AFS Year 11 Application Form 
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the 2023-2025 program cycle of American Film Showcase (AFS). 

AFS is the State Department’s flagship film and television exchange, managed by ECA’s Cultural Programs Division. Now entering its eleventh cycle, AFS is implemented by the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts, one of the world’s leading film institutions. Through AFS, ECA facilitates the exchange of U.S. films, filmmakers, and experts in support of foreign policy priorities, including climate crisis, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) issues, promoting entrepreneurship, protecting human rights, supporting STEM education, and advancing women’s empowerment. Over the past ten cycles, AFS has collaborated with U.S. Missions in over 100 countries to reach more than 300,000 people.

As a cost-share program, AFS will cover international travel and honoraria. Posts are expected to cover in-country costs such as per diem, lodging, domestic transportation, and venue rentals. For more information, please consult the Budget section located near the end of this application form.  

Posts interested to apply to be part of the AFS Year 11 Program Cycle should submit their applications and budget proposals by Monday, June 19, 2023.

ECA and USC will jointly conduct an evaluation and selection process, notifying posts of their application status by Friday, July 7, 2023. If your post's application has been selected action for the Year 11 Program Cycle, USC will reach out to schedule an introductory call to discuss AFS and post's programming ideas.

If you have any questions about the application or how to best utilize AFS's resources, please directly email Rachel Gandin Mark (rgandin@cinema.usc.edu), Steffan Horowitz (shorowitz@cinema.usc.edu), and Ben Chance (bchance@cinema.usc.edu). For more information about the Year 11 Program Cycle and the AFS program, please refer to the AFS Application Resource Page. The page includes the AFS Handbook for first time AFS applicants.

Resource Page URL: https://americanfilmshowcase.com/embassy/ 
Password: Suite465
Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Post Region *
Post Country *
Post City *
Primary POC Name, Title, and Email *
Secondary POC Name, Title, and Email
Post Physical Shipping Address *
Post Pouch Shipping Address *
Why is utilizing film and television important to your post?
How would an AFS exchange program support post in achieving its ICS goals? *
How will post’s AFS program address Administration goals of increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) in program planning and outreach?
How will post’s AFS program address Administration goals of furthering freedom of expression and economic opportunity in the creative sector?


Share a brief example of a past successful arts exchange program at your post. Include details such as program components, goals, local partners, audiences engaged, and outcomes. *
AFS Program Components
AFS consists of three main components: An in-person exchange program, a virtual exchange program, and a film slate. These components are generally grouped into two categories: Thematic programs and capacity building programs. Thematic programs typically focus on a policy priority or issue. Capacity building programs typically focus on upscaling technical and storytelling abilities.

In-Person Exchange Programs
In collaboration with participating U.S. Missions, AFS creates tailored 5-10 day in-country programs, sending a traveling filmmaker and/or expert to engage with local audiences through screenings, workshops, master classes, media engagements, and other activities. Within the program cycle, AFS has the funds to support up to two envoys per country (at the same time or separately). Please note that in-person exchange programs will begin in January 2024. AFS planning calls for 2024 programs will begin in September 2023. AFS prefers four months' advance notice for exchange programs but requires a minimum of eight weeks' notice for all in-person and virtual exchange programs. 

Virtual Exchange Programs
AFS provides posts with access to virtual screenings, master classes, and workshops that can be produced throughout the program cycle if conditions are not favorable for an in-person exchange. Virtual engagements are limited on a per month basis throughout the year. Please note that virtual exchange program will begin in September 2023. 

Film Slate
AFS curates and obtains the screening rights to a slate of 35 to 50 films to be used by participating AFS posts for in-person and virtual screenings from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2025. AFS requires 10 days' notice for all AFS screenings without an exchange component.

According to the previous definitions, describe what kind of an AFS program(s) post would like to produce? *
If post is interested in developing a capacity building program, please indicate potential areas of interest for a masterclass or multi-day workshop. *
Required
Is there a specific event, such as a local film festival, that impacts the timing of post's proposed program? If so, please list the event(s) and month(s).  
Target Audiences *
Mark all that apply.
Required
How will your post utilize the AFS film slate?  
Note: Films will be available as BluRay discs and as watermarked digital downloads. For more information, please refer to the list of films under consideration for the Year 11 AFS Film Slate. This list can be found on the AFS Application Resource Page by accessing the link titled AFS Year 11 Films and Envoys Link.

Resource Page URL: https://americanfilmshowcase.com/embassy/ 
Password: Suite465
AFS Film Screening Restrictions
The AFS Screening Rights Agreement allows posts to screen titles in the AFS Film Slate from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2025. Posts are responsible to ensure all staff supporting AFS programs are aware of the guidelines and restrictions set forth in the AFS Screening Rights Agreement. Posts are responsible for protecting the intellectual property rights of the AFS films. 

During the summer of 2023, AFS will be negotiating a rights agreements with the rights holder of each AFS film. Once finalized, the Year 11 AFS Screening Rights Agreement and AFS film screening exceptions will be emailed to posts, mailed in the package along with AFS films, and found on the AFS Application Resource Page. Please read the entire AFS Screening Rights Agreement. Each post will be asked to designate one individual to be responsible for securing and tracking the status of the film package and its contents. Please note that some titles in the AFS film slate will have screening restrictions.  

Below are key takeaways to the AFS Screening Rights Agreement:
 
A post representative must be present for every screening of an AFS film, including all festival screenings. 

AFS must be informed 10 days in advance of every AFS screening. Post should email AFS before the event with information about the date, venue, film, and estimated audience size.  Films with screenings rights exceptions will require more advance notice.

Posts must seek approval from AFS before subtitling an AFS film. No AFS film may be edited or altered by posts.

All films, including copies and subtitled versions, must be returned to the AFS Office in LA by September 30, 2025, or one month after the end of the 2023-2025 AFS Screening Rights Agreement.

Each year, a handful of films in the AFS slate will have screening rights exceptions.  A film may not be permitted to be screened in a specific country or region, or the film’s distributor may require individual approval for each AFS screening. Please be aware of any AFS film screening exceptions, as they may require significantly longer approval time, or they may not be available to be screened in your country at all.
I have read and I understand the AFS film screening restrictions section above. *
Budget
AFS is a cost-share program. AFS covers honorarium and international flights. Posts are responsible to cover each Envoy's in-country travel, lodging, and M&IE, along with venue rental costs, program promotion, and equipment needed for screenings, workshops, etc. For further budgetary guidance when planning an AFS program, please refer to the AFS Budget Template accessible on the AFS Application Resource Page. This budget template is meant to help post calculate estimated costs for each AFS program.

Once post has filled out the budget template, please send it as an attachment directly to Rachel Gandin Mark (rgandin@cinema.usc.edu), Steffan Horowitz (shorowitz@cinema.usc.edu), and Annie Small (asmall@cinema.usc.edu). On that email, please also cc Catherine Collins (CollinsCS@state.gov), Jon Tollestrup (TollestrupJA2@state.gov), and Josh Trinidad (TrinidadJJ@state.gov). 

Resource Page URL: https://americanfilmshowcase.com/embassy/ 
Password: Suite465

Envoy Funds
The post issued grant for lodging and M&IE should be made out to the Envoy directly, not to AFS or USC. The grant should be processed and funds made available to the Envoy prior to their AFS trip. If this is not possible, funds should be made available in cash to the Envoy upon their arrival in-country.
I have read and I understand the Budget and Envoy Funds sections above. *
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
This form was created inside of University of Southern California. Report Abuse
Google Forms