Help make my Film Curator and Programmer Dream come true

Hello everyone,

Anissa here. When my friend Anna first created this GoFundMe, it was to raise funds to support the costs of relocating with my three cats. I first wanted to thank everyone who has supported my cats and I so far. I was able to use the funds to cover some of the vet costs. However, life works in mysterious ways!

For those who may not know, a few months ago, I received an offer from University of Glasgow for their postgraduate taught program in Film Curation, and as of recently (just few days ago) I received another offer, this time unconditional, from University of Edinburgh also for Film Curation & Programming. To receive one offer was already a blessing, but two? I truly couldn’t believe it.

Due to the additional new offer, I was in a bit of a crossroad as I have to decide which university I want to move forward with, and after several considerations, I decided to move forward with University of Glasgow.

While my hope is to be able to start this year, I also have to consider all the expenses required to get to grad school. Not only that I have to cover any immigration and tuition cost, I also to cover the costs for relocating to another country with my three cats. And without any familial support, it is quite a big hefty cost to cover myself. If somehow I’m unable to start this year, I have the option to defer to next year, but in order to be able to send a deferral request, I still have to make my deposit payment which costs £2,000. And I hope to reach that goal the soonest at the very least, so I could also keep my spot in the program.

Receiving that offer felt like opening of a portal, to something I was ready to close forever. For a dream I was ready to part ways with. But alas, life works in a funny way. It was almost as if the universe is trying to remind me to trust myself more and that my voice and perspectives matter.

With that said, this GoFundMe will now be a fundraiser to help secure funding to support my postgraduate journey, while I continue to look for other available funding opportunities and save up money as the cost of studying abroad as an international studen is quite hefty–including the immigration costs. I set the goal only for half of the total amount of the tuition as I’m hoping I could receive a scholarship or other funding opportunities to cover most of it (if not, all), along with visa fee and cat relocation fees. Thankfully, University of Glasgow offers payment plan for the tuition that breaks it down into much smaller amount, so if I could at least cover the first half, I can find part time work where I will allocate my earnings to paying off the other half of my tuition (in the case that I couldn’t find loan options or receive scholarships).

Below is a breakdown of the Gofundme goal:

€15,550 (half of tuition + deposit included due on July 31st) – this will also ensure that I meet the financial requirements to apply for a student visa. You can check the requirements here

€3,600 (cat relocation fees)

€850 (student visa application fee)

However, please do not feel pressured to contribute to the fundraising!! I am sharing it more so from a space of hope that there are folks who are open to amplifying and sharing the links around, so it could reach those who might be in a position to support. I know there are many dire situations happening in many parts of the world that may require your support, and other things you can allocate your money for (including taking care of yourself!) But if you are in a position to support and in a space of abundance, your contribution means everything to me

Thank you for taking the time to read this far, and for believing in my dreams too, and for helping me make it come true

Below is an excerpt from my personal statement:

“...These internal shifts—for better or worse—changed how I view and approach filmmaking. I started to notice patterns I may not have fully grasped when I was younger. I realized that a deep-rooted inequality often clouds the cinema world, where some voices tend to be louder than others.

Nevertheless, that does not mean other voices do not exist at all. On the contrary, there are more than plenty—the question is more so whether or not these voices are being amplified. As such, this is where I believe film curation plays a crucial role. Beyond just a space to curate an appreciation of cinema’s craft, aesthetics, and history, I consider that film curation also holds the key to challenging the status quo, to become a container to preserve stories that other spaces may be too afraid to witness. There is no denying that film and media hold power in how we perceive the world. If not careful, the choices of what stories take a spot in the limelight could further skew one’s perception…

Additionally, with how many stories and voices have been further silenced as of late, I am confident there is no better time to be a part of this program than now. I hope I can leave a legacy for a more accessible, diverse, and equitable space for storytellers and filmmakers in the future, be it in the physical or digital space.”