Women’s Film Preservation Fund Grant

The Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF), an initiative of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), provides funding for the preservation and restoration of American films that have significant creative input from women. Established to highlight and sustain women’s contributions in film, the fund is dedicated to works where women have served in vital creative roles such as writer, director, producer, editor, or performer. Applications are encouraged early to allow for completeness checks before the deadline. The fund primarily supports film-to-film preservation projects that result in film-based archival elements, including a film negative and print. While digital preservation projects may be considered, these exceptions are evaluated individually. Deliverables for all projects must include digital versions with closed captions and subtitles. Video preservation is limited to specific cases by invitation only, and projects involving born analog or born digital video are not eligible through this grant. All preservation work must result in materials archived in a recognized film archive, with documentation of the archive's acceptance required. Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded and are highly competitive due to rising preservation costs. Projects with budgets exceeding the grant amount must have the remaining funding secured within one year of award acceptance before WFPF releases funds. Grant funds are disbursed directly to approved labs or vendors and cannot be used for salaries or general administrative costs. Applications must include a detailed budget based on a physical lab inspection, and all work must meet WFPF preservation standards. Eligibility extends to individuals and nonprofit organizations, with organizations needing to demonstrate tax-exempt status. Eligible films must have been originally shot on film, be American (as defined by the fund), and involve women in key creative roles. Projects lacking archived preservation elements must include a letter from a designated archive confirming their willingness to accept both original and preserved materials. Films can be from any era, genre, and of any length, but projects in development or without an archive are ineligible. The application process is conducted online, with a requirement that each film be submitted as a separate application with an individual budget. Required materials include a project manager appointment, full credit list, budget, and up to five pages of reviews or critiques. A preservation report and delivery receipt must be submitted upon completion. The WFPF reserves the right to screen restored films for publicity and requires proper crediting in the final product. Archives must maintain optimal storage conditions and grant researcher access. The next application deadline is June 30, 2025. Decisions can take up to six months, with all applicants notified of outcomes. The selection process involves a review by the WFPF Steering Committee, in consultation with a Selection Committee of archivists and historians. Grantees work directly with preservation labs and are assigned a WFPF committee member for support throughout the process. For questions or assistance, applicants should contact wfpf@nywift.org.