WHAT DOES YOUR DONATION DO FOR US?
For more than a decade, since our founding in 2011, the Catalina Film Institute has championed imagination, education, and destination through film. Because of donor support, we can invest in artists and sustain year-round initiatives on Catalina and beyond.
SUpport US
Your donation helps fund:
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year-round film workshops and educational events
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filmmaker grants and scholarships
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film society screenings and community programs
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mentorship and professional development
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festival experiences that connect storytellers with audiences
We love film, the creative process, and the storytellers behind it. Most importantly, your gift helps creators navigate the challenges of the industry and reach the moment when their work finds its audience.
A JOURNEY FOR NICK LEDONNE
n 2020, our 2016 Animated “Best of Fest” winner Nick LeDonne released his book From Hanging to Hang On, reflecting on a difficult chapter of life and the creative journey that followed. Along the way, Nick credited Catalina as part of the support system that helped him keep moving forward.
That’s what your donation makes possible. Because of donors like you, we can keep discovering bold voices, building community, and creating opportunities for filmmakers to be seen—and to keep going.
If you’d like to watch Nick’s award-winning 2016 short film, you can do so here: HERE.
Beyond what’s visible on screen, we also support other non-profits through VIP passes, auction items, and community partnerships. Over the years, that support has reached children’s programs, women’s empowerment initiatives, theatre groups, medical and reconstruction charities, hospitals, community relief efforts, and Catalina Island organizations.
Ultimately, your gift fuels our ability to say “yes” to artists and communities that need it most. Thank you.
Simply put, you empower us to help people in both obvious—and not-so-obvious—ways.
For example, your support funds scholarships and grants for young filmmakers who attend our workshops to learn and grow. In addition, we mentor emerging artists, write referral letters, and connect talent with industry opportunities whenever possible.
Over time, participants move into creative careers—working with studios, on independent productions, or on films accepted into festivals on Catalina and beyond. Meanwhile, our grants support both young and established filmmakers developing short films, scripts, and film-development packages, often paired with mentorship.
FOUNDATIONAL DONORS
We are grateful for the individuals and partners who helped build the Catalina Film Institute from the start. Their support continues to strengthen our mission and our community.
