Davey Foundation Short Film Grants

Now in its seventh year, The Davey Foundation’s Short Film Grants Program will award two $5,000 cash grants and two gear grants, accompanied by $2,500 cash each, to help emerging filmmakers take their short film script through production and to screens around the world. The Davey Foundation’s grant-winning shorts have screened at prominent festivals around the world, including Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, and have spurred the film careers of writers/directors, like Laura Moss ("Fry Day"), Lauren Wolkstein ("Beemus, It'll End in Tears," part of collective:unconscious), and A. Stephen Lee ("The Sound of Coins Hitting Brass"). Davey Grant-supported films have been nominated for and won awards, like Nick Dixon's Emmy for "Mine" and Vika Evdokimenko's BAFTA nomination for "Aamir." Davey Grant recipients are also provided mentorship from established filmmakers, like Dustin Defa ("Person to Person," Sundance) and Kenny Riches ("The Strongest Man," Sundance). All grant-supported filmmakers will also be invited to attend the Davey Fest short film festival in Salt Lake City, where their films will be screened alongside other stand-out shorts from their fellow grantees and the local film community. Previous grantees include Ben Kegan, Lauren Wolkstein, Ted Schaefer, A. Stephen Lee, Nick Dixon, Vika Evdokimenko, Laura Moss, Curtis Whitear, Davey Morrison Dillard, Jackson Segars, Celine Held & Logan George, Jamil Munoz, Lauren Smitelli, Zack Bornstein, Haley Anderson, Nora Kirkpatrick, Colten Ashley, Terrance Daye, Ryan Craver, Molly Gillis, Patrick Foley, Isaac Cole, Shawn Francis Saunders, and Alexander Woods. Previous guest filmmaker jurors include Dustin Guy Defa, Kenny Riches, David & Nathan Zellner, Sean Baker, Amy Seimetz & Bernardo Britto, Sophia Takal, and Adam Salky. The Davey Foundation was created in 2013 in memory of writer, actor, director, and producer David Fetzer following his death at the age of 30. To date, 22 short film grants and eight theater grants have been awarded by the foundation. The Davey Foundation supports emerging filmmakers through grant funding, equipment lending, screening opportunities, and mentorship with established filmmakers. For more information about The Davey Foundation, visit daveyfilm.org. ​