Attention, members of Women In Film’s (WIF) local Los Angeles, New York, or Atlanta chapters whose filmmaking careers have been stalled by COVID-19: applications for Hire Her Back grants are now being accepted. The $1,000 emergency relief grants are part of WIF’s Hire Her Back initiative, a campaign calling for gender and racial equality in show biz as productions resume in the wake of the pandemic.

The grants will be dispersed from the Hire Her Back Fund, which has been supported by ShivHans Pictures founder Shivani Rawat, an all-star benefit variety special, and private donations.

“We are grateful to all who have answered the call to support this fund so that we, along with our sister chapters in New York and Atlanta, can provide some relief to the women whose work in our industry has suffered,” WIF Los Angeles executive director Kirsten Schaffer stated. “We hope that the fund can buoy these women and make it more possible to sustain their careers in entertainment.”

NYWIFT executive director Cynthia López added, “We at New York Women in Film & Television believe that in every tragedy there is opportunity to work creatively to unite our community. We know that the Latinx and Black communities and women over 50 were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. As production finally resumes after this devastating crisis, we don’t want to take a step backward or lose sight of what progress still needs to be made. We must always continue to move forward. We look forward to [working] with our sisters in Women In Film Los Angeles on this important initiative.”

Grant applications must include proof of membership for Women In Film Los Angeles, Women In Film and Television Atlanta, or New York Women in Film & Television; recent checking and savings account statements; and a form of identification.

Apply for a Hire Her Back grant via The Actors Fund. Find out more about Hire Her Back or donate to its fund on WIF’s website.