Reel Change: Fund for Diversity in Film Scoring

Reel Change supports developing composers who are creating music for film through targeted grants and high-impact mentorship. This pivotal program gives composers at crucial career stages the resources they need to produce compelling, original scores.

The fund supports projects currently in production where additional funding and/or mentoring would be beneficial to the quality of the score and to the advancement of the composer’s career. An advisory board consisting of leading film composers is responsible for assessing all submissions.

Initially established as a five-year program in 2020, funding for Reel Change was renewed in 2025 for an additional three years. Four to six grants averaging $20,000 are awarded each year.

Requirements

What the Fund Supports

Reel Change supports costs that will enhance and help deliver the music score for a narrative or documentary film that is already in production in the US. Each grant awarded aims to:

• Strengthen the composer’s ability to highlight their project as a springboard for the next step in their career
• Improve composers’ working conditions to maximize creativity and inspiration
• Help improve the production value of the film as a whole
  

Supportable expenses include but are not limited to:

• Composer compensation for creating the score
• Funds to pay live musicians
• Engineer and recording fees, including mixing, editing, recording
• Studio costs
• Orchestration or score preparation costs
• Equipment including necessary software/hardware for the project

The Fund does not support:

• Scores for films with a budget in excess of $20 million
• Scores for films that are produced primarily outside of the US
• Costs not directly related to the production of the original score, such as sound effects, or licensed music
  
• Scores for studio-funded productions

Other points to note:

• Funds requested should supplement the overall project’s music budget and not provide sole support
• Applicants should be prepared to provide receipts/invoices for relevant expenses related to the project, if requested

Selection Process

Projects are evaluated by an Advisory Board made up of leading composers in the field including Christophe Beck, Kris Bowers, Pinar Toprak, Tony Morales, Jongnic “JB” Bontemps, Miriam Cutler, Chanda Dancy, Vivek Maddala and Carlos Rafael Rivera. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted.

Selections are based on the following criteria:

• Artistry – projected artistic impact of the score based on the composer’s creative proposal and existing body of work
• Need – how you want to use the money and why you need support
• Impact – the difference this project will make to the next steps in your career

Application Instructions

Applications are submitted online at https://newmusicusa.smapply.io/prog/reel_change_film_fund_

Projects will be processed and evaluated as they are submitted. Please allow a few months for a response.