Colin Higgins is an acclaimed screenwriter, director, and producer of films such as Harold and Maude and 9 to 5. He established the Colin Higgins Foundation in 1986 to further his humanitarian goals.

Colin Higgins is an acclaimed screenwriter, director, and producer of films such as Harold and Maude and 9 to 5. He established the Colin Higgins Foundation in 1986 to further his humanitarian goals.

Since the inception, the Colin Higgins Foundation has handed out $5.8 million in grants to a wide variety of institutions, groups and individuals.

Since 2022, the Foundation has shifted its focus to award Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grants, centered on providing young LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support to continue their work. Eligible applicants must identify as LGBTQ+ filmmakers, be under the age of 25 and currently reside in the U.S. Previously, the Foundation awarded grants through its Youth Courage Awards.


2025 COLIN HIGGINS YOUTH FILMMAKER GRANT WINNERS AT FRAMELINE FESTIVAL

Scenes from Frameline49’s special showcase celebrating the 2025 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant recipients.

The event featured filmmakers Remi Gabriel, Carmela Murphy, and AJ Dubler, alongside their award-winning films, Barbie Boy and A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian. Guests enjoyed a lively reception, stop motion puppets from the film, and inspiring moments on stage as the filmmakers accepted their awards. For more photos, check out our Facebook page.


For a third year, the Colin Higgins Foundation has partnered with the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival in announcing the recipients of the 2025 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant. The partnership, which began in 2023, centers on providing young LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support to continue their work. Eligible applicants must self-identify as LGBTQ+ filmmakers, be 25 years of age or younger, and currently reside in the U.S. The 2025 winners are Remi Gabriel for Barbie Boy and Carmela Murphy and AJ Dubler for A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian.

Read more about the winners here.



Leaf and Farah accepting their awards at Frameline’s
San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival in June 2024.
 

2024 Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant Recipients!

For a second year, Colin Higgins Foundation has once again partnered with Frameline, the arts nonprofit that hosts the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, to announce the recipients of the 2024 Colin Higgins Youth Foundation Grant. The partnership, which began in 2023, centers on providing young LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support to continue their work. Eligible applicants must self-identify as LGBTQ+ filmmakers, be under the age of 25, and currently reside in the U.S. The 2024 winners are New York-based filmmakers Farah Jabir (Kasbi) and Leaf Lieber (Burrow).





This year, two LGBTQ+ youth filmmakers have been selected as the recipients of the Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant, and will each receive $15,000 to support their future film projects. In addition to awarding a total of $30,000 to these emerging filmmakers, Frameline will screen the grant recipients’ films at the 48th San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline48), which takes place June 19–29.

In addition to being in attendance for their respective screenings, Jabir and Lieber will be hosted by Frameline48 for the Festival’s run.

Learn more about the 2024 winners here.

 

CELEBRATE COLIN HIGGINS:
50TH ANNIVERSARY & A NEW DOCUMENTARY

 




 


CELEBRATING LAUGHTER: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins

For the last 31 years, the Foundation has been funding a documentary on Colin Higgins, called Celebrating Laughter: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins, directed and edited by Nicholas Eliopoulos. 

 

The documentary ran a week at the NuArt Theater in Santa Monica, qualifying the film for placement on the Motion Picture Academy website for two years for all twelve thousand members to view.

Stay tuned for updates on where to watch the film…

Read more