The Hollywood Foreign Press Association Donates $3.25 Million At Annual Grants Banquet
By: Kaitlin Milligan Aug. 10, 2018
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) presented $3.25 million at their annual Grants Banquet held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. The evening was hosted by William H. Macy. Talent who accepted grants on behalf of nonprofit organizations included Alfonso Cuaron, Alfre Woodard, Amber Heard, Ben Hardy, Billy Porter, Charlize Theron, Chris Messina, Christian Slater, Cody Fern, Connie Britton, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Fanning, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Jason Bateman, Jason Reitman, Jennifer Garner, Joey King, John Cho, John David Washington, Lena Waithe, MJ Rodriguez, Nia Long, Rami Malek, Regina King, and Steve Carell.
Highlights from the evening included:
"Shameless" actor William H. Macy took the stage and led the evening as emcee. "There will be no colluding, fake news, nepotism, tweets, swamp draining, document checking, boats being untied and sent adrift or alternative facts," said Macy. "Tonight, we are here to do good; and by that, I mean give out more than $3 million to various worldwide charities, educational institutions and community support groups."
HFPA President Meher Tatna welcomed THE ROOM expressing the mission of the HFPA. "We will continue to put on special screenings, expert panel discussions, and more to affirm our commitment to recognize the best in film and television from around the world.
Steve Carell presented a $250,000 grant to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES). The Texas-based 501(c)(3) promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families and refugees in Central and South Texas. RAICES has been instrumental in the fight to reunite families who were recently separated at the border. As an organization comprised of primarily immigrants, RAICES' advocacy and representation for those seeking refuge in the US is one that the HFPA vigorously supports.
Charlize Theron accepted a generous grant on behalf of the Film Foundation. Preservation of Hollywood's classics is a major focus of the HFPA. "It has become the leading organization devoted to fundraising, increasing awareness of preservation, and issuing grants to safeguard this country's cinematic heritage. It aids in preserving movie history by providing support for preservation projects at film archives."
Jennifer Garner took the stage to accept a new grant from the HFPA awarded to The Actors Gang, the nonprofit founded by actor Tim Robbins. "For an actor, performing works that are relevant to the world in which we live is the ultimate reward," said Garner. "The goal of this program is finding a creative prevention; reaching those students who do not respond to traditional learning methods by giving them the freedom of self-expression."
John Cho, accompanied on stage by Nia Long, accepted a grant on behalf of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, which offers year-round services to Asian Pacific American entertainment professionals. "As someone born in Seoul, South Korea who lives and works in L.A., I passionately believe that promoting diversity and cross-cultural awareness is more important than ever to ensure fair and interesting storytelling, and to give minority filmmakers the opportunity to broaden the audiences' horizon," said Cho.
Cynthia Erivo brought the house down with a special performance of The Wiz's "Home."
Jason Bateman was joined on stage by Dakota Fanning and accepted a grant on behalf of California State University Dominguez Hills Film School. "Many of the more than 15,000 students are minorities, often struggling with homelessness; others care for children or aging parents, or are undocumented or products of the foster care system. This HFPA Fellowship will assist those students who face financial hardships and give them an innovative strategy for success"
Jason Reitman and Alfonso Cuaron took to the stage to announce a recently formed initiative led by the HFPA in partnership with Film Independent. Rising filmmakers from the 2018 Venice International Film Festival and the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival will be selected for a three-week residency program where they will travel to Los Angeles in January for mentorship, master classes and workshops to help hone their skills. They will attend screenings and education events hosted by Film Independent and attend the HFPA-hosted 76th Annual Golden Globe® Awards viewing party.
Grant recipients of the HFPA fall in four major areas: nurturing the development of young artists in film and television through support for scholarships, fellowships and education; preserving the culture and history of motion pictures by supporting film preservation; promoting cultural exchange and understanding through support for major programs and exhibitions that utilize film to ignite critical dialogue; and supporting special projects, educational and cultural activities connected with the entertainment industry. The HFPA began giving grants as early as 1989 to institutions such as University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Southern California (USC) and the American Cinematheque, which continue to receive support today. The HFPA has created endowments at Los Angeles colleges and universities to help underserved students such as Los Angeles Community College and California State University, Northridge.
For more than 25 years, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has donated over $33 million to entertainment related charities, scholarship programs and humanitarian efforts. Licensing fees obtained from the Awards show has allowed the HFPA to support over 80 nonprofits focused on education in film and television, film preservation, journalistic organizations committed to freedom of speech, as well as organizations that support natural disaster relief and other international and humanitarian crises such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), FilmAid International, The Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation, and Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES).
Hollywood Foreign Press Association 2018 Grant Recipients:
HIGHER EDUCATION: FELLOWSHIPS & INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) - $60,000
Cal State Fullerton - $60,000
Cal State Long Beach - $60,000
Cal State Los Angeles - $60,000
Cal State Northridge - $60,000
Columbia University - $60,000
Los Angeles City College - $25,000
Mt. San Antonio College Foundation - $20,000
New York University - $50,000
Santa Monica College - $30,000
University of California, Los Angeles - $125,000
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & MENTORING
American Film Institute - $40,000
Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment - $20,000
Exceptional Minds - $25,000
Film Independent, Project: Involve - $60,000
Independent Filmmaker Project (Brooklyn) - $20,000
International Documentary Association - $10,000
Motion Picture & Television Fund - $15,000
New Filmmakers Los Angeles - $15,000
SAG-AFTRA Foundation - $10,000
Streetlights - $20,000
Sundance Institute - $125,000
Veterans in Film & Television - $30,000
Sharewell (Zimmer Children's Museum) - $10,000
PRE-PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION & MENTORING
California State Summer School Arts Foundation - $25,000
Echo Park Film Center - $10,000
Ghetto Film School - $30,000
GlobalGirl Media - $10,000
Inner-City Arts (Downtown LA) - $30,000
Inner City Filmmakers (Santa Monica) - $40,000
Kids in the Spotlight - $10,000
LAUSD/USC Arts & Engineering Magnet - $25,000
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts - $25,000
Los Angeles LGBT Center - $10,000
The Music Center - $5,000
PRESERVE THE CULTURE & HISTORY OF FILM
Film Noir - $50,000
Outfest (UCLA LGBT project) - $35,000
The Film Foundation - $350,000
PROMOTE CULTURAL EXCHANGE THROUGH FILM
American Cinematheque - $45,000
Film Independent/LACMA Series - $300,000
FilmAid International - $200,000
Hollywood Heritage Museum - $10,000
Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles - $15,000
Library Foundation of Los Angeles - $20,000
Los Angeles Conservancy, Last Remaining Seats - $35,000
Museum of the Moving Image - $10,000
San Francisco Silent Film Festival - $10,000
University of California, Berkeley Film Archive - $20,000
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (Ebertfest) - $10,000
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Children's Hospital - $35,000
Ensemble Studio Theatre - $15,000
Gingold Theatre Group/Shaw Festival - $20,000
Lollipop Theater Network - $20,000
Pablove Foundation - $20,000
The Moth - $70,000
Young Musicians Foundation - $10,000
Young Storytellers Foundation - $10,000
2018 NEW GRANTEES
American Documentary Association - $30,000
Australians in Film - $10,000
Cal State Dominguez Hills - $30,000
Cal State Dominguez Hills - $5,000
City Year Los Angeles - $10,000
Dag Hammarskjold Fund for Journalists - $10,000
GetLit - Worlds Ignite - $10,000
IndieCollect - $10,000
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation - $10,000
POPS the Club - $10,000
Southwestern Law School - $30,000
The Actor's Gang - $10,000
Women in Film - $10,000
2018 ONE-TIME EQUIPMENT GRANTS
Cal State Fullerton - $25,000
Children's Hospital Los Angeles - $20,730
Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA - $10,000
Film Independent, Project Involve - $25,000
Inner City Filmmakers (Santa Monica) - $49,300
Los Angeles Conservancy - $10,000
New Filmmakers Los Angeles - $21,000
Outfest - $50,000
Santa Monica College - $20,000
Sharewell (Zimmer Children's Museum) - $43,220
Streetlights - $23,700
Young Musicians Foundation - $7,500
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