Lao Filmmakers Fund

Lao Filmmakers Fund

Fund Description

Founded and operated by LPFF, the Lao Filmmakers Fund is the country’s first and only regular grant program for film projects. The Fund is publicly generated, and supports Lao film projects through small grants. 

Grants are currently available once a year. LPFF’s Board of Directors selects the winning projects based on their merit, as well as an organized, feasible budget and execution plan.

Support for the 2018 and 2019 cycles of Lao Filmmakers Fund comes from our Lao Identities on Film project, supported by Voice. As part of its mission, Voice works to amplify and connect thus far unheard voices in efforts to leave no one behind.

For the 2019 year, the maximum grant request is $15,000 USD (roughly 130,000,000 kip). This does not guarantee any one project’s receipt of this amount. The number of grants LPFF will award depends on the chosen projects’ required budgets.

How to Apply

The applications for the 2019 cycle are now closed. Watch this space for the announcement of our 2019 grantees.

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2018 Recipients

Many thanks to Oxfam International for generously providing a $15,000 contribution to this year’s grant cycle, allowing for the realization of multiple projects.

A live-action film about a road trip with Khaun, a woman seeking revenge for her best friend, and Khai, a man with the ability to foresee the end of relationships. This film's team is experimenting with a new business model. This model strives to circumvent the necessity for commercial sponsorship. Instead, the crew invest in the project, getting box office revenue shares in return.

Vannaphone Sitthirath

A live-action film about a road trip with Khaun, a woman seeking revenge for her best friend, and Khai, a man with the ability to foresee the end of relationships. This film’s team is experimenting with a new business model. This model strives to circumvent the necessity for commercial sponsorship. Instead, the crew invest in the project, getting box office revenue shares in return.
A short fiction film about two young boys struggling to maintain their friendship despite diverging life paths. Somchit’s story features Khmu characters, giving screen time to an ethnic group currently underrepresented represented in Lao film. As part of Somchit’s project, LPFF will pair him with established filmmakers, who will function as his mentors and crew members.

Somchit Kittisak

A short fiction film about two young boys struggling to maintain their friendship despite diverging life paths. Somchit’s story features Khmu characters, giving screen time to an ethnic group currently underrepresented represented in Lao film. As part of Somchit’s project, LPFF will pair him with established filmmakers, who will function as his mentors and crew members.
A feature-length coming-of-age family drama about a Hmong sister and brother, and their efforts to support their family by grooming a bull into a prize fighter. The grant will support the film's pre-production phase. During this time, the team will conduct extensive primary research on Hmong experiences.

Xaisongkham Induangchanthy

A feature-length coming-of-age family drama about a Hmong sister and brother, and their efforts to support their family by grooming a bull into a prize fighter. The grant will support the film’s pre-production phase. During this time, the team will conduct extensive primary research on Hmong experiences.

2016 Recipients

Many thanks to Oxfam International for generously providing a $15,000 contribution to this year’s grant cycle, allowing for the realization of multiple projects.

A fiction film about Mai, a young woman learning to navigate a society that is not accepting of her sexuality. This film aims to bring attention to the challenges of identifying as LGBTQ in Laos. Dorn plans to shoot much of her film in her hometown, Xiengkhouang, to show the reality of LGBTQ communities in Laos' more remote areas.

"Let's Love," Dorn Bouttasing

A fiction film about Mai, a young woman learning to navigate a society that is not accepting of her sexuality. This film aims to bring attention to the challenges of identifying as LGBTQ in Laos. Dorn plans to shoot much of her film in her hometown, Xiengkhouang, to show the reality of LGBTQ communities in Laos’ more remote areas.
A short film about a mysterious woman named Hongfa. Hongfa travels through a remote village in Northern Laos, and uses music to bring together the divided Khmu and Hmong communities. As part of the film's production process, musicians in the region will compose an original soundtrack, using traditional instruments and melodies.

"A Melody of Change," Ka Xiong

A short film about a mysterious woman named Hongfa. Hongfa travels through a remote village in Northern Laos, and uses music to bring together the divided Khmu and Hmong communities. As part of the film’s production process, musicians in the region will compose an original soundtrack, using traditional instruments and melodies.
A science fiction film about four teenagers with superpowers, who team up to stop an evil corporation from creating an army of superhumans and starting World War III. The Light Flare Team's productions specialize in CGI effects. Director Palinya Sayyamoungkhoun recently won the Outstanding Technical Achievement award for his short film, "300 Seconds", at the Mini-Vientianale Film Festival.

"Beyond the Power," Light Flare Team

A science fiction film about four teenagers with superpowers, who team up to stop an evil corporation from creating an army of superhumans and starting World War III. The Light Flare Team’s productions specialize in CGI effects. Director Palinya Sayyamoungkhoun recently won the Outstanding Technical Achievement award for his short film, “300 Seconds”, at the Mini-Vientianale Film Festival.
A narrative film that follows three young friends and the journey they take to their different Khmu, Hmong, and Lao villages. The crew is composed of five young students from the Luang Prabang Orphanage School who recently screened five of their films at the Mini-Vientianale Film Festival's Short Film Competition.

"An Unlikely Friendship," Lao Children's Workshop

A narrative film that follows three young friends and the journey they take to their different Khmu, Hmong, and Lao villages. The crew is composed of five young students from the Luang Prabang Orphanage School who recently screened five of their films at the Mini-Vientianale Film Festival’s Short Film Competition.

2015 Recipients

A short drama about the conflict between two students from different backgrounds in the same class, "Candlelight" is a project by the Savannakhet University Movie Club. This student-run group consists of Mass Media and English students who work together to make short films and learn about writing and shooting movies. This will be the second film the team has made together.

"Candlelight," Suliyachak Phuntulad

A short drama about the conflict between two students from different backgrounds in the same class, “Candlelight” is a project by the Savannakhet University Movie Club. This student-run group consists of Mass Media and English students who work together to make short films and learn about writing and shooting movies. This will be the second film the team has made together.
In "The Long Walk," a subsistence farmer, living on the fringes of rural Laos, develops an obsession with the amnesiac spirit of an accident victim that haunts the dirt road where she died. Continuing with her favored theme of the supernatural, this will be the Lao-American director's third feature film. Her sophomore title, "Dearest Sister," screened at the 2015 festival.

"The Long Walk," Mattie Do

In “The Long Walk,” a subsistence farmer, living on the fringes of rural Laos, develops an obsession with the amnesiac spirit of an accident victim that haunts the dirt road where she died. Continuing with her favored theme of the supernatural, this will be the Lao-American director’s third feature film. Her sophomore title, “Dearest Sister,” screened at the 2015 festival.

2014 Recipients

Those Below is a fictional drama highlighting the effects of the secret war in Laos. Although the war ended more than four decades ago, its legacies remain and continue to haunt those involved and affected – be it Lao villagers living in the UXO-contaminated areas or veterans in the USA. Currently studying in New York, Xaisongkham will return to Laos with a small team to shoot this film, his thesis project.

"Those Below," Xaisongkham Induangchanthy

Those Below is a fictional drama highlighting the effects of the secret war in Laos. Although the war ended more than four decades ago, its legacies remain and continue to haunt those involved and affected – be it Lao villagers living in the UXO-contaminated areas or veterans in the USA. Currently studying in New York, Xaisongkham will return to Laos with a small team to shoot this film, his thesis project.
A short documentary about freerunning, this film will highlight a new sport that is currently popular amongst young Lao. Freerunning requires physical strength, constant practice, speed, agility, and extreme flips. Vilayphong plans to shoot much of his film with a flying drone, against a background of important historical and cultural sites around Laos.

"An Unlikely Friendship," Vilayphong Phongsavanh

A short documentary about freerunning, this film will highlight a new sport that is currently popular amongst young Lao. Freerunning requires physical strength, constant practice, speed, agility, and extreme flips. Vilayphong plans to shoot much of his film with a flying drone, against a background of important historical and cultural sites around Laos.

2013 Recipients

Telling the fictional story of Mr.Leum, an older fisherman living in the 4000 Island in Southern Laos, this film is about the differing perspectives of older and younger generations in Laos today regarding what is important in life. While many people believe that possession of material things will make them happy, others prefer to live a quiet life and feel content with what they have.

"Against the Tide," Xaisongkham Induangchanthy

Telling the fictional story of Mr.Leum, an older fisherman living in the 4000 Island in Southern Laos, this film is about the differing perspectives of older and younger generations in Laos today regarding what is important in life. While many people believe that possession of material things will make them happy, others prefer to live a quiet life and feel content with what they have.
This documentary project will address the issue of young women who come from other provinces to work in Laos' capital city of Vientiane. These women often take jobs in factories, but then the need for quick money to support themselves and their families drives them to seek other sources of income.

"The Choices," Phonevilay Keopaseuth

This documentary project will address the issue of young women who come from other provinces to work in Laos’ capital city of Vientiane. These women often take jobs in factories, but then the need for quick money to support themselves and their families drives them to seek other sources of income.