A fund has been established for Oregon filmmakers to provide financial support for production expenses to enable Oregon film or video artists to create or complete new work, or works in progress. Media artists will be able to apply for up to $15,000 in cash and up to 3 weeks of studio, video and audio support. The Media Arts Fellowship will recognize and assist media artists whose work shows exceptional promise and who have demonstrated a commitment to film or video art. The Oregon Arts Commission, The Gordon D. Sondland and Katherine J. Durant Foundation and Oregon Public Broadcasting fund the program. The Media Arts Fellowship will be administered by the Northwest Film Center. Additional support is provided by Chambers Communications and the Oregon Film and Video Office.

"We're delighted to broaden our support for Oregon film and video makers," states Bill Foster, Director of the Northwest Film Center. "We applaud our partners in providing nourishment to the media arts and look forward to this successful venture."

Potential applicants who are interested in the Fellowship will find the guidelines and application paperwork at the following websites: Oregon Arts Commission, www.oregonartscommission.org; the Northwest Film Center, www.nwfilm.org; The Oregon Film & Video Office, www.oregonfilm.org. The deadline for entries is January 31, 2008. Awards will be announced March 30, 2008.

The Northwest Film Center is a regional media arts resource and service organization founded to encourage the study, appreciation, and utilization of the moving image arts, foster their artistic and professional excellence, and to help create a climate in which they flourish. In addition to the Portland International Film Festival, the Center produces the annual Northwest Film & Video Festival and a variety of year-round of film and video exhibition, educational and informative programs serving Oregon and residents of the Northwest.