Meet the 2009 MediaMaker Award recipients. Read more >

Started in 1991, BAVC's MediaMaker Awards are in-kind training and post-production grants for independent artists with a particular focus on supporting emerging artists and under served communities. The Awards are designed to give independent artists direct access to the latest digital media technologies.

Currently, BAVC offers four MediaMaker Awards annually. Each Award consists of $8,000 worth of in-kind services and classes for media projects in the post-production or web development phase. The award is divided into $6,000 toward post-production services and $2,000 toward BAVC classes. Out of pocket expenses (i.e. production insurance, equipment operators, tape stock, etc.) are not covered by the award. In addition to the grant, BAVC works closely with the recipients to organize a screening of their project.

Depending on funding availability, BAVC also offers a MediaMaker Advance Award -- a $30,000 in-kind award for post-production or preservation services at BAVC. There is no formal application for this award. Projects are nominated.

Previous MediaMaker Advance winners include Vivian Kleiman and Signifyin’ Works to preserve the early videos of Marlon Riggs, and the UCLA Film and Television Archive and Outfest for the preservation of selected works from the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.

Letters of inquiry and nominations should be sent to: Wendy Levy, Director of Creative Programming.

Past recipients include: Nancy Kates' "Brother Outsider," Tom Shepard's "Scout's Honor," Paula Levine's "Burials and Borders," Dawn Logsdon's "Fauborg Tremé," Jason Blalock's "Tongues of Stone," Lidia Szajko and Lexi Leban's "Girl Trouble," Garrett Scott's "Cul de Sac: A Surburban War Story," Jeff Springer and Chris Metzler's "Plagues and Pleasures: A Life at the Salton Sea," Erica Marcus and Hrabba Gunnarsdottir's "Alive in Limbo," Duc Nguyen's "Bolinao 52," and many others.

Who is eligible?
Any BAVC member working on a noncommercial project is eligible for the MediaMaker Award. BAVC takes special interest in new media artists who are working on projects about community and social justice issues, but we encourage all genres and subject matters to apply. The award will only be given to projects in the post production phase, or projects that are developing emerging media as part of the project outreach.

When is the deadline for submission?
The 2010 application deadline has passed.

Who will be judging my work?
Applications are evaluated by an independent peer /expert panel whose members are chosen for their diverse backgrounds and experience in video and emerging media. New panels are convened annually.

What equipment is available?
BAVC's facility is located in San Francisco's Mission District at the intersection of Bryant and Mariposa. We maintain a professionally engineered facility with the most relevant hardware and software.

How do I apply?
Flll out the online form >

Questions? Please contact Wendy Levy, Director of Creative Programming.