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.

Colin Higgins Foundation Announces 2026 Youth Filmmaker Grants to Emerging LGBTQ+ Storytellers

For a fourth year, the Colin Higgins Foundation has partnered with the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival in announcing the recipients of the 2026 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  franny trinidad and Kelly Liu for Babaylan, Edward Nguyen for Sweat (Mồ Hôi) and Matthew Sorgie for So Be It.

Read the full press release at: https://colinhiggins.org/press/

Or read the story in Variety at: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/film-news-in-brief-april-20-2026-1236726080/ 

 

2025 COLIN HIGGINS YOUTH FILMMAKER GRANT WINNERS AT FRAMELINE FESTIVAL

Scenes from Frameline49’s special showcase celebrating the 2025 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant recipients.

The event featured filmmakers Remi Gabriel, Carmela Murphy, and AJ Dubler, alongside their award-winning films, Barbie Boy and A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian. Guests enjoyed a lively reception, stop motion puppets from the film, and inspiring moments on stage as the filmmakers accepted their awards. For more photos, check out our Facebook page.

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.

 

CELEBRATE COLIN HIGGINS:
50TH ANNIVERSARY & A NEW DOCUMENTARY

 




 

CELEBRATING LAUGHTER: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins

For the last 31 years, the Foundation has been funding a documentary on Colin Higgins, called Celebrating Laughter: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins, directed and edited by Nicholas Eliopoulos. 

 

The documentary ran a week at the NuArt Theater in Santa Monica, qualifying the film for placement on the Motion Picture Academy website for two years for all twelve thousand members to view.

Stay tuned for updates on where to watch the film…

Read more →