Lightswitch Video, a Chicago-based video production company, launched The Full STEM Ahead Filmmaker’s Initiative.
The first-year initiative is designed to encourage STEM education and careers in STEM, and to also cultivate the careers of the filmmakers of tomorrow in the process.
One grant recipient (ages 15-25) will receive a $5,000.00 grant to produce a short-form documentary about a STEM program that they are involved in, knowledgeable of, or want to learn more about and they believe deserves more recognition. That program will then receive a matching $5,000.00 grant, and the final documentary will receive a showing at a local theater alongside a Q&A with the documentarian.
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The grant recipient will receive free consultations with Lightswitch producers on best production practices and post-production support from our world-class editing team.
Submission will be judged by a panel of judges, including four selected influential Chicago individuals: Angie Gaffney (Executive Director of Independent Film Alliance Chicago and Film Producer at Black Apple Media), Michelle Kennedy (Executive Director of the Chicago South Side Film Festival), Kevin Koperski (producer, author, screenwriter), and Ann Hagner (VP and Creative Director at Walker Sands).
“We are absolutely thrilled to be launching our first film grant to help the Chicago film and science community. We all always dreamed of being the recipient of a grant like this and never thought we would be in the position to be giving one ourselves,” says Lightswitch’s Chief Revenue Officer Bryce Anderson. “Thank you to ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions for sponsoring our program this year. We can’t wait to see the final film that is created and hope this is the first in a growing program supporting Chicago arts.”
Full details on judges and requirements for submission can be found at Chicago Film Grants.
