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Top Film Scholarships in 2022
Across America, there are many educational institutions that house the resources necessary to support the world’s next generation of great filmmakers. However, like any other path of study, it costs money. Film scholarships can help students lighten that financial burden and bring them on their way to being great creators of visual arts.
- Top Film Scholarships
- Frequently asked questions about film scholarships
- Summary of Film Scholarships
- Upcoming Scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship lists
Do you ever wonder who could be the next Tarantino or Kubrick? Maybe you even aspire to that level of fame for yourself. If you’re looking to study film, don’t put it past yourself! Keep on reading to find and apply for the top film scholarships!
Top film scholarships in 2022
$1,000 WCEJ Thornton Foundation Music & Art Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students interested in the study of the arts in higher education
- Amount: $1,000 (five $1,000 scholarships are awarded!)
- Deadline: July 1, 2022
ConnectHER Film Festival
- Eligibility: Students submit original short (3- to 6-minute) films focused on issues such as girls’ global education, ending violence against women, redefining beauty, women and the environment, and girls in tech. First time filmmakers are eligible (and encouraged) to submit
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: June 1, 2022
Gordon Hay Scholarship Fund
- Eligibility: Students must be a graduating high school senior, college freshman, or college sophomore at the time of application. Student must be preparing to pursue or currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in a nonperformance discipline of theater (e.g. set/lighting/sound/costume design, stage management, arts administration, arts education, etc.). High school applicants must reside in specific counties of North Carolina or South Carolina. College sophomores and freshmen must reside in N.C. in S.C.
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: June 2, 2022
Ocean Awareness Contest
- Eligibility: Students ages 11 to 18 who create a work of art in their chosen genre, including visual art, film, music, poetry, prose, and interactive and multimedia
- Amount: Scholarships worth from $100 to $1,500
- Deadline: June 13, 2022
Student Academy Awards
- Eligibility: College students who submit a short film
- Amount: $2,000 to 5,000
- Deadline: June 1, 2022
Young Filmmakers Contest
- Eligibility: Students from grade 3 through college (through age 25)
- Amount: $200 to $2,000 (8 awards!)
- Deadline: June 25, 2023
Frequently asked questions about film scholarships
Can you get scholarships for being a YouTuber?
There are scholarships out there for YouTubers, but this is a field ridden with scam scholarships. When applying for scholarships based on your YouTube account or videos, be careful when giving out personal information. You should never give out your password or private information.
If you are a YouTuber, you are probably talented at making videos at home, and maybe even vlogging. This would set you up well to earn video scholarships. These scholarships have video components to their application. You’ll be able to showcase your ability for telling a compelling story via video.
Can you use film scholarships for acting?
Many film scholarships can also be applied to acting! For example, the Ocean Awareness Contest is a very open-ended scholarship for artistically-minded students. You can apply for it through acting, visual art, film music, or a host of other skills.
But be aware that not every film scholarship can be used for acting. Always make sure to go over the terms and conditions carefully before applying. If you have any doubts at all about your eligibility, reach out to the organization to clarify. This gives you the benefit of being sure that you’re eligible, as well as making contact with someone at the organization. This could encourage them to pay special attention to your application.
Do you have to study film to get a film scholarship?
Not necessarily! Some film scholarships do not require that you major in film. So, hobbyist filmmakers might be able to partially fund their college education with film scholarships, even if they never take a film class in school.
However, you should note that if you are already in college, many film scholarships will require that you major in the field. For the most part, the scholarships with the least strict requirements will be ones that you can apply to in high school.
What are the most prestigious film schools?
It’s hard to answer this question definitively, as prestige is subjective to many different factors. However, some of the film schools often mentioned as the most prestigious are:
- University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
- New York University Kanbar Institute of Film & Television
- Beijing Film Academy
- American Film Institute Conservatory
- London Film School
Upcoming scholarships
CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship
- Eligibility: African American pursuing a degree in visual arts, including degrees such as architecture, interior design, video production, and other decorative arts
- Amount: Varies
Dorian De Long Arts & Music Scholarship
- Eligibility: Graduating high school student who intends to pursue advanced education (major or minor) in the arts. Must be attending a college/university in Colorado.
- Amount: $2,500
- Opens: January 1, 2023
James Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists
- Eligibility: Undergraduate or high school students
- Amount: $2,500
- Opens: July 15, 2022
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Scholarships
- Eligibility: High school seniors who intend to pursue a career in the film and television industry.
- Amount: $10,000
- Opens: March 2023
