May 2, 2012
ACE Documentary Film Grant Guidelines and FAQs
Want to use film to help animals? We want to help you
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The ACE Grant helps filmmakers put animals in the spotlight. Kathy Milani/HSUS
Submission Guidelines
ACE awards a grant to a documentary film project that highlights an animal issue. The project may be in any stage of development or in need of finishing funds.
How to Enter
All propsals must be submitted through Withoutabox. Withoutabox is a one-stop site for submitting your film to festivals and contests. Be sure all the required fields are filled out within your Withoutabox application before you submit. For a full list of required materials, see below in the FAQ section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the winner of the ACE grant receive?
The winning pitch will receive a $20,000 grant.
The winner will also receive an invitation to The HSUS Hollywood VIP Cast & Crew Wrap Party for the announcement of the win, as well as two (2) tickets to the nationally televised Genesis Awards.
Second place will receive $2,500. Third place receives $1,000.
Applicable taxes may apply.
What materials do I need to submit on Withoutabox?
Make sure the following sections of your Withoutabox application are filled out:
- Project Synopsis (Logline AND Long Synopsis)
- Production Information (Country, People, Funding - budget and sources)
- Date of Completion (Exact or Estimated)
- Running Time (Exact or Estimated)
- Production Status and Screenings
- Formats (Picture, Shooting, Exhibition)
- Publicity (Website, if applicable)
- Publicity (Consent)
- Publicity (Press Kit) - Press Kit materials (production photo, filmmaker bios) should be entered as part of the Withoutabox Filmpromotion Kit
- One (1) video, minimum 3 minutes. May include: feature film, clips, rough cut, trailer, pitch reel, dailies, or other pertinent footage. These materials will be submitted by mail.
Is there a minimum running time?
Yes. Documentaries must have a planned running time of at least 40 minutes to qualify for the grant.
Fiction or nonfiction?
Currently, ACE only awards financial grants to nonfiction films. However, if you are working on a fiction film related to animal issues, you can still reach out to the ACE program for consulting.
Can international filmmakers apply?
Yes, the ACE Grant is open to filmmakers from anywhere around the world.
What stage of development must the film be in?
Projects may be in any stage of development or production.
What is the review/selection process?
These are the steps:
- Proposal review—Each proposal is read and reviewed by a team of professionals from the Hollywood Outreach Program of The HSUS. All submissions will receive written feedback on their project.
- Selection of finalists—Finalists will be selected to have their pitches reviewed by a committee of entertainment industry professionals. Judges for the 2011 grant included representatives from Animal Planet, HBO, The Documentary Channel, Authentic Entertainment, Gravitas Ventures, Screaming Flea Productions, and Green Planet Films.
- Selection of winner—The winner will be announced in a nationwide press release and be presented with the grant at The HSUS Hollywood VIP Cast & Crew Wrap Party.
What are the review criteria?
All proposals are evaluated based on:
- The artistic strength, vision, and animal issue content of the proposed project
- The professional capabilities of the applicant(s)
- The potential broadcast and distribution viability of the project
What films have won the grant in previous years?
See the list of past ACE Grant winners here.
When can I submit?
Submissions for the 2012 ACE Grant opened May 1, 2012
What is the deadline and cost to submit a project?
There are four deadlines to submit a project, each with its own entry fee:
- Early Bird Deadline: June 1, 2012. Standard Entry Fee: $25
- Regular Deadline: August 1, 2012. Standard Entry Fee: $35
- Late Deadline: September 1, 2012. Standard Entry Fee: $45
- Extended Final Deadline: October 1, 2012. Standard Entry Fee: $60
When will the winner be notified?
The winner will be notified in early December.