Each year, MAKE supports student talent by funding thesis films through our Animation Thesis Grant to amplify the next generation of animators worldwide.
What Is the MAKE Animation Thesis Grant?
The MAKE Thesis Grant is an annual student animation funding program created to champion senior animation students and emerging filmmakers working on their final thesis short films. The grant supports students enrolled in BFA, BA, MFA, or MA animation programs around the world and is designed to:
- Provide financial support for original animated short films
- Elevate the overall quality and production value of student films
- Help cover key costs like collaborator pay, post-production, and animation software
- Encourage bold storytelling, artistic experimentation, and creative risk-taking
Whether you’re building a character-driven narrative or crafting a visually surreal animated world, the MAKE Student Animation Grant is here to support your thesis film from concept to completion.
Meet the 2024 MAKE Thesis Grant Winners (more to be announced)
3rd Place Winner: Sofia Tonin
Film Title: Praying for Love
A charming and darkly comedic short film about Linda, a praying mantis who's ready to find love, but keeps accidentally eating all her boyfriends. Sofia blends humor and heart in this unexpected take on romantic instincts gone… instinctively wrong.
Want MORE from Sofia's film? Follow her socials for updates!
Why MAKE Supports Student Animators
At MAKE, creativity, innovation, and community have always been at the heart of what we do. But caring wasn’t enough. We felt the need to do more. To directly support the next generation of animation students shaping the future of the industry. That’s how the MAKE Thesis Grant was born.
The MAKE Thesis Grant is a student animation funding program created to support senior BFA, BA, MFA, and MA students working on their final thesis film projects. It helps student filmmakers who are already pushing creative boundaries but need extra support to bring their animated shorts to life with professional-level quality.
Student filmmakers are the future of animation, and we’re here to help them get there. They tell personal stories, take bold creative risks, and refuse to play it safe. That’s exactly the kind of voice we want to amplify.
Short-form storytelling has always been central to what we do, and we’re leaning into that now more than ever. From character-driven narratives to visually bold world-building, we believe in the power of big ideas told with precision and heart. This grant gives students the opportunity to elevate their animation thesis films through financial support, production resources, and creative guidance.
Want to Apply for Next Year?
The MAKE Student Animation Grant is offered annually. If you’re a senior animation student or part of a student team working on a thesis film, we encourage you to apply for the next cycle.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates on the 2025 application window, eligibility, and submission deadlines.
