Ageism is no joke in the film industry, and a new grant is hoping to help fix that. To honor the legacy of filmmaker Lynn Shelton, The Northwest Film Forum and Duplass Brothers Productions are launching the Lynn Shelton “Of a Certain Age” Grant. This will be a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant to be given to a US-based woman or non-binary filmmaker of the age 39 or older who has yet to direct a narrative feature film.
“This grant seeks to reinforce that great filmmakers can emerge at any age, and to elevate the voices of a segment of the filmmaking community who have precious few resources dedicated to supporting them yet plenty of stories to tell,” explains Megan Griffiths, Shelton’s longtime friend and collaborator, who is working in her capacity as a member of the board of Northwest Film Forum to help establish the grant. “Lynn was 39 when I met her on her first feature, and I watched her grow as an artist and become more certain in her path with every passing year. She wore her ‘late bloomer’ status as a badge of honor and we know she would be thrilled that this grant exists in her name.”
“In an industry where women, non-binary, and trans individuals have historically had less success and visibility, hearing Lynn Shelton’s story of coming into film at an older age has been extremely inspiring,” says Vivian Hua, Executive Director of Northwest Film Forum. “The scope of this grant will ensure a positive impact on the lives of future recipients for years to come.”
For those looking to give in her honor, donations to the Shelton/Seal Family Fund for the Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children, or Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum are encouraged.
