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George R.R. Martin Literary Foundation Scholarships

Apr 25, 2023

George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin

The George R.R. Martin Literary Foundation Scholarships were established by Santa Fe resident and novelist George R.R. Martin. The Cinematic Arts and Technology Scholarships were created based on the idea that Martin firmly believes in—“You can never pay back the people who helped you when you were starting out, so you have to pay it forward.” The deadline to apply is Friday, June 23, 2023, at 8 am (MST).

About the George R.R. Martin Literary Foundation Scholarships

Santa Fe resident and novelist George R.R. Martin chose IAIA Cinematic Arts and Technology students to “Pay It Forward,” by funding one full-attendance cost scholarship, and two tuition-cost scholarships as a means to encourage and support subsequent generations of storytellers.

Scholarship Criteria

The IAIA Cinematic Arts & Technology department distinguishes itself from other film programs by emphasizing the importance of meaningful storytelling. IAIA is looking for storytellers with strong voices, in any genre (drama, comedy, romance, adventure, sci-fi, horror, etc.), who have something meaningful for them to say about their experiences with life, relationships, society, and the world we live in.

Newcomer Scholarship ($5,000)

  • Incoming freshman or transfer student
  • 3.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA), if non-freshman
  • Must be enrolled (or plan on being enrolled) full-time in Fall 2023
  • Degree-seeking Cinematic Arts & Technology major
  • Writing sample required; demonstrating passion for storytelling (Short story five–six pages or a short script five-ten pages submitted in industry standard screenplay format.**)
  • Must provide letter of recommendation and character reference
  • Must include short bio
  • Not need-based *
  • Native preference but non-Native students can apply

Proven Storyteller Scholarship ($5,000)

  • Sophomore status or above
  • 3.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) required
  • Enrolled full-time as a Cinematic Arts & Technology major
  • Writing sample required; demonstrating passion for storytelling (Short script six–ten pages submitted in industry standard screenplay format.**)
  • Must provide letter of recommendation and character reference
  • Must include short bio
  • Not need-based*
  • Native preference but non-Native students can apply

Master Storyteller Scholarship ($15,000)

  • Sophomore status or above
  • 3.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) required
  • Enrolled full-time as a Cinematic Arts & Technology major
  • Writing sample required; demonstrating passion for storytelling (Short script six–ten pages submitted in industry standard screenplay format.**)
  • Must provide letter of recommendation and character reference
  • Must include short bio
  • Not need-based*
  • Native preference but non-Native students can apply

**See https://www.oscars.org/sites/oscars/files/scriptsample.pdf for reference. Screenplays that don’t follow this format will be downgraded.

*While the George R.R. Martin scholarships are not need-based, receipt of the scholarship may require IAIA to reduce other need-based aid that you have. For example, if this scholarship plus your other financial aid exceeds your cost of attendance by $1,500 (causing a $1,500 over award), IAIA would have to reduce your other aid by $1,500. Direct any questions about this to Financial Aid Director Scott Whitaker at scott.whitaker@iaia.edu.

About George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin was born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.

Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin’s first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21, “The Hero,” sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.

In 1970 Martin received a BS in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a MS in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.

Read more about George R.R. Martin on his website.

George R.R. Martin Visit to IAIA Campus

Deadline June 23, 8 am (MST)

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