The American Film Program provides 35mm theatrical feature films for prestigious ambassadorial screenings, U.S. embassy-sponsored film festivals, international film festivals, and other special film events. It does so at the request of a U.S. Embassy and with private sector support from the Motion Picture Association of America, the Independent Film & Television Alliance, the American Film Institute, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Directors Guild of America, and other institutions. The feature films provided are recent or classic Hollywood commercial releases, films by independent U.S. filmmakers, or films with little or no chance for distribution abroad without this mechanism.

The American Film Program demonstrates the creativity and freedom of expression that characterize filmmaking in the United States. The program showcases films that reflect American society and values, demonstrating American principles of individualism, tolerance, ethnic diversity, social responsibility, trust in the law, and the importance of faith and family. The program also is designed to promote mutual understanding and to illustrate such concepts as rule of law, independent judiciary, freedom of the press, women's rights, religious freedom, multiculturalism, human rights, and civil society.

The American Film Program also provides a linkage between trade issues and intellectual property rights by promoting American film overseas, helping filmmakers and film associations oppose film, video, and software piracy, assisting American film companies to open new distribution markets abroad, and helping independent filmmakers gain overseas exposure.

The Program provides feature films on DVD or videotape, facilitates a public performance license agreement with the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation, and provides short films or feature-length documentaries for special overseas programming In addition to providing films for embassy programming, the American Film Program also recruits directors, writers, distributors, anti-piracy experts and other film specialists to share American expertise in the business and creative aspects of filmmaking, such as marketing and distribution, special effects and computer animation.

The American Film Program also manages grants awarded annually to various NGOs. Previous grantees have been the Film Foundation, the Tribeca Film Institute, the Independent Television Service - ITVS, and other NGOs dealing with films.

Inquires regarding the American Film Program may be sent to Susan Cohen CohenSL@state.gov, Cultural Programs Division Staff.