The grant reminds us that some of the most exciting ideas in animation aren't coming from major studios. They're coming from students.
The MAKE Thesis Grant was created to help emerging filmmakers push their thesis films further by providing financial support to ambitious projects with something meaningful to say. Our goal isn't simply to help students finish a film. It's to help them bridge the gap between a student project and the strongest version of the story they're trying to tell.
Whether that means supporting collaborators, improving production quality, or helping bring an ambitious creative vision to life, we want to invest in the next generation of storytellers.
This year's winners reminded us exactly why we started the program.
Meet the New MAKE Thesis Grant Winners
1st Place Winner: Stone Lions Don't Roar
Directed by Le Hang Whalen & Avery Stratton
Set in a fantastical 16th-century Vietnam where emotions manifest as living creatures, Stone Lions Don't Roar follows two sisters navigating grief, responsibility, and the burdens they carry. What stood out to us wasn't just the film's incredible visual ambition, but the deeply personal story at its core. Inspired by Le Hang's own experiences growing up as an older sister and caretaker, the film explores family, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to face difficult emotions rather than hide them away.
2nd Place Winner: Thiefish
Directed by Madhava Kinnicutt & Evelyn Dale
Thiefish follows a thief-for-hire and a struggling fisherman who set out to restore balance to their world. The film combines beautiful craftsmanship with a thoughtful environmental message, encouraging audiences to reflect on humanity's relationship with nature. Every creative decision felt intentional, resulting in a world that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant.
3rd Place Winner: Back to Bones
Directed by Ryan Koutras
Back to Bones follows a resurrected knight and his squire as they attempt to break a curse trapping them in an endless cycle of death and resurrection. What immediately grabbed us was Ryan's ability to balance cinematic action with genuine comedy. The film embraces big fantasy ideas while never losing sight of its personality, creating something that feels both ambitious and incredibly entertaining.
Why We Created the MAKE Thesis Grant
At MAKE, we've always believed that some of the industry's best ideas begin long before someone lands their first studio job.
Student filmmakers consistently take creative risks. They tell deeply personal stories, experiment with new visual styles, and build original worlds without the expectation of commercial success. That willingness to explore is something we believe deserves support.
The MAKE Thesis Grant exists to help those filmmakers take their projects one step further. Many thesis films are limited not by creativity, but by resources. Our hope is that this grant helps talented students work with more collaborators, improve production quality, and realize ideas that might otherwise have been out of reach.
Ultimately, it's about helping ambitious stories become the strongest version of themselves.
How to Get Involved
As the MAKE Thesis Grant enters its third year, we're looking to expand its impact through partnerships with studios, brands, software companies, educational organizations, and members of the animation community. Whether through funding, mentorship, production resources, or industry connections, we hope to create even more opportunities for emerging filmmakers and help support the next generation of animation talent.
If you're interested in partnering with the MAKE Thesis Grant or have questions, please contact Amy-Marie Steman at amy-marie.steman@makevisual.com.
Interested in Applying?
The MAKE Thesis Grant is an annual program open to senior animation students and student teams developing original thesis films.
Follow MAKE on LinkedIn and Instagram for announcements about the next application cycle, eligibility requirements, and submission deadlines.
We can't wait to see what you'll create!
