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.
In 2023, we continue to celebrate all things Colin Higgins!
On December 20, 1971, Harold and Maude debuted, so 2022 marked the 50th Anniversary of the film that launched Colin’s career in Hollywood.
More importantly, a long awaited, feature-length documentary on Colin was released and will continue to be seen at film festivals in the coming year.
Join us for Celebrating Laughter: The Life and films of Colin Higgins, by filmmaker and long-time friend of Colin’s, Nicholas Eliopoulos, at the 29th Annual Sedona International Film Festival on February 18! Details here.
The Youth Courage Awards has evolved to support LGBTQ+ youth filmmakers!
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.
In 2023, the Colin Higgins Foundation will partner with Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, the longest-running, largest, and most widely recognized LGBTQ+ film exhibition event in the world. Colin Higgins Foundation will again award three filmmakers with $15,000 grants to support their professional development in the film industry.
To be considered for the 2023 Colin Higgins Foundation Youth Filmmaker grant, LGBTQ+ youth 25 years old or younger can submit a short film for consideration to Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival here. The Late Submission Deadline is February 12, 2023. The Extended Submission Deadline is March 1, 2023. Winners will be announced at the film festival in June.
Learn more about our 2022 winners here.
CELEBRATE COLIN HIGGINS:
50TH ANNIVERSARY & A NEW DOCUMENTARY
YOUTH COURAGE AWARDS
Since the inception, the Colin Higgins Foundation has handed out $5.8 million in grants to a wide variety of institutions, groups and individuals.
Colin Higgins Youth Courage Awards were established in 2000 to further the spirit and lifework of Colin Higgins. All of his films celebrate honesty and integrity in the face of adversity: Harold and Maude find love despite the objections of family and society, the heroes of Nine to Five find fulfillment and save the company by learning to appreciate their individual talents and differences, and the shunned madam of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas transforms the lives of many through her kindness. Like the characters in his films, Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award recipients have endured overwhelming hardships, yet have handled themselves with the utmost grace and dignity.
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