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Caz Matthews Fund

Paige Miltenberger · August 29, 2024 ·

View all festival funds and awards

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. 

Puncher’s Chance, written and directed by Garland Scott was a fund recipient in 2023. Garland shared his experience on Instagram.


PREVIOUSLY FUNDED PROJECTS

Season 10, 2024

This Boy’s Vida (Made in America)

Joseph Castillo-Midyett

    Hard To Swallow

    Tunde Wey, Theo Schear

      The Doug Heir Story

      Adam Ray

        Breakthrough

        Jared A. Johnston, JaMar Jones, LaTonya Joyce

          Season 9, 2023

          PUNCHER’S CHANCE

          Garland Scott & Johnny Rey Diaz

            ALL AT ONCE

            Mustafa Eck

              RESISTING

              donnie l. betts

                Season 8, 2022

                BROWNSVILLE BRED

                Elaine Del Valle

                  WE’RE DOING GOOD

                  lvira Ibragimova, Lana Link, and Rob Pfaltzgraff

                    CHIQUI

                    Carlos Cardona and Sophia de Baun

                      DOT

                      Kimberlee Kidd

                        MUSLIM GIRLS: DTF

                        Azziah Fatima and Atheer Yacoubhitaker

                          HOW NOT TO BE A JUNKIE

                          Andrea Metz and Michelle Peerali

                            MASHED

                            Madge


                              Questions?

                              VIEW SUBMISSION FAQS

                              Email info@seriesfest.com

                              Funds & Awards, Inclusivity inclusivity

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