1803 Black Filmmakers Grant

About the 1803 Black Filmmakers Grant

In partnership with 1803 Fund, MESO is proud to introduce the 1803 Black Filmmakers Grant—a funding opportunity designed to uplift Black filmmakers and support powerful storytelling that reflects the lived experiences, culture, and history of Black Portlanders and Oregonians. This grant aims to contribute to a rooted and prosperous Black community by investing directly in creative projects that center Black voices and narratives.

The fund will be used to support Narrative and Documentary shorts, feature films, and web series at various stages of production — production, post, marketing, and distribution.

The grant offers up to $100,000 in matching funds per project, with specific limits based on project stage: up to $30,000 for production, $30,000 for post-production, $20,000 for marketing, and $20,000 for distribution. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

We encourage filmmakers to bring forward bold, authentic, and locally grounded stories that explore the richness and complexity of Black life in Portland and throughout Oregon.

For questions or additional information, please contact us at grants@mesopdx.org.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for this grant, the applicant and the applicant's project must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Project subject focuses on Black Portland or Black Oregon stories;

2. Project is a documentary or narrative film and falls into one of the following
categories: short, feature, or web series;

3. Project is not a television episodic, pilot, or commercial/ad;

4. At least 50% of total project costs are covered by matching funds;

5. Applicant attests to being Black / African American;

6. Applicant owns more than 50% of the company; and

7. Company is registered with Oregon Secretary of State.

If approved, the awardee agrees to submit receipts for all grant expenditures and an impact statement to MESO within 30 days of the agreed-upon timeline's completion. MESO will send the awardee and grant report to complete. Awardee will also agree to provide MESO and the 1803 Fund access to a final cut of the project when completed.

Attestation

I, as the primary applicant, confirm that I have read and understood the above eligibility requirements. I attest that I and my project both meet all of the listed prerequisites for consideration for the 1803 Black Filmmaker's Grant.

I declare that the above statements are true and accurate.

Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Phone Number

Business Details

Business Name

Entity Type

Other Entity Type

Business Street Address

Street Address (Line 2)

City

State

Zip Code

Business Start Date

Website

Oregon Secretary of State Registry Number

Percentage of Ownership

What percentage of ownership do you, as the applicant, hold in the listed business?

Demographics

Primary Language

Other

Race/Ethnicity

Other

Gender

Pronouns

Other

Do you identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community?

Are you a Veteran?

Project Details

Project Name

Project Type

Projects NOT included within the scope of this Grant: television episodics, pilots, or commercials/ads.

Project Description

Response must be at least 1000 characters.

What stage of production is this project in at the time of application?

What is the projected completion date for this project?

Please provide a detailed outline of the projected timeline. You may also include uploaded documents in addition to or in place of a written description.

Detailed timeline upload:

What is the total budget for this project?

Please upload a complete, detailed budget for the entirety of your project.

Have you - or will you - be receiving additional funding, financing, or sponsorship for this project form other organization(s)? This does not include personal funds or fundraising.

If yes, or in the process, please describe:

Funding

What stage of production are you requesting funding for? While only one stage of production can be approved at a time, you may submit additional funds requests for further stages at a later time.

ProductionPost-ProductionMarketingDistribution

Production

Production Request

Awards limited to $30,000.

Please detail the Production Use of Funds:

Proof of concept -- this should include at least two of the following:

Script or interview outlines

Location scouting documentation (ie scouting notes, permits, etc)

Shotlist and/or Storyboard

Any initial videos/photos captured

Hiring documentation

Shooting schedule and call sheet

First Proof

Second Proof

Post Production

Post Production Request

Awards limited to $30,000.

Please detail the Post Production Use of Funds:

Please provide a link to sample footage of your project for verification:

Marketing

Marketing Request

Awards limited to $30,000.

Please detail the Marketing Use of Funds:

Please provide a link to a full cut of your film for verification. A rough cut is acceptable if the project is still in post production:

Distribution

Distribution Request

Awards limited to $30,000.

Please detail the Distribution Use of Funds:

Please provide a link to the final cut of your film for verification:

Proof of matching funds -- acceptable documentation includes award letters with award amounts from outside grants or sponsorships; bank statements; and/or receipts for previously utilized funds showing what has already been invested into your project.

Optional: Please provide any additional documents related to the project you would like to have considered.

Contact Information