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Overview
Eligibility
How to Apply
Notification
OVERVIEW
The National Film Preservation Foundation invites applications for the Avant-Garde Masters Grants. These cash preservation grants, made possible through the generosity of The Film Foundation, support laboratory work to preserve significant examples of America's avant-garde film heritage. The grants are available to nonprofit and public archives.
By its very nature avant-garde film is hard to define. Avant-garde film is generally produced and distributed outside mainstream film channels. Often created by a single filmmaker or a small team, these films are intended as artistic expressions. They often experiment with the medium in unique and personal ways and seek to expand the parameters of the film form.
This grant supports the preservation of a film or films by a single filmmaker or cinematic movement significant to the development of avant-garde film in America. Works made in the last twenty years are not eligible. Applications should show how the proposed titles have made a significant contribution to the American experimental film movement and why they are in need of preservation. Proposals must also include plans detailing how the films will be made available to the public and the scholarly community.
This grant will fund one or two preservation projects ranging between $10,000 and $50,000.
Registration Deadline: April 4, 2008
Application Deadline: May 16, 2008
Grant Period: July 1, 2008 to September 1, 2009
ELIGIBILITY
Grants are available to public and nonprofit archives in the United
States, including those that are part of federal, state, or local government. The grants
target avant-garde films made in the United States or by American citizens abroad and not physically preserved by
commercial interests. Materials originally created for television or video are not
eligible.
The grant must be used to pay for new laboratory work involving the creation of:
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New film preservation elements (which may include sound tracks) and |
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Two new public access copies, one of which must be a film print. |
The funds can be applied only to work commissioned after the grant start date.
HOW TO APPLY
1. Identify film or footage collection to be preserved
Identify materials in your collection that meet the criteria listed above and decide what
laboratory work needs to be done.
2. Register with the NFPF
E-mail the NFPF at grants@filmpreservation.org
regarding your archive's interest in applying. Provide your name, institution, phone
number, fax number, mailing address, e-mail address, and a brief description of your project. The NFPF will then contact you
to discuss your project. If your project meets the eligibility requirements, you will be
invited to submit a letter of application. The registration deadline is April 4,
2008.
3. Complete letter of application with laboratory cost estimate
Prepare a brief letter of application (3 to 6 pages) that covers the following points:
a. Research
significance
How is the film material in your proposal important to
the history of American avant-garde film? Please provide detailed information about the
proposed filmmaker or movement, descriptions of each film selected for preservation, the
critical response, and any other pertinent information regarding reception and significance
of the proposed films.
b. Physical film description
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What is the title, length, gauge, and subject matter of the proposed film or collection? |
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How did your organization acquire the material? |
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From what type of source material will your archive be working? |
For
more information on handling film, please consult The Film Preservation Guide:
The Basics for Archives, Libraries, and Museums.These
PDF files also include a Print Condition Report worksheet.
c. Rights to material
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Please describe the provenance of the source materials.
Does your institution have a deposit agreement for the proposed films? Has your institution
discussed the proposed project with the copyright holders, donor, filmmaker, or the filmmaker's
estate? |
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Does your archive have permission to show this material for
on-site researchers and/or on-site public screenings at which no admission is charged? |
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Indicate if there are any other relevant donor restrictions
regarding public access to the proposed material. Your organization will need to retain the
physical rights to any new preservation material created through this project. |
d. Uniqueness of your archive's film copy
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What organizations, databases, and other resources
have you checked to make sure that your archive's copy represents the "best surviving
material" for that film and that the proposed work does not duplicate efforts by others?
Have you contacted or made arrangements to collaborate with other organizations or
individuals holding relevant source material? |
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Are rental or video copies of this film available through commercial distribution or video channels? |
e. Description of preservation work and cost estimate
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What laboratory work is requested? For sound films,
indicate how you propose to preserve the sound. |
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As applicable, outline the preservation work already
completed on the film or that would still need to be done after work funded by the grant. |
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Provide a written estimate for the preservation work. |
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If you are collaborating with another institution, include a letter from that institution briefly outlining its involvement with the project. |
f.
Storage
Describe your archival storage facilities (including temperature and
humidity levels) and confirm that any new preservation masters created
through the project will be stored under archivally acceptable conditions.
If your organization does not have an archivally acceptable storage area
for film, please include your plans for off-site storage.
g.
Access plans
Indicate if your institution plans to exhibit this material or participate in the film's
public dissemination on video, television, or the Internet.
h.
Public service mission
Briefly summarize your institution's mission, collections, and public
programs; include your Web site address and any brochures.
i.
Tax-exempt status
Nonprofits, list your institution's tax identification number; government/public
sector archives, provide some record or a letter demonstrating that your
institution is part of state, regional, or local government.
j.
Matching funds
Please indicate if your institution is prepared to provide matching funds to complete the project.
k.
Contact information
Provide the name, title, phone number, fax, mailing address, e-mail, and professional biography of the project coordinator (one paragraph).
4. Submit application
All applications are due in hard copy at the following address by May 16, 2008:
National Film Preservation Foundation
870 Market Street, Suite 1113
San Francisco, CA 94102
NOTIFICATION
Applicants will be notified regarding grant decisions in July 2008.
TERMS
Successful applicants must sign an agreement affirming the responsibilities
of the grant. Nonprofit grant winners may be asked to provide a copy of
the IRS determination letter verifying their status as a publicly supported
501(c)(3) organization.
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