Colin Higgins Foundation

Colin Higgins is an acclaimed screenwriter, director, and producer of films such as Harold and Maude and 9 to 5. He established the Colin Higgins Foundation in 1986 to further his humanitarian goals.

Colin Higgins is an acclaimed screenwriter, director, and producer of films such as Harold and Maude and 9 to 5. He established the Colin Higgins Foundation in 1986 to further his humanitarian goals.

Since the inception, the Colin Higgins Foundation has handed out $5.8 million in grants to a wide variety of institutions, groups and individuals.

Since 2022, the Foundation has shifted its focus to award Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grants, centered on providing young LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support to continue their work. Eligible applicants must identify as LGBTQ+ filmmakers, be under the age of 25 and currently reside in the U.S. Previously, the Foundation awarded grants through its Youth Courage Awards.

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For a third year, the Colin Higgins Foundation has partnered with the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival in announcing the recipients of the 2025 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant. The partnership, which began in 2023, centers on providing young LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support to continue their work. Eligible applicants must self-identify as LGBTQ+ filmmakers, be 25 years of age or younger, and currently reside in the U.S. The 2025 winners are Remi Gabriel for Barbie Boy and Carmela Murphy and AJ Dubler for A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian.

Read more about the winners here.

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Leaf and Farah accepting their awards at Frameline’s
San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival in June 2024. 

2024 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant Receipients!

For a second year, Colin Higgins Foundation has once again partnered with Frameline, the arts nonprofit that hosts the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, to announce the recipients of the 2024 Colin Higgins Youth Foundation Grant. The partnership, which began in 2023, centers on providing young LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support to continue their work. Eligible applicants must self-identify as LGBTQ+ filmmakers, be under the age of 25, and currently reside in the U.S. The 2024 winners are New York-based filmmakers Farah Jabir (Kasbi) and Leaf Lieber (Burrow).

This year, two LGBTQ+ youth filmmakers have been selected as the recipients of the Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant, and will each receive $15,000 to support their future film projects. In addition to awarding a total of $30,000 to these emerging filmmakers, Frameline will screen the grant recipients’ films at the 48th San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline48), which takes place June 19–29.

In addition to being in attendance for their respective screenings, Jabir and Lieber will be hosted by Frameline48 for the Festival’s run.

Learn more about the 2024 winners here.

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In 2023, three young American filmmakers, Daisy Friedman, Karina Dandashi and Emilio Subia (picture below left to right), were selected as the recipients of the Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant, and each received $15,000 to support their film projects, for a total of $45,000 awarded to these filmmakers. In addition, the winners’ short films were showcased at the Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival that took place in June 2023.

In 2022, Colin Higgins Foundation officially partnered with Outfest and launched the “Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant,” a new initiative centered on providing LGBTQIA+ youth filmmakers with financial support to continue their work.

Learn more here.

 

CELEBRATE COLIN HIGGINS:
50TH ANNIVERSARY & A NEW DOCUMENTARY