Terms & Conditions

Eligibility

• Applicants must be alumni of the DePaul School of Cinematic Arts (undergraduate or graduate program) from any graduation year.
• Applicants may not be current DePaul University students.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Applicants must be the primary creative lead on the project, specifically writer, director, and/or producer.
• Only one submission per applicant will be accepted per cycle. If multiple submissions are received, only the first submission will be considered.

Grant Award

• The selected recipient will receive:
  • A $5,000 cash grant
  • Access to in-kind resources, including camera, grip, and lighting equipment, and/or other production support
• The award is intended to support the production of a short proof-of-concept, either for a feature film or a pilot for a television series, not for the full-length feature or series itself.

Use of Funds

• Grant funds must be used exclusively for project-related expenses.
• A budget and basic expense report may be required following production.
• Funds may not be used for tuition, personal expenses, or unrelated projects.

Application Deadline & Submission

• The application deadline is March 30th, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST.
• Late submissions will not be considered.

Applicant must submit the following materials by the application deadline:

• Script for the proposed final project
• Script for the proposed proof-of-concept (if one exists)
• Work sample (e.g. short film, reel, visual excerpt)
• A vision statement describing what the proof-of-concept short is meant to lead to — stylistic approach, creative intent, and potential future development
• The submission materials will not be returned to the applicant.
• DePaul is not responsible for late, incomplete, damaged, or missing submissions.
• Applicants are not allowed to correct or supplement materials after submission.

Credit Requirements

The final project must include the following acknowledgment in the opening credits:

“Produced in cooperation with DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts” Visual credit must appear in the closing credits and any associated press or festival materials, where appropriate. Filmmakers shall use their best efforts to maintain that credit in any film and/or television series resulting from the funded project.

Award

• DePaul reserves the right to not award a grant in any application cycle.
• DePaul’s decisions to award or not award a grant are final.

Ownership & Rights

• The applicant must have all necessary rights to submit the application materials and create and display the proof-of-concept short film or pilot.
• The applicant retains full ownership of the project and underlying IP.
• DePaul University does not claim rights or creative control over the finished project.
• However, the university reserves the right to:
  • Publicly screen or share the completed project for educational or promotional purposes
  • Reference the project in marketing and advancement materials
  • Request a non-exclusive license for internal or alumni showcase use

Insurance & Legal

• Use of DePaul-owned facilities or equipment will require signing a separate use agreement and compliance with SCA production guidelines and university policies.
• Successful applicants will be required to sign a formal grant agreement to receive the award.
• The university is not liable for project delays, legal disputes, or third-party claims arising from the production.
• Applicant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless DePaul University, and its trustees, directors, officers, faculty, employees, and agents, past or present, against all losses, claims, demands, actions, liabilities, damages, judgments, expenses, and fees (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with its submission to DePaul, or any works related to such submission.
• Applicant agrees to release DePaul and its trustees, directors, officers, faculty, employees, and agents, past or present, from any and all liabilities relating to its submission including any claim of infringement or misappropriation of submission materials and/or materials created or derived from grant funds.
• Applicants are responsible for obtaining copyrights and/or otherwise protecting all proprietary interests in their submission materials.
• The project must be shot within the greater Chicago area. Any other locations must be agreed to in advance by DePaul.

Disbursement

• Disbursement of cash grant funds is contingent but not limited to on:
  • Execution of the formal grant agreement
  • Proof of project readiness and/or production timeline
  • Completion of any required university onboarding forms (e.g., W-9 or direct deposit forms)

Withdrawal or Revocation

DePaul reserves the right to withdraw the grant under the following circumstances:

• Misrepresentation of eligibility or submitted materials
• Misuse of funds
• Failure to meet deliverables or deadlines without communication
• Convenience with 30 days notice

Agreement & Acceptance

By submitting an application and checking the agreement box, applicants agree and acknowledge that:

• All information provided is accurate to the best of their knowledge
• They have read, understood, and agree to these Terms & Conditions