Support the Future Voices of Film
Help us continue providing life-changing opportunities for female-identifying filmmakers from Chicago's public housing community. After years of essential support, we need $25K to sustain our year-round outreach in 2026.
The Impact of Your Support
A few years ago, local nonprofit Elevated Films Chicago stepped in to supplement our highly acclaimed "Become a Filmmaker" summer program by providing essential support for year-round outreach. We've recently learned that they will not have the capacity to sustain this funding in 2026.
These funds directly benefit female-identifying filmmakers from Chicago's public housing community, providing access, exposure, and experiences that are often out of reach—and truly life-changing.
Access the industry
- • Submit films to and attend prestigious festivals like NFFTY (National Film Festival for Talented Youth) in Seattle where they connect with inspiring directors such as Raven Jackson (All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt).
- • Serve as jurors at Chicago's CineYouth and receive real-world insight from the head programmer on how festivals operate.
- • Participate in technical workshops with industry professionals, including cinematographer, Ashley Battle.
- • Attend Chicago International Film Festival screenings and filmmaker conversations, most recently Kevin Shaw's One Golden Summer.
Experience culture & storytelling at the highest level
- • Attend world-class performances like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Tina Turner: The Musical.
- • Engage in powerful talkbacks for films such as Ava DuVernay's Origin via NEON and ARRAY.
- • Act as Sundance Ambassadors with mentorship from Chaz Ebert's team on writing thoughtful film criticism.
- • Screen Rita Coburn's historical masterpieces on Black visionaries (Maya Angelou, Marian Anderson) followed by private talks sharing hard-won industry wisdom.
See themselves on real sets
- • Go on VIP set tours such as Jordan Peele's Candyman (Monkeypaw Productions), where they met director Nia DaCosta and actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
- • Get recruited by their DePaul mentors to work on their films.
Receive mentorship & tangible opportunity
- • Gain guidance submitting work to contests like The Better Angels Society Next Generation Film Contest, which awards cash prizes.
- • Speak on panels and network with Chicago's filmmaking community through Cinema Femme.
Ways to Give
Choose a giving level that works for you. Every contribution helps shape the future of filmmaking.
Industry Partner
Join four other individuals or corporate sponsors to fully fund our 2026 outreach
Creative Champion
Support multiple students throughout the year with essential opportunities
Filmmaker Friend
Help fund festival attendance and industry workshops for our students
One Generous Donor
A single donation of $25,000 would fully fund our 2026 outreach program and ensure these life-changing opportunities continue for aspiring female filmmakers.
Donate $25,000Custom amount? Choose your own donation amount
Your support helps further Elevated Films Chicago’s mission to raise awareness for independent film and create opportunities for youth arts in Chicago, by hosting independent film events showcasing today’s strongest filmmakers and their work, and youth arts mentorship & outreach programs bringing up the next generation of filmmakers.
Please consider making a donation to support the next generation of independent film in Chicago.
We appreciate any amount you are able to give. Thank you!