C
6. Orbiter

(Final package will be discussed with the successful candidates. Equipment pick-up is available at ARRI Asia (Hong Kong office). If local pick up is not possible, shipping of equipment to other locations will be covered by the candidates).

Summary

Qualified filmmakers should try and submit their projects to the relevant program. Although we believe that only a fraction of the projects passes the selection process, it’s still worth trying. Currently, there’s no program for the other parts of the globe (EMEA), since as for now, the International Support Program is not open for submissions. However, according to ARRI, they are updating the regulations, which means that soon productions from the EMEA will be able to apply as well.