Making a film is difficult. Getting it widely distributed? Even harder. Doing it as a woman, BIPOC, member of the LGBTQ+ community, or outside the film hubs of New York or LA? That can feel nearly impossible—and that’s just where the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund (SZIF) steps in.
SZIF was established to provide support for Baltimore filmmakers in the form of mentoring, networking, skills building and grant making. Since its inception in 2016, SZIF has supported over 170 Fellows, connecting them with hundreds of industry mentors and advisors and providing over $3,000,000 in production and development funding. This year will mark a milestone: recruitment of the tenth annual cohort of Saul Zaentz Fellows.
Depending upon when you ran into Saul Zaentz during his lifetime, you might have met a chicken farmer, a professional gambler, a person without a home, a successful music producer, or a 50-plus-year-old, determined to make his first ever film—a film he was told was impossible for anyone, let alone a first-time filmmaker, to produce.
Ignoring the naysayers and financial gatekeepers of Hollywood, Zaentz went on to make his “impossible” first film independently and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, garnered five Academy Awards. Fiercely talented, Zaentz continued to work independently, becoming one of only two producers in the history of the Oscars—and the only producer not connected to the studio network—to win the Oscar for Best Picture, three times.
In addition to creativity and talent, Saul Zaentz enjoyed advantages that helped him produce the films he was compelled to make. Coming to filmmaking on the back of a successful music producing career, he was supported by a scaffolding of wealth, connections and the chutzpah that comes from having both. This is the kind of support that the Innovation Fund was set up to provide to emerging filmmakers.
Over the years, the Fund has helped support and strengthen a growing body of Baltimore storytellers that is reflective of the communities in which we live. Zaentz Fellows all come from the Baltimore region—far outside the filmmaking hubs of NY and LA, both geographically and experientially. More than half have come from the BIPOC community and roughly 70% have been women. This compares to “THE INDUSTRY” which has under 20% representation in either category.
“We’re so proud of the filmmakers we have been able to support over the last ten years.” says SZIF Director Annette Porter. “And now, we’re looking for a new cohort of Fellows with bold, proud stories to tell—passionate filmmakers who, like Zaentz, not only have films they want to make, but have films they feel they must make. In a time where the arts are under attack, this will be an exciting year to be a Fellow. We’re pushing ahead through the storm and looking forward to celebrating the milestone tenth cohort this fall with some exciting announcements and new partnerships.”
Applications for the Fellowship close September 5, but don’t wait until the last minute to submit your bold ideas! www.zaentzfund.com
