The Fresh Vantage Post Grant is funded by the RJ Christensen Foundation of the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation and managed/distributed by the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network. This is a post-production grant to support MN filmmakers from underserved communities to complete a documentary project. 

The Fresh Vantage Post Grant offers $15,000 grants to six marginalized emerging filmmakers from Minnesota. This grant funds post-production only. 

Applications are closed.

Important Dates

• Application Open March 15-April 5
• Applications will be reviewed by a panel April 7-20
• Notifications will go out the week of April 22
• May 8th at 6PM kick off meeting- In person at SPNN for grantees. 

Qualifications
To qualify for this grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be an emerging filmmaker. Emerging means must have completed some work, but have not achieved a widely known reputation as a filmmaker. It means you have goals to continue on this path to becoming a more established filmmaker. 
• Be a member of a marginalized community. This includes but is not limited to the following communities: disabled, Black, Indigenous and other communities of color, women, LGBTQ+.
• Your project must be entering the post-production phase. Production must be mostly completed by the time of your application.
• Be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year. Be a resident of Minnesota for the duration of your film. 
• You cannot be an SPNN staff member (contractors are okay).

Examples:
Here are examples of what this grant can be used for:

• Hire an editor or pay yourself as the editor
• Hire someone to do graphics, color correction, etc.
• Hire a composer or pay for music rights
• Pay for photo/video rights
• Host feedback sessions
• Pay a story consultant
• Pay yourself as the producer/director during the post-production process
• Pay legal fees to have your film reviewed

Here are examples of what this grant cannot be used for:

• Developing and doing pre-production for your film
• Shooting your film (Production) - a small portion of these funds can be requested to cover final production costs but should not take up a large portion of the budget.

Application Requirements
The application consists of the following pieces:

1. The application - deadline April 5 2024 
2. Work Samples - On your application, you will be asked to paste the URL to two work samples:
   1. A completed prior piece
   2. A sample of the project for which you are applying for funding.
   3. You will have the option to include a third sample, if you wish.
3. Budget - You must use our budget template and attached it to the application.
4. You cannot be an SPNN staff member

Deliverables
If you are selected to receive this grant, these are the required deliverables for your project:

1. An updated budget as part of your contract, prior to receiving your funds.
2. A completed film, due one year from the day you sign the grant contract.
3. A narrative report upon the completion of your grant period (estimated February 2024).
4. A financial report upon completion of your grant period.
5. Three check-in meetings with the cohort and additional check-in meetings with the grant program manager as necessary.

If you do not meet all the deliverables you may be required to return all or a portion of the grant funds.

Meet the 2024-25 grantees!

Meet the 2023-24 grantees!

Meet the 2022-23 grantees!

This grant is funded by the Raymond J Christensen Foundation of the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation.