GIFTS Scholarship & Bursary Programs
Since 1995, one of our primary focuses here at GIFTS has been establishing and maintaining the GIFTS Scholarship and Bursary Fund to provide emerging filmmakers an opportunity to gain valuable training at our live-in media facility situated on beautiful Galiano Island. To date, this effort has been a tremendous success: we have provided over $350,000 to community groups, disadvantaged youth, and activist organizations across the country – if we have our way, this trend will continue for many years to come!
General Scholarships
Applications are now processed entirely online, please use the form below to apply.
Annual Scholarships
The Marlon Hickey Memorial Scholarship
Each year, GIFTS awards a full scholarship for our Media Intensive Program, including tuition and room & board, in memory of one of our most well-loved alumni.
The Marlon Hickey Memorial Scholarship will enable one student every year to attend a week-long program at GIFTS.
Marlon Hickey first attended GIFTS as a student in 1998, when he was 18 years old. He returned to take an advanced program and a couple of years later, began apprenticing as a scriptwriting mentor, going on to mentor the early-teens in the drama video production program. Marlon embodied the GIFTS experience in many ways: he was wildly creative, impulsive and passionate about filmmaking and screenwriting. And he made films using whatever resources he had at hand.
Marlon had a rare genetic disorder called Marfan Syndrome, which affects the connective tissue throughout the body. This syndrome also causes the aorta to stretch out of shape. He was scheduled for surgery to replace his aorta in early 2005, but on December 23, 2004, he suffered a heart attack and died.
Seize the moment! Marlon had a warm, irrepressible, impulsive spirit that was highly contagious, inspiring those of us at GIFTS, his friends, his family, his students and virtually anyone he came in contact with. Irreverent, loving and generous, Marlon wrote comedy and screenplays, drew hilarious comics and made fantastic short films. He loved kids and kids loved him.
Who is eligible?
Young people between 14 and 19 years old, who demonstrate financial need and a passion for writing.
How to apply: In 200 words or less, or in the form of a drawing or comics, what kinds of movies are you interested in making? And why? Download an application form here and fax it to: 250-539-3290 Download a Poster in PDF Format (190 Kb)
Application Deadline:
For Summer programs: June 15th
The Gary Cramer Memorial Scholarships
These full tuition fellowships are granted to outstanding GIFTS alumni, who has been accepted into the Producer’s Intensive Program (PIP). One scholarship will be awarded for each of the spring & fall PIPs (value: $995 each)
Bursaries
GIFTS Bursary program is for students with financial need, please use the form below to apply.
Financial Aid
We strongly encourage students to fundraise in their local communities and to seek out funding opportunities wherever possible. Please see our fundraising page for more information.
