As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we invite filmmakers to explore the fragile heartbeat of a democratic republic: the ongoing struggle to balance individual rights with the duties to sustain a free society.
Inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s warning—“a republic, if you can keep it”—this theme asks filmmakers to consider what it truly takes to preserve America's ideals. Our freedoms and institutions are not self-sustaining; they rely on citizens who embrace personal responsibility, practice civic virtue, and make everyday choices that strengthen the fabric of our nation.
We’re seeking pitches that illuminate the small moments, difficult decisions, and acts of courage that help a free society flourish—or reveal what happens when those obligations are ignored. What does it mean to keep a republic today, and what stories show the forces that hold it together or pull it apart?
We invite you to pitch concepts for short films that reflect on the continuing American story and its ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. From unsung heroes to historical figures, from innovators to ordinary people who do the right thing when it counts, what does it mean to be an American? What will it take to keep the republic free and thriving for another historic 250 years?
The possibilities are endless, and you’re free to pitch a story in any genre, but this theme is your jumping off point.
Priority will be given to projects that:
- feature a limited cast (fewer than five principal actors), with limited or no extras;
- have limited locations (ideally one);
- can be shot within two days in the LA–area; and
- tell stories about characters within the US.
