2026 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science Seminar

 OUR OCEANS: Under Threat

4:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. on Friday, October 17th, 2025

The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108
George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO USC STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, and ALUMNI. RSVPs REQUIRED.
 

RSVP NOW TO ATTEND

Attendance is mandatory for SCA undergraduate and graduate majors planning to apply for one of the Sloan Foundation grants in Production, Screenwriting or Animation.
 

About the Sloan Grant Program at SCA

SLOAN CRITERIA

The goal of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Film School program is to influence and encourage the next generation of filmmakers to create more realistic and dramatic stories about science and technology, and to challenge existing stereotypes about scientists and engineers through visual media storytelling.

It is not to propagandize on behalf of science or to create exclusively positive images of scientists and engineers. Rather, the Sloan program aims to help aspiring students, professional screenwriters and filmmakers to integrate science and technology themes and characters into their work.

Science fiction, purely medical stories and documentaries are not accepted. All proposals must be approved for scientific accuracy by a reputable scientist, who is either a current or former full-time or part-time USC faculty member or a professional scientific expert from outside USC.

All undergraduate and graduate SCA majors from the seven academic divisions are eligible and encouraged to apply for any of the listed Sloan grants.

2026 Sloan Grants

Two Production Grants are offered for $27,500 each

Production proposals will include a completed script for a short film, 8-15 minutes in length, a story synopsis, shooting schedule and a budget. Previously completed films will not be accepted.

Two Screenwriting Grants are offered for $17,500 each

Screenwriting proposals must include either a completed original feature film narrative script, a television movie script, or a television pilot script that meets the Sloan criteria. This comedy or drama must be a narrative story.

One Animation Grant is offered for $13,500

Proposals should include a script, concept art, production schedule, and budget.  It must be a narrative story. 

For complete information and application requirements, go to the SCA Community site at: https://scacommunity.usc.edu/secure/scholarships/details/sloan.cfm

For those planning to apply for a production grant, previous winning Sloan films from the six participating film programs are available online at the Museum of the Moving Image - http://scienceandfilm.org/projects

Check-In & Reservations

This program is open to all eligible individuals. The USC School of Cinematic Arts operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

This event is free of charge and open EXCLUSIVELY to USC students, faculty, staff and alumni. A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 3:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Executive Director, Film Programming and Special Projects, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking

On-campus parking at the University of Southern California is limited. We recommend buying a day pass for the Royal Street Structure, located at the intersection of Royal Street and W. Jefferson Blvd. Parking passes are $20/car. For more information about parking at USC, please visit USC Transportation Website:

https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/daily-and-hourly-parking/
https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/about-us/entrance-hours/

Contact Information

Name: Shelby Fowler
Email: sfowler@cinema.usc.edu