Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAISB 14 AW 002 SCA 011314
Apply for SCAISB 14 AW 002 SCA 011314
- The U.S. Mission to Pakistan in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "People to People Connections through Film Arts Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501 Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2014 and posted on Jan 13, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 3, 2014. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- The U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section encourages applications from U.S. and Pakistani registered not for profit, civil society/non governmental organizations, and educational institutions with at least two years of programming experience.
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Opportunity Summary:
The People to People Connections through Film Arts Programs opportunity is a U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section (PAS) grant competition designed to use filmmaking as a practical tool for public diplomacy between the United States and Pakistan. The program focuses on building direct, non-governmental relationships among film professionals, educators, scholars, and related institutions, with the larger aim of improving mutual understanding and strengthening peaceful ties. The Embassy frames film as more than entertainment: it is presented as a way to influence communities, share human stories across borders, and support a more informed and stable future.
At its core, the opportunity seeks proposals that create meaningful exchanges and collaboration between U.S. and Pakistani filmmakers and film organizations. Projects are expected to deepen professional and cultural connections, helping participants understand each others perspectives, working environments, and creative approaches. A major emphasis is placed on institutional linkages, meaning the grant is not only interested in short, one-off events, but in partnerships that can continue after U.S. funding ends. Examples of the types of linkages the Embassy wants to encourage include long-term relationships between film schools, film institutes, and film festivals in both countries, including support for existing festivals or the development of new ones where appropriate.
Capacity building in Pakistan is another major pillar. The Embassy is looking for programs that strengthen professional filmmaking skills and industry standards, such as training, mentorship, workshops, and other structured learning opportunities. The goal is to help Pakistani filmmakers improve technical and professional practices and to provide platforms where their work can be shown publicly. In addition to exhibitions or screenings, the program stresses the value of substantive dialogue, so competitive proposals would typically include opportunities for participants to discuss craft, ethics, production realities, distribution, and the social impact of storytelling with experienced industry professionals.
The opportunity also includes a regional cooperation component that goes beyond the bilateral U.S.-Pakistan relationship. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate Afghan and Indian filmmakers into film capacity-building activities to promote understanding across South Asia. This element is intended to strengthen regional connections and professional networks that can reduce misunderstanding and support more constructive engagement through shared creative work.
A final stated goal is encouraging accurate messaging. The Embassy wants to build local capacity to create credible narratives that challenge ideological support for terrorism and that communicate accurate information about U.S.-Pakistan cooperation. This does not read as a request for generic promotional material; it is framed as improving the ability of local creators to develop believable, locally resonant content for broadcast or public audiences, using film and media as a way to counter harmful narratives and misinformation through grounded storytelling.
From an administrative standpoint, this was an open competition issued as an Open Source RFP under a cooperative agreement grant mechanism, meaning the Embassy likely expected close coordination during implementation. The funding opportunity number is SCAISB 14 AW 002 (SCA 011314), categorized under public diplomacy (CFDA 19.501, Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan). The award ceiling was $500,000, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted January 13, 2014, with a closing date of March 3, 2014, and it was archived April 2, 2014.
Eligibility was aimed at capable, experienced implementers: U.S. and Pakistani registered not-for-profit organizations, civil society or non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions, with at least two years of programming experience. The issuing agency was the U.S. Mission to Pakistan, and the point of contact listed for access issues was Katherine Malarkey, Grants Manager in the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy Islamabad.
People to People Connections through Film Arts Programs: FAQs
What is the "People to People Connections through Film Arts Programs" opportunity?
It is a U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section (PAS) grant competition that uses filmmaking as a practical public diplomacy tool to strengthen connections and mutual understanding between the United States and Pakistan.
Who is offering this grant competition?
The issuing agency is the U.S. Mission to Pakistan, through the U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section (PAS).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to build direct, non-governmental relationships among film professionals, educators, scholars, and related institutions in the United States and Pakistan, with the broader aim of improving mutual understanding and strengthening peaceful ties.
How does the Embassy describe the role of film in this program?
Film is presented as more than entertainment. It is framed as a way to influence communities, share human stories across borders, and support a more informed and stable future.
What kinds of projects is the program looking to fund?
The opportunity seeks proposals that create meaningful exchanges and collaboration between U.S. and Pakistani filmmakers and film organizations, including activities that deepen professional and cultural connections and help participants understand each other's perspectives, working environments, and creative approaches.
Is this program focused on one-time events or long-term partnerships?
A major emphasis is placed on institutional linkages and partnerships that can continue after U.S. funding ends, rather than short, one-off events.
What are "institutional linkages" in the context of this opportunity?
Institutional linkages refer to ongoing relationships between organizations and institutions such as film schools, film institutes, and film festivals in the United States and Pakistan. The program encourages durable partnerships that can persist beyond the grant period.
Does the program support film festivals?
Yes. The Embassy specifically mentions encouraging long-term relationships involving film festivals, including support for existing festivals or the development of new ones where appropriate.
What does "capacity building" mean for this grant?
Capacity building is a major pillar of the opportunity and includes efforts to strengthen professional filmmaking skills and industry standards in Pakistan through training, mentorship, workshops, and other structured learning opportunities.
What kinds of learning activities are encouraged?
The opportunity highlights training, mentorship, workshops, and other structured learning opportunities aimed at improving technical and professional practices and industry standards.
Does the opportunity emphasize public screenings or showcasing work?
Yes. The program aims to provide platforms where Pakistani filmmakers' work can be shown publicly, including exhibitions or screenings.
Is dialogue and discussion part of the expected programming?
Yes. Beyond screenings or exhibitions, the opportunity stresses substantive dialogue, including discussions about craft, ethics, production realities, distribution, and the social impact of storytelling with experienced industry professionals.
Is the program strictly U.S.-Pakistan focused, or does it include regional collaboration?
It includes a regional cooperation component. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate Afghan and Indian filmmakers into film capacity-building activities to promote understanding across South Asia.
What is the goal of involving Afghan and Indian filmmakers?
The stated intent is to strengthen regional connections and professional networks that can reduce misunderstanding and support more constructive engagement through shared creative work.
Does the program have messaging or narrative goals?
Yes. A stated goal is encouraging accurate messaging by building local capacity to create credible narratives that challenge ideological support for terrorism and communicate accurate information about U.S.-Pakistan cooperation.
Is the Embassy asking for generic promotional content about the United States?
Based on the description provided, the goal is framed as improving the ability of local creators to develop believable, locally resonant content for broadcast or public audiences, rather than producing generic promotional material.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
It was issued under a cooperative agreement grant mechanism and described as an Open Source RFP. This suggests the Embassy likely expected close coordination with the implementer during implementation.
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The funding opportunity number is SCAISB 14 AW 002 (SCA 011314).
What is the program category or CFDA listing mentioned?
The opportunity is categorized under public diplomacy and referenced CFDA 19.501, Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed was $500,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on January 13, 2014, with a closing date of March 3, 2014.
What does it mean that the opportunity was "archived"?
The information provided states the opportunity was archived on April 2, 2014, indicating it is no longer an active open competition.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was aimed at experienced implementers, including U.S. and Pakistani registered not-for-profit organizations, civil society or non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions with at least two years of programming experience.
Is prior experience required?
Yes. The eligibility description specifies at least two years of programming experience.
Who is the listed point of contact for access issues?
The point of contact listed for access issues was Katherine Malarkey, Grants Manager in the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy Islamabad.
Which Embassy office managed the grant competition?
The opportunity is described as a U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section (PAS) grant competition.
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