Until now, The Metro Theatre Center Foundation used its resources and kind donations of our supporters to fund initiatives and awards at other non-profits, film festivals and schools. Because of shifting needs in the independent film scene, we have decided to move our efforts to an area where we can directly help the filmmaker. Thus, our decision to become a fiscal sponsor, and to make the process of applying simple and fair.

The foundation is a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit public benefit corporation and all donations are tax deductible to the extent possible by applicable law. Each donor should consult their personal tax advisor for the specifics of their own situation and how the donation will be treated. We offer no tax advice, nor should any be inferred from the information contained on this page.

The Metro Theatre Center Foundation is presently soliciting financial support from individuals, groups, corporations and foundations to help us help the independent filmmaker improve both the art of filmmaking and our culture through the production and distribution of more high-quality projects, even projects that have a real commercial future (which we hope all our sponsored projects will have!)

Donors and supporters may earmark their funds for the general program of fiscal sponsorship, to help pay for the costs of operating, accounting and review of requests for sponsorship, or the funds may be specifically designated for a particular project.

The submission process is simple. We need only four things from you, and it's best to keep them simple:

1.A 250 word description of your project.
2.Another 250 words on why you think it's important and unique.
3.The budget summary and production schedule.
4.Another 250 words on how you intend to distribute the film.

It's that simple. No reasonable request for sponsorship will be turned down. If your project is selected for fiscal sponsorship, you will be sent a formal agreement, which shall include a provision for a small set-up charge for your page and the costs of accounting and the reporting requirements that we have identified as necessary for IRS. Our fee will be 7% of the funds raised, if paid by check, and 10% if paid by Pay Pal or other credit card methods. Payment to you of your share will be made within ten business days of our receipt of the funds and bank clearance.

If you need any further information, or require any help in the submission process, please kindly e-mail us at: fiscalsponsorship@indieplex.org.

Looking forward to helping you with your vision, which is our mission.

Sincerely,
Shelley Bergren
Executive Director
The Metro Theatre Center Foundation

The Chris Holter Legacy Awards are administered by The Metro Theater Center Foundation thanks to the generous gifts of the family and friends of Chris Holter, a co-founder of the foundation, The Ora A. Holter Family Trust and the Chris Holter-Ron Merk Family Fund.

After graduating from U.C. Davis in 1973, Chris joined the V.I.S.T.A. program and organized youth centers Iowa where his lifelong interest in the education of young people began. Returning to the Bay Area, he taught high school math and in San Francisco.

In 1980 he and his partner, Ron Merk, moved to Los Angeles where Chris became involved in the motion picture industry with Ron. In 2001, "Marco Polo - Return to Xanadu," an animated feature project that Chris produced, co-wrote the screenplay and song lyrics, qualified for the first-ever Best Animated Feature Academy Award, and was later released by Warner Bros. In 2003 he returned to San Francisco where he was active in politics and the arts, including Film Arts Foundation, film festivals and educational programs.

Diagnosed with melanoma cancer in November of 2003, Chris continued to live one day at a time, always positive and looking toward the future. Before untimely his death on December 27th, 2004, Chris asked his partner, Ron Merk, to establish a number of awards and grants in his name to continue his life's work. The aim of Chris Holter Legacy Awards is to encourage, finance and support the efforts of both young and first-time filmmakers, creating films and videos with unique and important statements about their lives and the world we all inhabit together.

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