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The Shawna Foundation
Scholarships
Shawna Shea Film Fest
Mass Indie Film Fest
Scandriglia Film Fest
Creating Dangerously Podcast
On August 11, 1999, our lives changed irrevocably. Shawna Shea, daughter of Skip Shea and twin sister of Erin Porter, died in a car accident on a summer night, riding with friends.
She was 16, talented, creative and most of all, fiercely independent. At this very tender age, and even before that, she gravitated to those who lived in the margins of life.
The Shawna Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Arts Non-Profit named after Shawna. Even though she's no longer here, we aim to continue what started with Shawna: honoring creativity and independence and giving people a chance.
Our Mission is to equitably promote and support students through scholarship and showcase artists in filmmaking, performance arts, poetry and other creative endeavors with a focus on underrepresented communities.We believe the arts and education are essential to creating a vibrant, healthy community and world.
Film Festivals
Shawna Shea Film Festival
Established in 2012, SSFF is a fringe independent international film festival. Our goal is to give maximum exposure to films that push artistic boundaries. SSFF brings out the best independent film artists - locally, nationally, and from all over the world and creates a community cultural experience like no other.
Mass Indie Film Festival
A showcase for locally produced films as well as from around the world made by truly independent filmmakers. We screen the best of contemporary independent filmmaking in all genres: drama, comedy, experimental, horror, slow cinema, sci fi, fantasy, animation, documentary, and more.
Scandriglia Film Festival
In 2024 we realized one of our major goals for expansion, establishing the Scandriglia Film Festival in the beautiful medieval hilltop village of Scandriglia just outside of Rome. There is a story here and the stars aligned to deliver us to this point. The inaugural event took place on Oct. 12, 2024, and will continue biennially.
Programs
Women in Film Fellowship
Since 2015, we have supported first-time female filmmakers in the spirit of creativity, independence, and artistry. The Women in Film Fellowship comes with a monetary award and year-long mentorship.
Fiscal Sponsorship
If you are an artist, filmmaker, writer, or cultural organizer with a powerful project but no nonprofit status, we can provide the nonprofit umbrella so you can accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants.
Our Numbers
15
first-time female filmmakers completed their first short film with our Fellowship
$18,500
total amount of funds provided to Women in Film Fellows to complete their first short film
60
scholarships awarded to graduating high school students in Uxbridge and Worcester
$45,000
total amount of scholarship awards since 2001
3,500
films from 52 different countries have been submitted to our film festivals
The Shawna Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Arts Non-Profit named after Shawna Shea who passed away at the age of 16. We continue this work in her memory.
SHE RODE HER OWN WAVE
inviting any and all on,
but never drifting off on others.
Supporting the Shawna Foundation is supporting the arts and the people who create it.
Our Mission
INVESTING IN ART THAT SPEAKS TRUTH
We believe that arts and education are essential in creating a vibrant, healthy community and world.
Patreon
We strive to introduce our Patreon supporters to the type of art other institutions may ignore - in film, art, poetry, and more.
We offer exclusive movie screenings, essays, poems, digital art, and interviews with the artists. In addition, all of our live program events now have a Patreon component for subscribers, from our Library Poetry Tour to our Pop-Up Art Exhibits to the Shawna Shea and MassIndie Film Festivals. You no longer have to live in Central Massachusetts to participate.
For a $10.00 monthly fee, you will have access to this and more. And help us to continue to do our work in honoring Shawna.
Listen to all the episodes of the Creating Dangerously Podcast
Watch Kris Salvi read as part of the Library Poetry Tour on Milford TV
Become an Underwriter
We are a tax-exempt nonprofit arts and culture foundation with programs that give opportunities to those who don't readily get them. We think this is what Shawna would do.
A Proud Member of the
