The David Ross Fetzer Foundation for Emerging Artists was created in 2013 in memory of writer, actor, director & producer David Fetzer following his death at the age of 30. Our Mission is to provide grants and mentoring to emerging filmmakers that will enable them take their scripts from paper to the screen. Recipients of the grants receive cash and a filmmaker mentor. The resulting short film will be screened at the annual summer Davey Fest (3-day shorts festival) in Salt Lake City, Utah. This year is the first year that the age limit of 35 has been removed. We now welcome ALL emerging filmmakers!
Davey Foundation grantees' shorts have screened at prominent festivals around the world, including Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, to name a few, and have spurred the film careers of writers/directors, like Laura Moss (Fry Day), Lauren Wolkstein (Beemus, It'll End in Tears, part of collective:unconscious), A. Stephen Lee (The Sound of Coins Hitting Brass), and have been nominated for and won awards, like Nick Dixon's Emmy for MINE, and Vika Evdokimenko's BAFTA nomination for AAMIR. The Davey Showcase, at which all grant-winning films are screened, and Davey Fest has become a staple of the Utah film scene.
Previous grantees have included: Ben Kegan, Lauren Wolkstein, Ted Schaefer, A. Stephen Lee, Nick Dixon, Vika Evdokimenko, Laura Moss, Curtis Whitear, Davey Morrison Dillard, Jackson Segars, Celine Held & Logan George, Jamil Munoz, and Lauren Smitelli, and 2018's Zack Bornstein, Haley Anderson, Nora Kirkpatrick, and Colten Ashley.
Previous guest filmmaker jurors have included: Dustin Guy Defa, Kenny Riches, David & Nathan Zellner, Sean Baker, Amy Seimetz & Bernardo Britto, Sophia Takal and Adam Salky.
There are two grant categories: National and Utah
Only scripts are accepted and judged. Completed films are not eligible. Two grant winners receive $5,000 cash, and one winner receives $2500 cash plus the use of a film gear package provided by Film Exchange worth over $10,000.
One Utah grant (narrative and documentary film submissions accepted) will be awarded for $2500 and use of a Film Exchange gear package.