Fast Track and Alfred P. Sloan Grant
WHAT IS FAST TRACK?
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Fast Track is a film financing market that takes place during the Los Angeles Film Festival designed to help narrative and documentary filmmakers move their current projects forward. During three days of intensive meetings, Fast Track connects filmmakers with financiers, production companies, and other industry professionals. This highly selective program is open to established as well as up-and-coming filmmakers with exceptional projects still seeking funding. Participants accepted into Fast Track are also eligible for a $10,000 production grant awarded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Fast Track is sponsored by Kodak. Fast Track Fellows receive: |
Key Information:Deadline: February 1, 2010
Application fee: $75 Contact: Jennifer Kushner 310.432.1275 or JKushner@filmindependent.org Got questions? Fast Track FAQs |
- a pass to the Los Angeles Film Festival
- three days of intensive, high-level industry meetings
- a pass to the Financing Conference that takes place during the Festival
- a pass to the Filmmaker Forum, which runs in the fall.
- complimentary membership in Film Independent
- year-round support from Film Independent
Previous Fast Track projects include Courtney Hunt`s Frozen River, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival; Sterlin Harjo`s Spirit Award nominated Four Sheets to the Wind; Jennifer Westfeldt`s Ira and Abby; Jessica Sanders` award-winning documentary After Innocence; Chris Chan Lee`s Undoing; and Scott Prendergast`s feature Kabluey, which had its world premier at the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival.
WHAT SELECTION CRITERIA ARE USED IN EVALUATING FAST TRACK SUBMISSIONS?
We are looking for talented filmmakers who have feature length film projects, narrative fiction films as well as feature length documentaries, that are compelling and original, and are seeking financing. We prefer projects that have directors and at least one principal producer in place. We do not require that the project have any financing in place, but want to see evidence that the creative team has given serious thought to the budget and can articulate why they have budgeted the film at a particular level. We are looking for compelling, original projects that demonstrate a filmmaker`s uniqueness of vision.Writers who are chiefly interested in selling their screenplays or securing representation will not be considered. Strong preference is given to filmmakers who are seeking financing for films they are attempting to direct and/or produce.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
Aside from the application fee, there is no tuition to attend Film Independent`s Fast Track Program.
Film Independent offers the Filmmaker Labs and Fast Track as an intensive programs
in which writers, directors, and producers can develop their craft as
well as their projects. We ask that once completed, films that have been supported
by our programs include the end credit "Developed with the
help of the Film Independent" with the
Film Independent logo.
HOW TO APPLY:
In order to be considered for Fast Track, you must submit:
- one completed online application form
- one feature length script (the project you are presently trying to get made) OR a detailed documentary treatment
- a cover letter introducing yourself and your project and what, specifically, you would hope to gain from the Fast Track program
- project status and history
- short synopsis of script (no more than 2 pages), with logline and genre (narrative only)
- biography of director and producer(s), as well as any other key personnel attached to project
- director`s (or producer's) statement
- finance plan and budget (budget is recommended but not required)
- dvd of director`s previous work and/or clip reel for documentary works in progress
- application fee
ALFRED P. SLOAN GRANT
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will award one participant of Film
Independent's Fast Track a $10,000 production grant. The grant is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which seeks to
create and develop new scripts and films about science and technology
and to see them into commercial production with national and
international distribution. The Sloan Foundation has screenplay development programs with
the Tribeca, Sundance, and Hamptons Film Festivals, as well as other
select independent partners and film schools.
To apply for the Alfred P. Sloan Grant, the filmmaker must apply to Fast Track and indicate in their application that they wish to be
considered for the Sloan Grant. To be eligible for the Sloan grant the
applicant must be attached as producer or director and should have the rights to the
script with which they are applying. The screenplay should have a
scientific, mathematical, and/or technological theme and storyline or
have a leading character who is a scientist, engineer, or
mathematician.
Documentary and Science Fiction projects are not eligible for the Sloan Producers Grant.
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