FILM GEAR ACCESS GRANT GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION

The Film Gear Access Grant is an industry-building program that recognizes and celebrates the talented community of storytellers in Louisiana. Open to all filmmakers — from emerging to veteran — this opportunity will provide complimentary access to an equipment package from Tulane University for the completion of a short or feature-length film during the summer months (May - July).

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. There is no application fee.

If you have any questions please contact Julie Bordelon, Executive Director at #CreateLouisiana.

TIMELINE

Application Available: September 1, 2025

Application Deadline: December 1, 2025

Short-list announced: January 5, 2026

Finalists Pitch: January 20, 2026

Award announced: January 31, 2026

First day of equipment access: May 18, 2026

Deadline for equipment return: July 31, 2026

PLEASE NOTE: ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

GRANT AWARD

• Equipment Package (Camera, Lighting, Grip) (THIS CAN BE A LINK TO THE EQUIPMENT LIST)

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS 

• Must be a Louisiana resident filmmaker (“Resident” or “resident of Louisiana” means a natural person who is required to file a Louisiana resident individual income tax return).

• Director must currently reside in the state of Louisiana and have lived in Louisiana for a minimum of 12 months prior to submitting the application. Proof of residency required. (two of the following: Louisiana driver’s license, a Louisiana voter registration card or a utility bill in your name with your Louisiana address).

• Co-directors are allowed. If a team, only one director must qualify as a Louisiana resident.

• Must be a United States citizen or Permanent Resident.

• Staff, board members, and interns of #CL, Tulane University, Deep South Studios, and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) may not apply.

• Must agree to grant #CreateLouisiana, Tulane University, Deep South Studios, and Louisiana Entertainment he right to stream, screen and distribute the completed film (non-commercial use/promotional purposes only within two years of festival premier).

• Grantee may be invited to present the film for a special screening and/or classroom visit in partnership with Tulane University’s Digital Media Practices Program.

• The director(s) must all be available to participate in a pitch session before the grants committee on January 20, 2026. Producers are welcome to participate in the pitch.

• Past #CreateLouisiana grantees are eligible for this opportunity. You may also apply again with the same project from a past #CreateLouisiana grant cycle.

THE PROJECT  

• All projects must be works of fiction, documentary, experimental cinema, TV pilots and web series.

• Both short-format and feature-length projects are eligible.

• Must showcase Louisiana talent in front of and behind the camera.

• Must film in Louisiana and provide all services in the state.

• Must provide credits to #CreateLouisiana, Tulane University, Deep South Studios, and Louisiana Entertainment.

• For narrative works (short, pilot or feature), if not based on an original idea and sourced from existing intellectual property, the team must have secured the rights to produce a motion picture. If story rights are required, team must have secured said rights. If applicable, documentation must be provided (in the form of a fully executed agreement) that the material has been optioned and/or full story rights secured.

• For documentary, applicants must have secured all appropriate film rights. The team must prove access to the proposed major participants through ethical informed consent. If material that requires licensing is integral to the film (i.e. music, archival materials, etc.), team must demonstrate that they have secured the rights to use said material in the project.

• A realistic timeline must be included in your proposal. Your timeline should demonstrate production readiness for a start date in the available window of equipment access (May – July 2026) and completion of the project within 12 months after the end of principle photography.

• A realistic budget must be provided. NOTE: If your project's budget is > $100K, you must demonstrate additional support committed to ensure the project will be ready for shooting in Summer 2026 (i.e. it is not viable for this grant to be "first support in" on $200,000 budget for a film that must be completed in 6-8 months.).

• Any recipients of this grant will be required to have Equipment Insurance (in the name of their production company or film production) that would reimburse Tulane University for the full value of the in-kind package should there be any damage or theft while equipment is in the care of the grant recipient. Tulane University must be named as an Additional Insured and will require a copy of the Certificate of Insurance naming Tulane as an Additional Insured before releasing the equipment to the grantee. NOTE: your budget must include a line item for Equipment Insurance. Links to insurance options can be provided upon request.

• Cannot be a work-for-hire.

• If awarded a #CreateLouisiana grant, the recipient is required to carry out a project that is consistent with the submitted proposal.

• All in-kind equipment package support resulting from this grant must be used solely for the purpose of supporting the project.

ADJUDICATION PROCESS 

Tulane x #CreateLouisiana Film Gear Access Grant will be adjudicated in two stages:

Stage One: 

A jury of representatives of the grantmaking organizations will review all applications.

The jury will consider the following when reviewing all submissions:

• Production readiness for the defined grant timeline (ready for principal photography in Summer 2026).

• Experience and quality of the production team assembled to support the project (including key creatives and department heads)

• Feasibility of the director’s vision

• Realistic timeline, budget and financing plan

• Use of Louisiana talent in front of and behind the camera

• Originality of the script or treatment

• Overall strength and viability of the project

• Strength of the submitted work sample

• Distribution and social strategy for the film

• Demonstration of how the project aligns with team’s short-term and long-term professional and artistic objectives

• Completion of the full application with all necessary documentation provided

• Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible

A shortlist of up to 5 applicants will be selected to move forward to Stage Two.

Stage Two: 

The short-listed applicants will be invited to pitch their projects in front of representatives of the grantmaking organizations and an audience of Tulane Digital Media Practices students. The pitch will take place on the Tulane University campus on January 20, 2026 (exact time TBD). You must be available to pitch your project on Zoom or in New Orleans.

One applicant team will be selected by the jury panel and announced by January 31, 2026.

CHECKLIST

The following documentation is required (when uploads are required, all documents should be in PDF format ONLY):

• Completed application form

• Résumé of the applicant director (include film school or industry training and a full list of previous production credits – indicate any that are student films)

• If a producer is attached, résumé of the producer(s) with a full list of previous production credits

• Résumé of the writer (if not the director/applicant or producer)

• Logline for the project (200 characters)

• Synopsis of the project (2500 characters)

• Script for narrative or treatment for documentaries, in standard format, not to exceed 120 pages for narrative and 10 pages for documentary.

• List of selected equipment sought as part of this grant (informed by provided Tulane University production equipment inventory).

• All teams must submit a link to a prior work sample.

• Detailed director’s vision. Can include notes on narrative structure, story, characters, camera style, lighting, music, lookbook, locations photos, visual references (5 pages)

• Proposed detailed production budget including top sheet. Use of EP Movie Magic or Excel is preferred, or a comparable template with detailed line items. Must include all deferrals and in-kind contributions.

• Proposed financing plan for the project (1 page maximum)

• List of key creatives with bios. This can include cast and key crew (DP, editor, production designer) (2 pages maximum)

• Proposed distribution, marketing and social media strategy. This should address intended audience and festival strategy, plan for marketing the film and use of social media to raise awareness. (1 page maximum)

• Project timeline including development, production, post-production, delivery and distribution. (1 page maximum)

• Scanned copy of lead applicant's (director/producer/writer/DP/Production Designer as applicable) Louisiana residency support documentation.