A Fist Full of Free Finishing

RENDER

VFX • COLOR GRADING • DCP • DOLBY ATMOS

Awards

WHAT IS THE RENDER GRANT?

The Render Grant: Free Post Production Services for Indie Filmmakers

2025 RENDER GRANT PROGRAM

Submit your proposal to be selected for $70K in Post Production Services from MadWerkz Studios. Awarded for years to filmmakers at GCUFF and numerous other Film Festivals, the Grant Program RENDER is now a bi-annual award program. It gifts Independent Filmmakers with free post services. For the past decade, we have championed the ability of Independent voices to present richer, more vibrant stories. MadWerkz has provided over $150,000 in services to Independent filmmakers. Our Judges will select Grant Award winners in both the Feature Film and Short Film categories.

Apply

$70k

Standout proposals in each category will be awarded services worth up to 25K. Grants are awarded by a jury of seasoned professionals, previous winners and newcomers.

CHECK OUT THE AWARDS

"MadWerkz delivers 80+ DCP's for us each festival season. They are invaluable to our success. They've been wonderful partners, taking time to work with each of our filmmakers."

Donna Dabbs, Executive Director, GCUFF

"My documentary was in the finishing stage when I won the grant, so I wasn't sure what could be done to make it better. Christopher and the gang walked me through the process, which required a re-edit and conform for color grading, and helped me feel comfortable that the finished product would be a level up. They are so knowledgeable, its scary how much they know!"

Branson Wright, Documentary Producer, ESPN Sports Writer

"I needed to present my teaser at AFM last year, and I needed a professional color grade. MadWerkz had done post sound on my Feature Call Center so I was familiar with their work. I applied for the grant and the color grade took my tease to the next level. Turned a lot of heads at AFM!"

Rahim Branch, Producer/Director, Streetlight Committee

"When I screened my film Eli's Liquor Store at the film festival, my wife suggested that I apply for the grant and I was totally surprised when I won. It took almost a year for my next film, Contrast to go into production, but MadWerkz was with me throughout, walking me through the best way to shoot the dozens of visual effects I scripted into the film."

Alonzo F. Jones, Producer I Actor Skruluz Entertainment

Past Grant Recipients

Feature Documentary

Pass Interference: The Davone Bess Story

Feature Documentary

Pass Interference: The Davone Bess Story

Produced by ESPN Sports Writer Branson Wright, MadWerkz provided Editing, DCP and Graphics Grant Services to the festival award winning documentary. Follow the Link to read the Case Study.

Branson Wright

Television Episodic

Deadly Return: Episode 1

Television Episodic

Deadly Return: Episode 1

Produced by the MARs Program of Cuyahoga Community College, MadWerkz provided extensive Post-Production assistance, including editing, visual effects, color grading and dcp creation for theatrical presentation. Production Company: Cuyahoga Community College - MARs Program Producer: Inda Blatch-Geib Grant Award: 10K Visual Effects, 5K Audio Post, 10K 2D Animation

Feature Film

Contrast

Feature Film

Contrast

Produced by filmmaker Alonzo F. Jones. MadWerkz gifted the Producer of the acclaimed short film, Eli's Liquor Store, with 62 visual effects shots. Want more information, read the case study here. Production Company: Skruluz Entertainment Director: Alonzo Jones Grant Award: 10k Visual Effects

Alonzo Jones

Television Episodic: FLOWTV I France TV I Netflix UK

CarribeanGirlNYC

Television Episodic: FLOWTV I France TV I Netflix UK

CarribeanGirlNYC

Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival Award Winner Production Company: FLOWTV Executive Producers: Francis Anne Solomon, Nicole Brooks, Eric Basset, Mariette Monpierre, and Joddy Eric Matthews Producer for Flow: John Reid Produced by Jane Applegate Director: Mariette Monpierre Grant Award: 20k Editorial, 10k Color Grading, 2.5k DCP Follow the Link to read the Case Study.

Mariette Monpierre

Television Episodic Pilot

Street Light Committee: Pilot

Television Episodic Pilot

Street Light Committee: Pilot

Production Company: IlliOhio Films Director: Rahim Branch Grant Award: 5k Color Grading Follow the Link to read the Case Study.

Color Grading Workflow

Feature Film

INTERVAL (Acquired Worldwide by ITN DISTRIBUTION)

Feature Film

INTERVAL (Acquired Worldwide by ITN DISTRIBUTION)

Production Company: Williams & Co. Director: Marquette Williams Grant Award: 20k Visual Effects, 5K Editorial, 5K Color Grading, QC, 2.5K DCP. Follow the Link to read the Case Study.

Case Study Marquette Williams

Web Series

Seeing Tomorrow: Web Series (Best Web Series SFBFF)

Web Series

Seeing Tomorrow: Web Series (Best Web Series SFBFF)

Production Company: Triangle Entertainment Producer: Joseph Primes Grant Award: 12.5K Visual Effects. Follow the Link to read the Case Study.

2025 Judges

Meet The Jury

This year's judges are a wonderful mix of past winners, industry veterans, and aspiring filmmakers. We ask our friends to choose a deserving applicant based on the impact we can make in creating a better project. This is not a contest, so our judges will not be weighing each applicant against each other. YOUR APPLICATION WILL STAND ON ITS OWN. That being said, experience in making a film is useful, yet plenty of our past winners are first-time filmmakers. Be bold, tell us your story. We want to be a part of your journey!

Sports Documentary Producer I ESPN Reporter, Believeland, Ladies of Troy, King of The Block

Branson Wright

Sports Documentary Producer I ESPN Reporter

Senior Colorist, Admerica Silver Award at the AAF National Conference, multiple Addy Awards, (3) Three Bronze and (1) One Silver, and several Guru Awards.

Jason Feiler

Professional Senior Colorist, Admerica Silver Award Winner

Editor I Producer, Interval, RTA

Amara Jester

Editor I Producer

Actor I Filmmaker, Queen Sugar, BMF, Inception, Eli's Liquor Store, Edge of Darkness

Alonzo F. Jones

Actor I Filmmaker, Queen Sugar, BMF, Inception

Producer I Post Production Supervisor, Interval, Underdog

Johnny Magic

Producer I Post Production Supervisor

Grant Award Categories

Enter for as many grant awards as you like. Although you will have to complete a different proposal for each category.

(1 Winner - Feature, 2 Winners - Short)

25K: Find Your Sky Post Production Grant

(1 Winner - Feature, 2 Winners - Short)

25K: Find Your Sky Post Production Grant

10k Visual Effects, 5k Color Grading, 5K Audio Post, 2.5k DCP, 2.5 Pre-Production Consulting. A full package of finishing services for your film. Restrictions apply; see the description here. Judges will select 1 Feature film applicant and 2 Short film applicants.

Render Application

(2 Winners - Feature, 3 Winners - Short)

15K: L. Kennedy Color of Togetherness Grading Grant

(2 Winners - Feature, 3 Winners - Short)

15K: L. Kennedy Color of Togetherness Grading Grant

7.5K Color Grading, 5K Editorial, 2.5K Pre-Production Consulting. Editorial finishing services for your film. Restrictions apply; see the description here. Consulting is mandatory. Restrictions apply. Judges will select 2 Feature film applicants and 3 Short film applicants.

Render Application

(3 Winners - Feature, 5 Winners - Short)

12.5K: Heroes and Villains 2025 Visual Effects Grant

(3 Winners - Feature, 5 Winners - Short)

12.5K: Heroes and Villains 2025 Visual Effects Grant

10K Visual Effects, 2.5K Pre-Production Consulting. High end VFX Compositing accomplished in Nuke, Fusion and 3D apps such as Houdini, Maya. Does not include Render Farm cost. Restrictions apply; see the description here. Judges will select 3 Feature film applicants and 5 Short film applicants.

Render Application

(4 Winners - Feature, 10 Winners - Short)

8K: Dolby Atmos 5.1 Audio Post Grant

(4 Winners - Feature, 10 Winners - Short)

8K: Dolby Atmos 5.1 Audio Post Grant

Sponsored by Johnnycake Chili Crisp. Dolby Atmos 5.1 Audio Production, 2.5K Pre-Production Consulting. We’ll convert your Stereo Master Audio to a Dolby Atmos 5.1 audio package. MUST agree to Pre-Production consultation. Judges will select 4 Feature film applicants and 10 Short film applicants.

Render Application

(10 Winners - Feature, 20 Winners - Short)

5K: 2025 Digital Cinema Packaging Grant

(10 Winners - Feature, 20 Winners - Short)

5K: 2025 Digital Cinema Packaging Grant

2.5K DCP, 2.5K Pre-Production Consulting. We will convert your film to a trusted DCP for Theatrical Screening or Festivals. Judges will select 10 Feature film applicants and 20 Short film applicants. To learn more about our DCP Services, check out our DCP Calculator page.

Render Application

(First 100 Applicants)

2.5K: 2025 Let's Fix it in Pre-Production Grant

(First 100 Applicants)

2.5K: 2025 Let's Fix it in Pre-Production Grant

Pre-Production Consulting. The first 100 Applicants will receive 10 Hours of consultation on their upcoming or pre-post-production project. This includes a free license for our Color Grading Masterclass, a $275 value. For more information, visit the Awards page here.

Render Application

Apply

DCP Calculator

FAQs

Have questions? Check our FAQs page here for answers.

CASE STUDY

Time Twisting Sci-Fi Thriller Interval comes to screen

Read the Post about how the Render Grant helped Williams & Co. finish it's Sci-Fi Thriller Interval

Case Study

Interval

Case Study

Interval

Interval is a 2025 independent science fiction thriller directed by Marquette Williams and stars Robert Bray, Ginny Williams, Michael James, and Dasia Benton. It was produced by David Hemphill, Johnny Magic, Amara Jester, and Joddy Eric Matthews. Andrew Newsome, Charles Hill, Brian “Essince” Collins, and Williams executive produced the film. To Learn more, Click the image.

Creating a Time Twisting Thriller in the Sci-Fi Crime Feature “Interval”

Post Boutique MadWerkz Render Grant Program aids Independent Filmmakers with free services

DO THE GOOD

This translation of an ancient Mandinka proverb is simple yet powerful. Awarded for years to filmmakers at GCUFF, the Grant Program RENDER is now an annual award program. It gifts Independent Filmmakers with free post services. In these times of uncertainty and with the threat of AI, every dollar counts. Yet we dare to challenge the notion that shrinking from our tenets must follow dark clouds.

153

Films

Awards

327

DCPs Created