Creative Excellence Grant

The Creative Excellence Grant is a competitive project-based award created to support the next generation of storytellers and creative professionals emerging from the Trilith Institute.

This grant provides financial support, industry mentorship, and executive-level guidance to help selected students bring high-quality creative projects to life while experiencing a real-world studio development process.

Unlike a traditional scholarship, the Creative Excellence Grant is structured to simulate professional industry standards. Awardees will develop their projects under the supervision of the Institute team, receiving creative feedback, accountability, and strategic guidance from experienced industry professionals.

Eligibility

The Creative Excellence Grant is exclusively available to:

• Students currently enrolled in Trilith Institute Professional Education programs who have taken 2 or more courses or former students who have taken 2 or more Trilith Institute Professional Education programs since 2025. 
• Current Change Maker level participants enrolled in the Writers’ Room of Georgia

Applicants must be in good standing with their respective program.

Individuals directly or indirectly associated with the Trilith Institute — including employees, officers, directors, independent contractors, review board members, or their immediate family members — are not eligible.

Potential Grant Benefits

Each award is customized based on the needs of the project. Support may include:

Financial Support

• Grants of up to $10,000 of matching funds, depending on project scope and Trilith Institute’s discretion. 
  • Not all funds are guaranteed to be distributed
  • All awards are granted at the sole discretion of the Trilith Institute
  • Selected participants will be required to crowdfund for their projects. Grant funds will match up to the maximum awarded benefit.
• Structured disbursement to ensure funds are used for project creation

Industry Partnerships & Resources

The Institute actively works to provide access to professional collaborators and partners, which may include:

• Casting support and table reads
• Equipment partnerships (camera, G&E)
• Post-production resources
• VFX or gaming collaborators
• Discounted production services

Mentorship & Career Development

• One-on-one mentorship from industry professionals
• Script development and executive feedback
• Career strategy conversations
• Introductions to Georgia-based showrunners, writers, producers, directors, animators, and designers
• Potential meetings with high-level industry leaders

The Application Process

Applicants will:

1. Submit via email to  creative.excellence@trilithinstitute.org the following materials:
   1. A completed and signed Submission Release Agreement
   2. Project pitch deck
   3. Project script (Scripts must be 15 pages or less. Submitted as pdf, formatted in industry-standard screenwriting formats.) 
   4. Proposed project budget
   5. Proposed project schedule
   6. Crowdfunding marketing plan
2. If selected to move forward in the selection process, applicants will be scheduled for an in-person pitch meeting with Trilith Institute Staff. 
3. In pitch meetings, applicants must:
   1. Present materials that clearly communicate their vision (pitch deck, script samples, mood boards, proof of concept, timeline, budget, etc.)
   2. Outline the requested grant benefits and explain how funds will be allocated
   3. Submit any additional requested materials within 48 hours of their pitch.
4. After pitch sessions, the Trilith Institute review panel will select grant winners. Please note that grants will not be awarded in pitch meetings. 

Applicants should be prepared to answer questions regarding creative vision, production feasibility, budget strategy, and long-term goals.

Selected Filmmakers’ Highlighted Responsibilities 

*complete details on Selected Filmmakers’ responsibilities are available upon request and will be disclosed in full prior to grant award.

Filmmakers who are awarded Creative Excellence Grant funds will be expected to meet the following deliverables and responsibilities: 

• • Crowdfunding. The Grantee agrees to raise necessary funds for the film project in excess of those provided by the  Grant through Seed&Spark, Indiegogo, or a similar crowdfunding platform or personally controlled website. 
  • Financial Reporting & Accountability. The Grantee agrees to maintain accurate and detailed accounting records, including receipts, and provide a final actualized budget for the funds received and used. Such records shall be made available for inspection upon request by the Grantor.
  • Regular Status Meetings. The Grantee agrees to participate in regular status update meetings with the Grantor to discuss the progress of the thesis film, budgetary considerations, and any other relevant matters.
  • Implementation of Grantor Notes and Recommendations. The Grantor retains the right to provide feedback and notes on all aspects of the production. The Grantee agrees that students involved in the project will implement such notes unless otherwise mutually agreed upon between the parties.

• Meet delivery deadlines and expectations. Grantees will be required to produce their selected project under the following timeline. 

• • June 2 – July 15: Development, Crowdfunding, & Prep-Production
  • July 13 – August 15: Production Phase
    • Principal photography 
    • Budget tracking and fund usage reporting 
  • August 16 – November 13: Post-Production Phase
    • Final cut delivery no later than November 13th.
    • Final cost reporting and grant allocation reporting must be submitted no later than November 30, 2026. 

 

See our Past Recipients!