Caz Matthews Fund

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Caz Matthews is a Colorado-based supporter of SeriesFest and the independent episodic artists at the heart of the festival. She supports filmmakers who are not only telling important stories, but who desire to create work and find distribution opportunities that promote tolerance, acceptance, and understanding of all cultures and persons. Caz acknowledges that these artists may require additional funding that is not always easy to secure. 

The Caz Matthews Fund was established to celebrate the projects fighting to tell stories and build teams that celebrate cultural richness and nuanced mosaic of our global society. This fund provides a one-time donation to help projects continue the positive impact they are making on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the television landscape.

ELIGIBILITY

• Projects must exhibit a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at all stages of production, from the story onscreen to the work behind-the-scenes.
• Project must be an Official Selection in one of the following categories:
  • Independent Pilot Competition—Comedy
  • Independent Pilot Competition—Drama
  • Unscripted Series Competition
  • Digital Short Series
  • Late Night Competition

SELECTION PROCESS

After SeriesFest’s Official Selections are announced each spring, SeriesFest will identify a shortlist of these filmmakers whose projects meet or exceed the eligibility criteria above.

From this list, Caz Matthews selects filmmakers for an in-person meeting at the festival to further understand the impetus behind the projects, how the storylines will evolve, and how their practices align with the intent of the fund.

At the conclusion of the festival, none, some, or all of the filmmakers will receive a one-time financial donation from the Caz Matthews Fund, subject to affording a producer credit to SeriesFest for that particular work.