Three Los Angeles-area Elon alumni will receive $3,500 grants to produce original short films, which will premiere at Sony Pictures Studios in July 2027. Applications are open through Jan. 15.
Seven entertainment industry professionals have been named to the selection committee for the 2026-27 Elon University Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition, which will provide funding for three original short films by Elon graduates.
The competition will award three $3,500 grants to Los Angeles-area Elon alumni to produce original short films. The completed projects will make their world premieres at the second Elon University Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival, scheduled for July 21, 2027, at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.
The selection committee is co-chaired by Elon alumni Jordan Roman ’15 and Eric Hernandez ’16 and brings together industry professionals with experience in filmmaking, production, editing and entertainment development.
Committee members include three recipients of last year’s grants – Julia Boyd ’15, Bex Evans ’16 and Mirai ’07 – along with film development executive Bobby Hoppey ’09 and documentary and scripted projects editor Tim Johnson ’09. Director, producer and writer Benjamin Steven and actor Pamela Roylance will also serve on the committee.
The competition is open to Elon alumni based in the Los Angeles area, with submissions accepted through midnight on Jan. 15, 2027. Project details and submission requirements are available through the Elon National Campus Programs webpage.
The grant competition and accompanying film festival reflect Elon’s longstanding connections to the entertainment industry and its growing network of alumni working in Los Angeles.
The Elon University Los Angeles experience, a partnership from Study USA and National Campus Programs, has been a fixture in historic Hollywood for nearly 20 years. Each spring and summer, students travel to Los Angeles for coursework, experiential learning, community service, professional development, and alumni engagement, including opportunities to participate in the alumni short film festival.