TFI/ESPN Future Filmmaker Prize Unveiled

Today we're happy to announce the launch of the TFI/ESPN Future Filmmaker Prize, which will focus on short-form documentaries from student recipients at film and journalism institutions across the U.S. that merges sports and social issues.

Teaming once more with ESPN Films (see the for feature length work-on-progress docs), the prize will annually award $25,000 each to three up-and-coming media makers who create short-form documentaries that highlight the exceptionally creative work of an athletic community or organization working towards solving social issues in the United States or globally.

This marks the first time TFI's documentary department will recognize student work.

Submissions open in May. TFI will work with a select group of graduate schools to cultivate participation (see full list of schools at our Rules and Regulations page).

Along with the monetary grant, the three filmmaking teams will participate in a two-day workshop in the fall with activities tailored to their needs and culminating with an industry showcase to both celebrate their work and introduce them to the filmmaking community at large. The workshop will include pitch training, story structure lectures, footage critiques, master classes led by industry leaders and one-on-one meetings with industry professionals and nonprofit athletic institutions. Also, each grantee will be paired with a current or former Tribeca Film Fellow. They will work closely together throughout all aspects of the filmmaking process from production to editing.