Los Angeles, California – USA
December 2, 2012

Want to use film to help animals? We want to help you.

the 7th Annual ACE Documentary Film Grant, awarded by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to feature-length documentaries that highlight animal advocacy. For filmmakers with a facility for speaking on behalf of animals, their rights, their needs, and their collective future, the ACE Grant offers monetary prizes, prestige, and access to The HSUS’s ever-expanding community of humanitarians and social advocates – an audience of more than 11 million people.

ACE grantees are awarded cash prizes of $20,000 USD for First Place, $2,500 for Second Place, and $1,000 for Third Place, as well as tickets to The Genesis Awards’ annual ceremony honoring news and entertainment outlets that address animal-related issues in television and film. In December, winners of the ACE Grant will be announced and celebrated at The HSUS Hollywood Outreach VIP Cast and Crew Wrap Party. Last year’s winning grants were presented at Sony Pictures Studios in front of a crowd of donors and celebrities.

Winners of ACE prizes are selected by a panel of industry professionals from HBO Documentary Films, Animal Planet, Sundance Channel, The Documentary Channel, Participant Media, and other respected media outlets. The ACE Grant is pleased to consider films that are works in progress alongside completed feature documentaries. Works in progress should include a clearly articulated synopsis and an outline of the film’s narrative arc. Of the three 2011 grantees, two won with only a combination of a stellar trailer and a captivating written synopsis.

UPCOMING DEADLINE
September 1, 2012 – Late Deadline

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
Animal Content in Entertainment (ACE) is a program of The Humane Society of the United States. Writers, producers, and directors can use ACE as a resource for fact-checking, stock footage, securing referrals to experts, strategic partnerships, and script consulting. In addition, ACE seeks to inspire filmmakers to find creative and compelling ways to portray animal issues in their films.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
In previous years, The HSUS has hosted premiere screenings for grant-winners including One Lucky Elephant (2010) and The Elephant in the Living Room (2011). These films have drawn support from celebrities including Lily Tomlin, Kathryn Bigelow, and Tippi Hedren, as well as from a multitude of animal welfare advocates and industry professionals.

On the heels of its 2011 ACE Grant success, Cages of Shame acquired actor Peter Coyote as its narrator. While still in the final stages of post-production, the film was named one of 2012’s most anticipated films by VegNews, and was featured in an issue of All Animals magazine. 2011’s second-place winner, The Eyes of Thailand, secured Ashley Judd as its narrator after its ACE Grant win and recently held its world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

If your eye for filmmaking is as keen as your love for the diverse members of the animal kingdom, the ACE Documentary Film Grant is for you. Submit today!