'Spotlight' Producer Launches $250,000 COVID-19 Relief Fund for Doc Freelancers

The Sundance Institute has launched a COVID-19 relief fund for indie artists, with a $1 million pot. "This moment calls for a radical shift in strategy in the way we support independent artists in film, media and theater.

An advocacy group in Ecuador has created a fund to help LGBTQ people and Venezuelan refugees in the country during the coronavirus pandemic.

A new fund to support Irish musicians through the Covid-19 pandemic has been set up by key music industry bodies.

By Tim Dams

Ava DuVernay's non-profit foundation ARRAY Alliance on Tuesday launched a $250,000 fund to provide grants for creators and organizations telling stories of underrepresented communities, especially those impacted by the global coronavirus pandemic. ARRAY Grants will be given to organizations such as independently owned film festivals and screening series that have come under challenges from the shutdowns caused by the spread of COVID-19.

By Dave McNary

Like many in the world, Cheryl Saban is hunkering down at home with her husband, music and media entrepreneur Haim Saban, while holding down the fort on two professional fronts. As the president of Saban Family Foundation, she continues to meet virtually with her staff of five, which will be busier in the coming months as vital services are pushed to the brink more than ever due to the coronavirus pandemic.

ViacomCBS is looking to support industry crewmembers, talent and creatives with a $100 million fund launched amid a production shutdown due to the COVID-19 crisis. The emergency fund will be distributed by ViacomCBS to the Motion Picture & Television Fund and The Actors Fund, charitable organizations already supporting impacted industry workers.

Canadian broadcaster CBC has launched a Creative Relief Fund for indie content makers amid the COVID-19 crisis, with a $2 million pot. The fund will offer "immediate" development and production financing for producers of original content across all genres.

By Jill Goldsmith

By Brent Lang

By Dave McNary

The U.K.'s COVID-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund, unveiled last month by the British Film Institute and the Film and TV Charity, has now launched with an initial £2.5 million ($3 million) pot to distribute to industry creatives impacted by the crisis. Announced with a $1.2 million donation from Netflix, the fund has since received financial support from the BFI, BBC Studios, BBC Content, WarnerMedia and several individuals.

By Tom Grater

By Tom Grater

By Naman Ramachandran

European fans of spandex, spangles and pop kitsch will not be denied.

By Dave McNary

By David Robb