KAT VANCLEAVE
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$$$ GURRRRL GRANT $$$

 

GURRRRL

🤑🤑🤑

U BETTER GET THAT MONEY

🤑🤑🤑

GURRRRL 🤑🤑🤑 U BETTER GET THAT MONEY 🤑🤑🤑

ABOUT THE GURRRRL GRANT

Every quarter, KAT distributes (1) $1000 cash grant to a fellow female or non-binary Film Director who has taken the 51% PLEDGE for the production of their Short Film. In order to be qualified for a grant, you must submit a link to a single PDF containing the following via the submission portal below.

1) Cover letter (one page max)

2) A short film script (15 pages or less not including title page)

3) Completed 51% PLEDGE Certificate

4) One of the following: a Pitch Deck (if in pre-production) or Proof of Production (if you are in production or post production)

Please see FAQs section below to ensure that your submission is received on time & with all necessary documents. Before submitting, please ensure your link privacy is set to public. Good Luck!

👇 SUBMIT HERE👇

IF THE SUBMISSION PORTAL DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOAD, TRY REFRESHING YOUR PAGE & SCROLLING DOWN!

PLEASE REACH OUT TO KAT DIRECTLY : KAT@KATVANCLEAVE.COM IF YOU’RE STILL HAVING ISSUES. GOOD LUCK!

Please note : each submission cycle is capped at 100 entries received on a first come, first serve basis. You may only win x1 time per calendar year. By selecting ‘SUBMIT’ in the above form, you acknowledge and agree to the GURRRRL GRANT Terms & Conditions. You also opt-in to receiving WEEKLY SHORTIES emails with tips specific to Directing, Designing and Producing Short Films + occasional offers tailored specifically to Indie Film Directors from Kat VanCleave to you .

DATES & TIMELINE

QUARTER 2

Submission Due April 15, 2025 ⚡️ Winner Announced June 1st ⚡️ Funds Distributed June 30st

QUARTER 3

Submission Due July 15, 2025 ⚡️ Winner Announced September 1st ⚡️ Funds Distributed September 30st

QUARTER FOUR

Submission Due October 15, 2025 ⚡️ Winner Announced December 1st ⚡️ Funds Distributed December 31st

Q1 2026

Submission Due January 15, 2026 ⚡️ Winner Announced March 1st ⚡️ Funds Distributed March 31st

 

ELIGIBILITY

Please note, only Female-identifying and Non-Binary identifying Film Directors are eligible for this grant. Short films (15 pages or less) are the only project type currently being considered.

Each applicant may only apply once per grant cycle. If you submit more than once, we will only consider your first submission.

Please do not apply on behalf of someone else. If you win, the grant funds or services will go to you, and you will be the point person for the project going forward as well as the grantee listed on all our materials. We will not send the funds to another member of your team nor change the name of the awardee to someone else nor transfer the services to another project.

We don’t accept projects that promote hate or excessive violence, projects/films with any affiliation with a major studio, or having secured U.S. distribution or films produced, financed or initiated by a major film studio or television network.

IMPORTANT INFO

  • Submissions for this current Grant Cycle close April 15, 2025 at 11:55pm EST or when 100 submissions are received

  • Each eligible applicant may only submit one application per Grant Cycle.

  • Please do not apply on behalf of someone else.

  • All winners are final.

  • Any materials submitted will not be returned.

  • All materials submitted will be kept private during the review process.

  • Kat VanCleave will in no way own or control your copyright or intellectual property.

  • All winners agree to share the news of winning and tag @katvancleave on their social media channels, and thank Kat VanCleave & GURRRRL Grant in the credits of their film.

  • There is no expectation that projects necessarily be fully finished under any specific timeline. However, all grantees must provide a progress update via email when projects are complete.

  • Payments of GURRRRL Grant will be sent via Zelle. Kat is not responsible for any fees that may apply. Grantees are responsible for providing accurate & up to date Zelle information.

  • By submitting your application, you also agree to the following terms and conditions.

GRANT FAQs

  • This grant is specifically for short films because I want to make a significant dent to your overall budget & give you a fighting chance to actually make something. In the ideal scenario, I’ll make more mullah and share more with ya’ll, but for now, $1k for shorts is what I’m capable of.

  • Short Films are limited to less than 15 pages because, in my research, for most festivals, short film run times are typically 8-13 minutes in length. While festivals are certainly not the only goal, and in many ways can seem outdated, they are still a significant way to legitimize yourself in the industry. So, let’s use all the tools at our disposal, shall we?!

  • A Pitch Deck or Proof of Production shows that you are already significantly invested in the project and the grant money will be used sooner rather than later.

  • Examples of a ‘Proof of Production’ are: call sheets, BTS photography, location permits.

  • No. Submissions do not roll over to the next grant cycle, however you are welcome to resubmit your project in the next round. Winners are limited to one grant award per calendar year.

  • Kat self funds all grants with her personal revenue + net profits from 51CLUB Merch. If additional sponsorship is established in the future, the source of funds will be publicly disclosed in the application process.

  • The Best ways to support are the following:

    1. Financially : Donations are accepted on a case by case basis. Please reach out to Kat directly at kat@katvancleave.com to get the ball rolling.

    2. Sign the 51% PLEDGE for your film project and dedicate to hiring traditionally underrepresented filmmakers on your next film project.

    3. Social Media : Share the GURRRRL Grant via social media and make sure to tag @katvancleave in your post.

    4. Join the movement via Merch! Check out our cute 51CLUB merch after you sign the PLEDGE. All net profits from 51CLUB Merch go directly pack into the GURRRRL GRANT Fund.

  • The winning money is distributed via Zelle by Kat VanCleave to the winner each quarter by the established date as listed in the Dates & Timeline section of this page. Kat will only exchange Zelle information after the winner has been chosen.

  • Exclusive INCLUSIVE 51CLUB Merch is available to all those that sign the 51% PLEDGE + some extra downloadable goodies from me to you.

  • The 51% PLEDGE is a good faith personal commitment to dedicate 51% of your filmmaking resources to traditionally underrepresented filmmakers (women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+).

  • Late submissions are not accepted, however, you are welcome to resubmit your project in the next grant cycle.

  • Gurrrrl because I’m a working filmmaker too & I personally review each and every submission. My goal is to give all entries my full attention, and 100 entries is currently what’s in my bandwidth. When I casually build my empire to more than just a one-women shop, I would absolutely love to give more $$$ to more people.

  • I love each department on a film set! I believe its an extra responsibility for the Director to set the tone for set & hiring practices. Plus, the percentage of female & non-binary identifying directors is abysmal in Hollywood, and I’d love to do my small part to change that.

  • Only submissions that include all requirements will be considered.

  • Each entrant is allowed one submission per grant cycle & one win per calendar year.