NOFO: Supporting Ugandan Storytelling through Smartphones (Uganda)

Embassy funding will support training in up to three regions, coordination of a visiting American film expert, and participation of select films produced as part of the training in a local film festival.

Through comprehensive training and hands-on film production experiences, proposed projects are expected to provide participants skills on how to create engaging and socially relevant content using easily accessible smartphone technology. The U.S. Embassy is particularly interested in building connections between Ugandans and Americans, so the program must demonstrate how it will link American experts, and/or other U.S. connections in the Ugandan context.

Goals

• Overall program goals:
  • To inspire participants to create documentary and fictional films and that address social issues, foster community engagement, and advocate for change, using their newly acquired skills in smartphone filmmaking to influence public discourse and community development.
  • To utilize film and TV as platforms for cultural exchange between Uganda and the United States, showcasing stories that reflect shared values and concerns, promote mutual understanding, and highlight the beneficial impacts of U.S. engagement in Uganda.
  • To catalyze economic growth and create employment opportunities in Uganda’s creative industries by training individuals to become creative entrepreneurs. This includes not just content creation but also the potential for innovation in film production and distribution.
  • To ensure the film and TV industry in Uganda becomes more inclusive by providing the tools and training so diverse groups can tell stories, thereby promoting diversity and inclusion in media content.
  • To bolster media freedom in Uganda by equipping journalists with the necessary tools and ethical training to report using smartphones.

Program Objectives

• To empower 75-100 Ugandan filmmakers, journalists, and/or content creators by providing them with the skills and knowledge to utilize smartphones and open-source software for film and media production.
• To develop training modules in consultation with a U.S. expert in digital storytelling. Training may include topics such as:
  • The basics of Smartphone Cinematography, Smartphone Storytelling and Scriptwriting, Smartphone Documentary Filmmaking, Smartphone Mobile Journalism, Smartphone Film Editing and Post-Production, Ethical Filmmaking and Journalism, Legal Aspects of Filmmaking and Journalism, Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity in Filmmaking, and Film Set Design and Management.
• Proposals must clearly explain how they will incorporate a traveling American Film Showcase visitor, Justin Ching, for a 10-day masterclass from June 15 – 27 July (to be confirmed). The grantee will manage all aspects of the visitor’s program, including logistics, hotel reservations, venue, recruitment of participants, and design of the schedule in consultation with the visitor, AFS, and Embassy.
• Participants will create short films using their own smartphones.
  • The grantee may recommend realistic lengths (1-5 minutes) and topics for the films.
  • Potential topics for films, to be confirmed in coordination with the Embassy and grantee, include highlighting community development success stories, environmental conservation, cultural heritage and positive civic identity, inspirational Ugandan biographies, youth and education, and innovative solutions for everyday challenges
• Extra consideration will be given to proposals that incorporate partnerships with existing film festivals to showcase selected participant films. You may propose a Smartphone Film category in an existing film festival or recommend a specific screening event for products from the training.  Please include film classification and festival participation costs in your budget proposal.
• All training must be completed by September 2024 and participation of select student’s work in a film festival held no later than February 2025.

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $35,000
• Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $35,000
• Length of performance period: 6-8 months
• Number of awards anticipated: 1 award (dependent on amounts)
• Anticipated program start date:  July 2024

Program Participants

• Proposals must clearly identify a specific audience within one or more of the following potential categories and justify why they are choosing that audience. The expectation is to have 75-100 people trained across three regions of Uganda. The grantee will be required to recruit for the program and seek Embassy concurrence on participants.
  • Individuals with a keen interest in filmmaking who are looking to develop their skills using accessible technology. This group would primarily consist of aspiring directors, producers, and cinematographers.
  • Media personnel interested in leveraging smartphones for journalistic purposes, enhancing their reporting capabilities, and adopting new media technologies for more effective storytelling and news dissemination.
  • Individuals who create content for online platforms and social media, seeking to enrich their storytelling techniques and production quality using smartphones.
  • University and college students from film, media, journalism, and related fields who aim to gain practical skills in smartphone filmmaking and digital content creation.
  • Local community members who wish to tell their stories or highlight issues in their communities through film and media, using smartphones as a tool for self-expression and advocacy.

Priority Regions

• Activities should take place in Kampala and two other regional locations.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from U.S. and Ugandan individuals and organizations: The following are eligible to apply
  • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with relevant programming experience.
  • Educational institutions, like universities, colleges, and vocational schools, especially those with film, media, journalism, or arts programs.
  • Governmental institutions involved in cultural, educational, or technological development. U.S. public entities could be eligible if they have a project or partnership in Uganda.
  • Individuals with expertise in film making and training in Uganda.
  • Local community groups and organizations in Uganda that are engaged in cultural, artistic, or educational activities.
  • Museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions (both U.S. and Uganda) that aim to engage in cultural exchange or educational projects related to film and media can apply.
  • All organizations, regardless of their country of origin, must ensure that their proposed programs align with the project’s objectives and provide significant benefits to the target participants and audiences.
  • For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Uganda.