Scholarships For Black Filmmakers, Creatives, & Artists That Have Contributed To My Journey

Here are some scholarships I found helpful as a Black woman filmmaker attending the University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts.

It takes courage to be an artist. Take me, for example. My name is Savanna Mai Rust or simply, Savanna Mai. I am a mixed-media artist and filmmaker from South Kingstown, Rhode Island. I am the oldest daughter of four, a lover of Basquiat, a Nicola Yoon enthusiast and of course, a member of the Jordan Peele fan club. Although one might gain an understanding of who I am through these artists, my voice stands on its own. With that being said, my story’s relevancy is not confined to a singular medium. The shift in artistic form is dependent on my growth as a creative.

However, it is due to the resources, learned experiences, and mentors that I have been able to grow as a filmmaker. For many creatives like myself, we rely on scholarships to financially support our goals. Over my gap year post-grad, I have spent time applying to a multitude of scholarships geared towards Black filmmakers, Black women, and graduate film students. Here is a categorized list of scholarships I found helpful for my own path as an incoming USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA student:

Women-Led Scholarships:

1. Alliance for Women in Media

Active: 2026 AWM Foundation and Hallmark Media “Make Her Mark” Scholarship Application

Previous:

• The 2025 AWM Foundation & NCTA Scholarship

• AWMF Scholarship in Honor of Barbara Walters

• The ESPN Scholarship

• Loreen Arbus Foundation & AWMF Scholarship

• Ford Emerging Voices Scholarship

• Ford Empowering America Scholarship

2. Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Fund

Note: These scholarships are open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are members or non-members of the sorority.

Active:

• Alice S. Marriott Scholarship

• Community Assistance Award Application

• Endowment Application

• Fellowship Application

• Graduate Financial Need Scholarship*

• Graduate Merit Scholarship*

• Katessa M. Charles—Theta Mu Omega Legal Legacy

• SER Pathway to Power

• Soaring Leaders Fund

• S.T.A.R.S. Scholarship

Previous:

• Undergraduate Financial Need Scholarship

• Undergraduate Launch Scholarship

• Undergraduate Merit Scholarship

• Undergraduate Thrive Scholarship

• Youth PAC Scholarship

• Youth PAC Service Award

3. New York Women in Film & Television

Previous: Nancy Mysel Preservation Scholarship

University of Southern California-Based Scholarships:

4. USC School of Cinematic Arts General Scholarship Program

• Jack Nicholson Scholarship (Screenwriting)

• Alfred P. Sloan Grant

• George Lucas Family Foundation Endowed Student Scholarship for Diversity

5. University of Southern California Black Alumni Association Scholarship

Film, Media, & Arts Industry Scholarships:

1. Academy Nicholl Fellowship (Screenwriting)

2. Princess Grace Foundation Film Awards (passed)

3. National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Scholarship

4. The Awesome Foundation

Black Women & BIPOC Filmmaker Scholarships:

1. Black Women Film Network Scholarship (passed)

NAACP Scholarships

• Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

• Dr. Eliza and Dr. Richard Grier Scholarship

• The Edmund and John H. Kelly Scholarship

• Emanuel and T. Thomas Fortune Scholarship

• Hubertus W. V. Willems Scholarship

• NAACP X Society Awards Scholarship

3. Women in Film Fellowship (passed)

4. Black Women in TV

5. United Negro College Fund, Inc.

6. Amplifier Fellowship - Film Independent (passed)

7. Grants — BLACK FILM SPACE (stay-up-to-date)

*At the end of the day, these are only a few of the scholarships and grants that have benefited me—before and after my application process. By sharing these, we can create an enriching dialogue and discussion about opportunities that uplift BIPOC and female filmmakers. Please feel free in the comments and substack to share scholarships, grants, and resources that add to this list—on a regional, nation-wide, or international scale.

—Savanna Mai / @savanna_rust7