Gimme Money

Founded in 1996, the Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund has awarded more than a quarter-million dollars to Texas filmmakers. The deadline for applying for a 2002 grant is July 1. Applications can be downloaded at the Austin Film Society Web site (www.austinfilm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=tfpf_home). The AFS site also includes information on alternative ways to fund a project (www.austinfilm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=tfpf_funding_resources ), as well as hints on all-important grant writing (www.austinfilm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=tfpf_grantwriting_resources).

Information on the city of Austin Cultural Contracts Program can be found at www.ci.austin.tx.us/culturalcontracts/. (The deadline for 2002-03 applications has passed.) Additionally, the Texas Commission on the Arts offers travel grants, as part of their Mini-Grant program, meant to help artists and arts administrators in all disciplines advance their professional standing. "It's not for production per se," says director Anina Moore, "but we've had filmmakers apply for it so that they could go shoot on location or, in Kat Candler's case, go to Sundance." The grant is available to nonprofits and individuals on a monthly basis. Applications are available online, but applicants must first be set up with a user ID and a password. Contact Anina Moore at 463-5535 x42328.