The foundation concentrates on promoting European languages, cinema and related cultural programming in the Los Angeles area, funding film festivals, European cultural centers and language/cultural societies. Grants repeatedly support film presentation and festival infrastructure as well as small-to-medium cultural institutions that foster European arts and language awareness. Its giving is locally focused and programmatic rather than broad philanthropic support across sectors.
European Languages and Movies in America is closely tied to the Los Angeles festival ecosystem, with repeated support for groups that present European cinema, language, and cultural programming to local audiences. One of its clearest patterns is sustained funding for the Balkan Cultural Center, which received $15,000 in 2024 and again in 2025, alongside other recurring support for South East European Film Festival and Friends of Goethe of Southern California. The foundation’s grant list also shows direct backing for the American Film Institute, the American Scandinavian Foundation of LA, and Theater Raymond Kabbatz at the French Lycee, pointing to a mix of festival presentation, language-centered education, and cultural societies. A distinctive thread is its use of grants for educational access, including student screenings and master classes linked to European cinema. The grant record suggests a funder that favors program-specific support for institutions already active in the field, rather than broad, unrestricted giving across unrelated causes. Its work is tightly focused on European-language and European-film cultural life in Southern California.
European Languages and Movies in America consistently backs European cinema programming in Los Angeles. In 2025, it gave $10,000 to the South East European Film Festival, and in prior years the same festival received $8,000 in both 2023 and 2024, showing recurring support for festival presentation. The foundation also funds film education. Its educational initiatives program describes free high school screenings and master classes for students, and the grant record includes $22,105 in 2023 to Colcoa Co Directors Guild of America for educational programs for the LA French Film Festival (Colcoa). Cultural societies are another emphasis: the American Scandinavian Foundation of LA received $5,000 in 2024 and $5,000 in 2025, while Friends of Goethe of Southern California received $7,500 in 2025 after a $5,000 grant in 2024.
Typical grants are modest and program-specific: the p25 is $3,500, the median is $5,000, and the p75 is $8,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including Balkan Cultural Center, American Film Institute, South East European Film Festival, Friends of Goethe of Southern California, Theater Raymond Kabbatz at the French Lycee, and Screamfest Horror Film Festival. That pattern fits a regular funder rather than a one-time project donor. The foundation’s listed grant programs also indicate both financial support and technical assistance, and at least one program accepts unsolicited requests.
$95K
$2.5M
$143K
$143K
Most grants fall between $4K and $8K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$8K
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Concentrated, local giving with repeat grants to festival and film organizations; primarily moderate-sized awards ($7k–$30k) focused on program support and event funding rather than large multi-year endowments. A small portfolio (12 grants) with several recurring grantees indicates sustained relationships with a core set of cultural partners.
Notable grantees: American Film Institute (AFI), South East European Film Festival, Balkan Cultural Center, COLCOA / Directors Guild of America (LA French Film Festival), Friends of Goethe of Southern California
Grantmaking is fully concentrated in California: 100% of recent grants went to recipients in the HQ state, and California is also the top state by grant count. Los Angeles is the main recipient city, with awards to the American Film Institute, American Cinematheque, Outfest, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Other California locations include North Hills, Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills, and Sherman Oaks. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports nonprofit and educational organizations tied to European cinema, language, and cultural programming. Recent grants went to film festivals, cultural centers, language-focused societies, and educational venues in Los Angeles and nearby California cities.
Yes. Its educational initiatives include free high school screenings and master classes for students, and the grant record includes $22,105 in 2023 to Colcoa Co Directors Guild of America for educational programs for the LA French Film Festival (Colcoa).
Typical grants cluster in the low thousands. The p25 is $3,500, the median grant is $5,000, and the p75 is $8,000.
The record shows recurring support. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Balkan Cultural Center, American Film Institute, South East European Film Festival, Friends of Goethe of Southern California, Theater Raymond Kabbatz at the French Lycee, and Screamfest Horror Film Festival.
Some of the foundation’s active grant programs accept unsolicited requests, including its General Festival & Educational Support, Educational Initiatives Support, and Festival & Event Support (General Grants and Technical Assistance) programs.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHARED DREAMS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| BALKAN CULTURAL CENTER | NORTH HILLS, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| FRIENDS OF GOETHE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION OF LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| THEATER RAYMOND KABBATZ AT THE FRENCH LYCEE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $4,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $4,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| ANIMATION IS FILM FESTIVAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,500 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| CINEMAGIC | SHERAMN OAKS, CA | $3,500 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| CONTEMPORARY IRISH ARTS CENTER LOS ANGELES | SUNLAND, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $500 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| BALKAN CULTURAL CENTER | NORTH HILLS, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $8,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| FRIENDS OF GOETHE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| OUTFEST | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION OF LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| THEATER RAYMOND KABBATZ AT THE FRENCH LYCEE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $4,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| ANIMATION IS FILM FESTIVAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,500 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| COLCOA CO DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $22,105 | 2023 | ELMA CREATED AND STARTED FUNDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE LA FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL (COLCOA) IN 2008. |
| AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $8,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| SVU CZECHOSLOVAK SOCIETY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES LOS ANGELES | MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | $8,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| BALKAN CULTURAL CENTER | NORTH HILLS, CA | $6,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION OF LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| THEATER RAYMOND KABBATZ AT THE FRENCH LYCEE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $4,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| ANIMATION IS FILM FESTIVAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,500 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $3,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| CIACLA - CONTEMPORARY IRISH ARTS CENTER LOS ANGELES | SUNLAND, CA | $500 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
SHARED DREAMS
$25,000CULTURAL
BALKAN CULTURAL CENTER
$15,000CULTURAL
SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL
$10,000CULTURAL
AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE
$10,000CULTURAL
FRIENDS OF GOETHE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$7,500CULTURAL
AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE
$5,000CULTURAL
AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION OF LA
CULTURAL
THEATER RAYMOND KABBATZ AT THE FRENCH LYCEE
$4,000CULTURAL
SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
$4,000CULTURAL
ANIMATION IS FILM FESTIVAL
$3,500CULTURAL
CINEMAGIC
$3,500CULTURAL
CONTEMPORARY IRISH ARTS CENTER LOS ANGELES
$2,000CULTURAL
LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION INC
$500CULTURAL
BALKAN CULTURAL CENTER
$15,000CULTURAL
AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE
$10,000CULTURAL
SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL
$8,000CULTURAL
FRIENDS OF GOETHE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$5,000CULTURAL
OUTFEST
$5,000CULTURAL
AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION OF LA
$5,000CULTURAL
THEATER RAYMOND KABBATZ AT THE FRENCH LYCEE
$4,000CULTURAL
ANIMATION IS FILM FESTIVAL
$3,500CULTURAL
SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
$3,000CULTURAL
LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION INC
$2,500CULTURAL
COLCOA CO DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA
$22,105ELMA CREATED AND STARTED FUNDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE LA FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL (COLCOA) IN 2008.
AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE
$10,000CULTURAL
SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL
$8,000CULTURAL
SVU CZECHOSLOVAK SOCIETY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES LOS ANGELES
$8,000CULTURAL
BALKAN CULTURAL CENTER
$6,000CULTURAL
AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION OF LA
$5,000CULTURAL
THEATER RAYMOND KABBATZ AT THE FRENCH LYCEE
$4,000CULTURAL
ANIMATION IS FILM FESTIVAL
$3,500CULTURAL
SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
$3,000CULTURAL
CIACLA - CONTEMPORARY IRISH ARTS CENTER LOS ANGELES
$500CULTURAL
Current and upcoming funding from European Languages and Movies in America that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must be non-commercial and preferably organized by a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. ELMA supports initiatives that promote European cinema in the U.S. and foster intercultural understanding; it does not fund film production or commercial distribution.
Who can apply: Noncommercial projects, preferably organized by a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, that promote European cinema in the U.S. and foster intercultural understanding. ELMA's capacity is focused on Los Angeles and it does not fund film production or commercial distribution.
Who can apply: Programs should align with ELMA's mission of cultural understanding and introduce young audiences to European film. High school screenings are open to all high school teachers and their students in Southern California.
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