Student Grants | Prague Film Institute

At Prague Film Institute, we understand how valuable film festival opportunities are for your future, so we actively support our students in creating and distributing their films. We run two programs every academic year to boost your films: our Student Grants, awarded to the best-pitched film ideas every Spring Semester; and our Festival Support Program, awarded to selected films.

Pitch to a panel of your teachers

Funding for your Film

Each academic year, students in our year-long courses have the opportunity to earn prize money for their Final Films through short film grants. This money can be used to cover production costs, such as paying professional actors, renting locations, purchasing props or costumes, and more.

The winners of these grants are selected based on their Final Film Pitch, a short presentation made to a panel of teachers and mentors. The best ideas, supported by the most prepared production materials, win the grant awards. This process mirrors the industry’s approach to film financing, where success often hinges on “the elevator pitch” to a panel of producers.

To be eligible for these Filmmaking Grants, students must maintain good academic standing in all their classes. Teachers vote on the best film ideas, and the winners are announced by our school’s Founder, film producer Viktor Krištof.

The jury, made up by your teachers and mentors

Distribution of funds

The exact number of student films that receive a grant varies depending on the number of students in a given academic year and is based solely on the jury’s decision. Some years we have 2 or 3 films which stand far above the rest and some years there are several films equally deserving of a grant. Each grant-winning film will receive a minimum of 5000–7500 CZK. The total amount distributed each year is a maximum of 75 000 CZK.

Pitches by previous student grant winners

Get Mentored by a Distributor

Film Festival Support

With thousands of film festivals to choose from, first-time filmmakers can easily be paralyzed with too many options. On top of it, many film festivals have constraining submission fees. Many young, ambitious filmmakers make the mistakes of only submitting their short films to the most competitive festivals in the world, or losing premiere rights to low-level festivals when they should hold out for a more prestigious festival. We want to guide our students to make informed decisions for the success of their films.

In a special session with a distribution expert, students will get all their questions answered about the film festival circuit. Students will receive a comprehensive list of film festivals suitable for short films, with options for every budget and every genre. Every student will benefit from these valuable resources for years to come.

Students shooting their Final Film, Raha

Films currently in distribution with our program

At the end of each academic year, a few films will be chosen for the exclusive opportunity to get a one-on-one consultation with director and distributor, Adrian Tofei. In these consultations Adrian will discuss his individualized post-production feedback and film festival strategy for the selected film. Following the discussion with the filmmaker, Adrian will prepare a complete festival distribution plan, unique to the film.

In special cases, Prague Film Institute may also cover submission fees for the film festivals recommended by Adrian.

See below some films which are currently being distributed with our Film Festival Support Program.

“Berchta” by Mathilde Bek Hansen

Student Grant

Funding for your Film

Distribution of funds

Film Festival Support

Films currently in distribution with our program

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