Kodak and the UFVF (The University Film and Video Foundation) announce that the 30th UFVF/KODAK Student Filmmaking and Cinematography Grants are open. Submit your film (no entry fee) to win cash prizes and KODAK Motion Picture Products. Read the terms below.

30th UFVF/KODAK Student Filmmaking and Cinematography Grants

The UFVF (The University Film and Video Foundation) is a not-for-profit corporation that engages in and promotes worldwide education, research, innovation, and charitable activities in the arts and sciences of moving images as well as media yet to be defined. Together with KODAK, the 30th UFVF/KODAK Student Filmmaking and Cinematography Grants have established, and open for submissions. The deadline is June 1.

Dedicated for film schools

Filmmaking schools, departments, and programs can submit their institution’s three strongest films to the 2021 UFVF/KODAK Student Filmmaking and Cinematography Grants. Winning students receive cash grants and motion picture products and will screen as a part of the next University Film and Video Association annual conference (virtual event).

Awards & Prizes

Excellence in Filmmaking

The category of Excellence in Filmmaking will be evaluated on the basis of creative and technical ability, communications ability, and filmmaking excellence. This award will be given to the filmmaker. Entries may originate in any format.

1. Gold Grant: $5,000 Cash + $5,000 KODAK Motion Picture Product
2. Silver Grant: $3,000 Cash + $3,000 KODAK Motion Picture Product
3. Bronze Grant: $2,000 Cash + $3,000 KODAK Motion Picture Product

Excellence in Cinematography

The category of Excellence in Filmmaking will be evaluated on the quality of cinematography skills. This award will be given to the cinematographer. Entries may originate in any format, but to qualify for the special Vision or Vision Honorable Mention Award the project must be shot at least 50% on film.

1. First Place Grant: $3,000 Cash + $5,000 KODAK Motion Picture Product
2. Kodak Vision Grant: $3,000 Cash + $5,000 KODAK Motion Picture Product
3. Kodak Vision Honorable Mention Grant: $1,000 Cash + $500 KODAK Motion Picture Product Grant

Rules

Entries

ALL nominations must be made by ONE designated department or program official (faculty or staff) from an accredited higher education institution. Submitted films must have been produced under the auspices of the academic program. Submissions made by individual filmmakers (not by a program official) will be disqualified.

Submissions from school officials

1. Film schools and programs are solely responsible for designating submitting officials and coordinating entries from their schools. It’s recommended that programs talk in advance about who will make the submissions. This will avoid miscommunication and potential disqualification of entries beyond the allowable three per program. Additional submissions from a single institution will not be considered. Multiple entries from a single filmmaker will not be considered.
2. Each school may submit up to three different projects from three different filmmakers. A project may be submitted to be considered for either one of the categories (filmmaking or cinematography), but not both. Submissions that choose multiple categories will only be considered for one and will be assigned by the festival director or may be disqualified.
3. Films may be up to 30 minutes in length. Trailers or incomplete films are ineligible.
4. Films may be in any language.

Deadline

All entry forms must be completed and submitted with online links included no later than 11:59 PM ET on June 1, 2021. There is no late deadline.

For more info head over the FilmFreeway page. 

Summary

Although this is a KODAK contest, there’s no obligation to shoot on film, unless you’re aiming for the Excellence in Cinematography Vision grants, which, in that case, the project must be shot at least 50% on film. This initiative is a great opportunity for film schools and students to try shooting on film and thus learning something new about the art of filmmaking.