Announcing Print Generations: A Canyon Cinema Commissioning Project

Posted January 4th, 2024 in Announcements, News / Events

Canyon Cinema Foundation invites applications for Print Generations, a new film commissioning project. Inspired by the 16mm Centenary (1923-2023), this project will support the production of four new 16mm films by an intergenerational cohort of Bay Area artists, comprising two current Canyon members and two non-members. The program is supported by the Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Print Generations will commence in Winter 2024 with a project orientation at the Black Hole Collective Film Lab (BHCFL) in Oakland. Over the next 12 months, selected participants will meet with Canyon Cinema staff on a regular basis to review the progress of their projects. Based on the needs of the cohort, BHCFL will offer one of several possible workshops (e.g. hand processing B&W 16mm, 16mm contact printing, phytography, etc.) during the project timeframe. 

The completed films will have their public premiere in Spring 2025, at a Bay Area venue to be determined. There are no restrictions in terms of the proposed films’ subject matter, style, or length, but projects should be achievable within the available budget and 12-month timeframe and thus scoped appropriately. A finished 16mm release print is the only requirement. A willingness to work independently with minimal supervision/interference is also expected. 

Each selected participant will receive:

$2,500 artist honorarium
$1,500 materials stipend
Technical support from Canyon Cinema and Black Hole Collective Film Lab
Up to $1,500 for laboratory costs, including release print 
$250 screening fee for Bay Area premiere of completed film
Distribution in Canyon Cinema’s catalog

Additionally, a commissioned essay about the completed films and interviews with the participating filmmakers will be published on Canyon Cinema Connects and in a special issue of the Canyon Cinemazine.

Selection Process and Criteria

Projects will be chosen through an open application process by a committee composed of Bay Area media artists and curators. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of: 

The demonstrated capacity of the applicant to realize the proposed 16mm film idea 
The scale and feasibility of the proposed film idea within the parameters of the project budget
The clarity of the proposed film idea and its suitability for completion on 16mm
The strength of the applicant’s past work

Eligibility

The project is open to all Bay Area residents. Applicants must have an address in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, or Sonoma County. Canyon Cinema artist members as well as non-members are encouraged to apply. 

Projects already in progress are ineligible for consideration. Previous experience working with 16mm is considered an asset. 

Funded projects must be started after February 1, 2024 and be completed by March 1, 2025. 


To Apply, please submit: 

(1) A statement outlining your interest in experimental film and media and previous production experience (one page max.)
(2) A brief film idea and rough budget outline (one page max.)
(3) A short bio
(4) Preview links for up to two previous moving image works

Online Application Form: bit.ly/ccf-print-gen

Application Deadline (Extended): January 15, 2024, 11:59pm (PST)

Canyon Cinema Foundation is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, equity in employment, accessibility, and to becoming a more inclusive organization. Members of traditionally underrepresented groups are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.

Individuals who require accommodation during the application process are invited to contact info@canyoncinema.com 


About Canyon Cinema: Founded in Bruce Baillie’s backyard in 1961, Canyon Cinema Foundation (San Francisco, CA) is dedicated to educating the public about independent, noncommercial, experimental, avant-garde, and artist-made moving images. We manifest this commitment by providing access to an unrivaled collection of films to universities and cultural organizations worldwide, and cultivating scholarship and appreciation. We ensure the experience of rare film works in their original medium while also reaching out to new audiences through our growing digital distribution project. www.canyoncinema.com