Connecting the Upper Midwest and East Asia has been a core mission of CEAS since 1962.
To further this mission, CEAS is piloting a new initiative this year funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. This program supports screenings of films that focus on East Asia or emphasize the connections between East Asia and the United States.
Program Overview
Grants of up to $3,000 to theaters for:
- Screening fees, shipping charges, advertising, and related expenses
- Facilities costs comparable to a theater’s normal rental fees up to $500 per screening
- Honoraria for film-related events including directors visits, discussions, short talks/presentations
- Staff time is not an allowable expense
The 2026 program is now open with an application deadline of March 10, 2026.
APPLY THROUGH THIS GOOGLE FORM.
Any questions regarding the application process should be directed to CEAS Assistant Director Laurie Dennis (ldennis@wisc.edu).
Application materials will be evaluated on these criteria:
- Sustained programming: proposal for series of films with multiple screenings each are more likely to be funded than proposals for a single film
- While not required, proposals coordinated with a local public libraries application to the East Asia in the Upper Midwest Library program are encouraged.
- Expanding access: this program has a preference for theaters outside of major cities and in places where East Asian films are not widely available
- Related events: proposal that include director’s visits, post-film discussions, short talks by specialists, or other related events are more likely to be funded
- Broad appeal and suitability: films that are likely to appeal to broad audience and that are suitable for multiple audiences are especially encouraged
Additional Details
- The deadline for priority consideration is March 10, 2026. Applications on a rolling basis will be considered thereafter until funding is exhausted.
- Any questions regarding the application process should be directed to CEAS Assistant Director Laurie Dennis (ldennis@wisc.edu).
- For the purposes of this project, East Asia is defined as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and ethnic minorities that historically reside in these countries (Tibetans, Uighurs, Ainu, etc). Southwest Asian films will also be considered. Southeast Asia is defined as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.