The Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Creative Industries Division has announced a request for proposals aimed at developing small, mid-sized, and microbudget film and creative media projects. This initiative offers Phase 1 seed funding from the Hawaiʻi Film and Creative Industries Development Fund to support local filmmakers, media makers, and content creators in growing Hawai‘i-originated intellectual property for licensing, distribution, and export.
Proposals are being accepted until March 21, 2025. Information sessions on the RFP and application process will be conducted via Zoom from January 7 to January 17, 2025. Written questions can also be submitted during this period.
A total of $400,000 is allocated for this solicitation: $100,000 for short film awards ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 each; and $300,000 for longer format projects with awards between $16,000 to $50,000. Proposals should outline development plans as well as budget considerations. They should also address potential distribution methods such as digital streaming or festival participation.
“Opening sources of access to capital is essential for growing new markets for creative media entrepreneurs in Hawaiʻi,” said DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka. “Our call out to content creators and strategic spread of seed funding will both showcase local talent while further positioning the state as a premiere media development hub.”
The fund was established by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 2021 through Act 193. It allows DBEDT/CID to use appropriations and grants alongside rental fees from DBEDT-managed facilities. Productions receiving credits from the Hawaiʻi Motion Picture Tax Credit Program contribute .2% towards this fund.
“The community has been eagerly awaiting this first call for submissions,” stated Georja Skinner of CID at DBEDT. “Through seeding early-stage projects or completing those underway we’re staking a claim that our growing roster of talent in the islands is a force to be supported.”
Submissions must include solicitation number RFP-CID-25-002 in their subject line when emailed before March 21st deadline at [email protected]. Questions can be directed towards CID Branch Chief Rick C Manayan via email provided above.
DBEDT serves as Hawaii’s economic resource center fostering planned community developments among other initiatives while CID focuses on accelerating growth within creative sectors including film production through strategic partnerships promoting global exports opportunities regionally across various industries like arts culture music literary publishing digital new media etcetera forming part overall vision expanding Hawaiian IP globally beyond shores.
