Film Scholarships

Whether you picture yourself as the person shouting “Lights, camera, action!” or one of the many professionals involved in providing those elements, a degree in film can help you achieve your career goals. Contrary to popular opinion, film can be a versatile and lucrative college major. Beyond actors and directors, countless other people are involved in film and the term “film” extends far past Hollywood blockbusters. A film degree can prepare you for a variety of roles within this dynamic field and can also help you hone your skills and make your mark on the world with your art.

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However practical and fulfilling it may be, a film degree is still expensive. While federal aid and student loans can help you shoulder the burden of your film school bills, taking on too much debt can limit your post-graduation prospects and make it hard to get your film career off the ground. Luckily, there are a number of film scholarships to help you pay for school.

You can read through the examples on this page to get an idea of some of the film scholarships available to film students. Some are academic scholarships specifically for film majors, while others are video contests open to everyone. Your college may offer some film scholarships specifically for majors and a variety of local and national awards like those given by AFI and the Screen Actors Guild. There are numerous other film scholarship opportunities out there, too, both based on your major and on other award criteria. To find a full list of scholarships you may qualify for based on your unique characteristics, conduct a free scholarship search on Scholarships.com.

Francis D. Lyon Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/31/2023
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship is awarded annually to a graduate student in the field of film making or a closely related field such as theatre/drama, writing or entertainment. Only graduate students are eligible to apply. Membership in Phi Delta Theta is not a requirement. The student is required to be enrolled in a college or university in the United States or Canada. Students of film [...] More

The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists

  • Application Deadline: 11/15/2023
  • Amount: $2,500
  • Founded in memory of James Alan Cox, a television photojournalist, The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists aims to provide financial support to student photojournalists of high school and college age. Jim Cox, who was a television photojournalist in Phoenix, always "told a story" through his work, whether it was in video or still photography. Each award is $2,500.

    Five (5) [...] More

Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2024
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship provides educational resources to students pursuing a degree in the visual arts. Applicants must answer the essay prompt: "Considering the background and criteria of this scholarship, why are you the best candidate? Discuss your involvement in organizations and activities that focus on the visual arts."

    Applicant must: Be a graduating senior from a [...] More

NYWICI Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 2/28/2024
  • Amount: $10,000
  • New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) provides scholarships every year to deserving young students. Scholarships range from $2,500 to $10,000 for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students for students pursuing a career/major in the field of communications. Applicants must reside in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania or go to college or university in one of those [...] More

Austin Alliance for Women in Media Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2024
  • Amount: $5,000
  • AWM Austin is proud to award a scholarship to a college sophomore or junior studying media or a related field at a university in the Austin area (within a 40-mile radius from Austin). Consideration will also be given to students attending other colleges who graduated from an Austin area high school and maintain an Austin area permanent address. The scholarship will be awarded in April to be used [...] More

Jack G. Shaheen Mass Communications Scholarship Award

  • Application Deadline: 4/12/2024
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is offering scholarships for Arab American undergraduates who excel in media studies. Undergraduate juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students majoring in journalism, radio, television, and/or film are eligible to apply. For those interested in applying, please submit the following: a one-page statement explaining why you merit the [...] More

CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/14/2024
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship is for full time African-American or Black students pursuing a degree in visual arts including, but not limited to, architecture, ceramics, drawing, fashion, graphic design, illustration, interior design, painting, photography, sketching, video production and other decorative arts.

    Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident who is [...] More
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Last Reviewed: May 2023