Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA ECAPEC 16 001
Apply for ECA ECAPEC 16 001
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2016 MediaMakers Studio" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415 Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs Citizen Exchanges.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 13, 2015 and posted on May 13, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2015 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- none
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2016 MediaMakers Studio grant opportunity was a U.S. Department of State program run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically its Office of Citizen Exchanges. It was offered as an open competition, with funding contingent on the availability of FY 2016 appropriations, and it aimed to build on ECA's existing film diplomacy efforts, including the American Film Showcase model. At its core, the opportunity invited eligible U.S. organizations to design and implement an intensive professional development and exchange program that pairs international film and media professionals with experienced U.S. entertainment and media mentors, using hands-on collaboration to strengthen both technical craft and story development.
The program purpose was explicitly tied to cultural and civic impact. MediaMakers Studio sought to elevate filmmakers and media creators whose work can strengthen resilient civil societies by engaging audiences around pressing local challenges. The announcement highlights thematic areas such as human rights, pluralism, women's empowerment, and tolerance, while also leaving room for related critical issues. The overall concept is that film, television, and new media can serve as influential tools for public dialogue, mutual understanding, and community problem-solving, and that supporting credible local voices increases the likelihood that the resulting content will be authentic, independent, and compelling for audiences in participants' home countries.
In practical terms, the exchange was structured around a cohort model and project-based mentorship. The planned cohort size was approximately 12 to 18 talented film and video professionals drawn from roughly four to six countries. Participants (referred to as Fellows) were to be matched with mentors from the U.S. entertainment industry in a way that aligns each Fellow's project and interests with appropriate mentor expertise. A key feature was an intensive in-person component in Los Angeles, California, where Fellows would work directly with a team of American mentors. The LA portion emphasized behind-the-scenes industry access, state-of-the-art training, skill-building, and creative development support, all focused on projects already in development rather than purely theoretical instruction.
The program also envisioned sustained engagement beyond the U.S.-based training. After the Los Angeles studio experience, mentors were expected, when feasible, to travel to a select number of Fellows' home countries to continue consultation, provide follow-on creative guidance, and deepen professional relationships. This extension was designed to help participants carry momentum back into their local production environments, improve the odds that projects move toward completion and distribution, and reinforce longer-term professional networks. The announcement also frames the exchange as mutually beneficial, positioning it not only as capacity-building for Fellows but also as an opportunity for U.S. mentors to build international connections and gain perspectives that can influence future creative and entrepreneurial collaborations.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity was categorized as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, meaning the government would likely expect substantial involvement in program direction and oversight compared to a standard grant. The funding ceiling was listed at $1,000,000, with no stated award floor, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The program fell under CFDA number 19.415, Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs (Citizen Exchanges). The opportunity was posted on May 13, 2015, with an application deadline of July 15, 2015, and it was archived on August 14, 2015.
Eligibility was limited to U.S. organizations, with emphasis on nonprofit capacity and public benefit. Eligible applicants included nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (including those other than institutions of higher education), as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. In short, ECA was looking for a U.S.-based organization capable of designing and operating an international, mentor-driven professional exchange program at a high level, with credible ties to the film and media industry and the operational ability to manage international participant recruitment, travel, training logistics, and follow-on engagement.
For applicants needing assistance retrieving the full notice, the announcement directed them to the Grants.gov Contact Center (1-800-518-4726; support@grants.gov), which operates 24/7 except federal holidays.
FY 2016 MediaMakers Studio Grant (U.S. Department of State, ECA) - FAQs
What is the FY 2016 MediaMakers Studio grant opportunity?
FY 2016 MediaMakers Studio was a U.S. Department of State program offered through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges. The opportunity invited eligible U.S. organizations to design and implement an intensive professional development and exchange program pairing international film and media professionals with experienced U.S. entertainment and media mentors, using hands-on collaboration to strengthen technical craft and story development.
Which U.S. government office ran this opportunity?
The program was run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically its Office of Citizen Exchanges.
Was this an open competition?
Yes. The announcement described it as an open competition, with funding contingent on the availability of FY 2016 appropriations.
What was the main goal of MediaMakers Studio?
The core goal was to build on ECA's film diplomacy efforts (including the American Film Showcase model) by supporting an exchange and mentorship program where international Fellows work directly with U.S. mentors to improve storytelling and production skills through practical, project-based collaboration.
What types of themes or issues did the program emphasize?
The opportunity explicitly connected filmmaking and media creation to cultural and civic impact. It highlighted thematic areas such as human rights, pluralism, women's empowerment, and tolerance, and it also allowed room for related critical issues that engage audiences around pressing local challenges.
How did the program intend to create civic or societal impact?
The concept presented in the announcement was that film, television, and new media can be powerful tools for public dialogue, mutual understanding, and community problem-solving. By elevating credible local voices, the program aimed to increase the likelihood that resulting content would be authentic, independent, and compelling for audiences in Fellows' home countries, supporting resilient civil societies.
Who were the participants in the exchange?
Participants were international film and media professionals referred to as Fellows. They were described as talented film and video professionals selected from multiple countries.
What was the planned cohort size and geographic scope?
The planned cohort size was approximately 12 to 18 Fellows drawn from roughly four to six countries.
How did mentorship work in this program?
Fellows were to be matched with mentors from the U.S. entertainment industry in a way that aligned each Fellow's project and interests with the mentor's expertise. The mentorship was designed to be hands-on and project-based, supporting work that was already in development.
Where was the main in-person component held?
A key intensive, in-person component was planned to take place in Los Angeles, California.
What happened during the Los Angeles component?
The Los Angeles portion emphasized behind-the-scenes industry access, state-of-the-art training, skill-building, and creative development support. It focused on advancing projects already in development rather than providing purely theoretical instruction.
Did the program include activities after the U.S.-based training?
Yes. The program envisioned sustained engagement beyond the Los Angeles studio experience. Mentors were expected, when feasible, to travel to a select number of Fellows' home countries for follow-on consultation and continued creative guidance.
What was the purpose of mentors traveling to Fellows' home countries?
The follow-on travel was intended to help Fellows carry momentum back into their local production environments, improve the odds that projects move toward completion and distribution, and strengthen longer-term professional networks.
Was the exchange intended to benefit U.S. mentors as well?
Yes. The announcement framed the exchange as mutually beneficial, noting that U.S. mentors could build international connections and gain perspectives that may influence future creative and entrepreneurial collaborations.
What type of federal award was this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity was categorized as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement. That structure indicates the government would likely expect substantial involvement in program direction and oversight compared to a standard grant.
What was the maximum funding amount available?
The funding ceiling listed in the announcement was $1,000,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No award floor was stated in the information provided.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The program fell under CFDA number 19.415, Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs (Citizen Exchanges).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants included nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (including those other than institutions of higher education), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
What types of organizational capabilities did ECA appear to be looking for?
The opportunity emphasized the need for a U.S.-based organization capable of designing and operating an international, mentor-driven professional exchange program. It also implied the applicant should have credible ties to the film and media industry and the operational ability to manage international participant recruitment, travel, training logistics, and follow-on engagement.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on May 13, 2015. The application deadline was July 15, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on August 14, 2015.
Where could applicants get help retrieving the full notice?
The announcement directed applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. The Contact Center operates 24/7 except federal holidays.
Was funding guaranteed?
No. The announcement indicated funding was contingent on the availability of FY 2016 appropriations.
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