6th Chicago Underground Film Fund

*** PLEASE FORWARD ***

"There are so many film festivals out there these days and it seems like
most of them are in it for their own recognition or financial gain.
Basically, they use the filmmaker for their own advantage. CUFF does it FOR
the filmmaker, to support independent film, and for the community it serves.
They program films that others dare not show and their film fund provides a
means for independent filmmakers like myself to realize our dreams. Yes, the
grant award is great and will help enable me to make my film. But really,
it's about support. Had I received the grant or not, it's great to know that
CUFF is out there making sure that independent films are made." - Doug
Wolens, director of Riding Ray's Roller Coaster

"I feel very strongly that in applying for a grant from CUFF, this is one of
the very few applications where I can actually be sincere¨¢that my vision
for this film and the ideas and politics behind CUFF are enough in sync that
I can lay my cards on the table."¨¢2000 Chicago Underground Film Fund
recipient, Sam Green, director of The Weather Underground

Underground, Experimental and Independent film and video makers are invited
to apply to the Sixth Annual Chicago Underground Film Fund. Established in
1998, the Film Fund was created to provide financial assistance to
filmmakers for personal and avant-garde work. Cash grants will be awarded to
selected film or video makers for post-production on works that are in
keeping with CUFF's mission to promote works that defy and transcend the
mainstream of independent filmmaking. "©ö The film fund is one of the most
important aspects of CUFF©ös mission. Through the fund we aim to give back
to the independent film community and insure that smart, creative and daring
work continues to be produced.©÷ says Festival Director Bryan Wendorf, "The
Chicago Underground Film Fund exists to provide financial support for
projects that aspire to be more than industry calling cards." Each project
selected will receive a cash award of between $500 and $2000 to go toward
post-production costs.

By cultivating new artists and supporting established ones, the Fund
provides more encouragement and support to the type of media CUFF already
seeks to foster in its year-round programming and festival. Along with
material support, the grant hopes to create a sense of artistic community
among widely disparate but similarly adventurous filmmakers. To date over
nearly two dozen projects have been completed with assistance from the Fund,
including Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave's Straightman, Julia Query's Live!
Nude! Girls! UNITE! The Weather Underground by Sam Green and Bill Siegel and
Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator by Helen Stickler.

Submissions are being accepted for Narrative Feature, Narrative Short,
Documentary, Animated or Experimental projects.

The deadline for this year's submissions is March 1, 2004. For an
application and guidelines please visit our website at www.cuff.org.