FILM — JULY 2023

FEMME FRONTERA FILMMAKER SHOWCASE

DEADLINES:

  • Regular: July 10, 2023

  • Late: July 31, 2023

INFO: The Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase is an annual film festival held in El Paso, Texas, which celebrates short films made by women and nonbinary filmmakers from around the world, most especially women of color from border communities. Created in 2016, the festival is run by a collective of six women filmmakers from the U.S.-Mexico border region. Femme Frontera has been featured in Variety Magazine, Texas Monthly magazine, and Remezcla. In 2018, the Showcase was listed as one of the top film festivals for female filmmakers.

The Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase, a 1.5 hour program, goes on tour each year and has screened at the following locations:

Echo Park Film Center Los Angeles, CA, Relativity School Los Angeles, CA, Southwestern University Georgetown, TX, Indie Grits Film Festival Columbia, SC, UWM Milwaukee, WI, 516 ARTS Albuquerque, NM, Cine Las Americas Austin, TX, San Diego, CA, Art Theater Champaign, IL and Cine Festival San Antonio, TX.

Though priority will be given to filmmakers who were born, live, and/or created their short films in El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and their surrounding communities, FFFS welcomes short film submissions made by all women and non-binary filmmakers, most especially BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), Migrant, Mexican, Mexican-American, Transfronterizx, and/or LGBTQIA filmmakers from around the world.

RULES:

  • Open to shorts under 20 minutes in length.

  • Projects must be DIRECTED by WOMEN and NON-BINARY filmmakers ONLY. Any genre accepted. Priority will be given to stories told by immigrants, people of color, the LBGTQ community, and most especially films that take place along border regions around the world.

filmfreeway.com/FemmeFronteraFilmmakerShowcase

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LOGHAVEN ARTIST RESIDENCY

DEADLINE: July 15, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $20

INFO: Loghaven Artist Residency’s mission is to serve artists by providing them with a transformative residency experience and continued post-residency support. The residency is located on ninety acres of woodland in Knoxville, Tennessee. Artists live in five historic log cabins that have been both rehabilitated and modernized to create an ideal setting for reflection and work, and they have access to new, purpose-built studio space. All Loghaven Fellows are awarded stipends to support the creation of new work during the residency.

ELIGIBILITY: Practicing artists of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are eligible to apply for a Loghaven residency. International artists and artists currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program are not eligible. Artists must be at least twenty-one years old and live more than 120 miles away from Knoxville. This distance requirement is designed to ensure that artists are able to be fully immersed in their residency experience and can take advantage of the retreat-style environment. Please note that all eligibility requirements must be met at the time of application.

We invite applicants in the creation stage of their specified project or work cycle to apply in the following disciplines:

  • Writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and journalism)

  • Visual Arts

  • Dance

  • Theater

  • Music Composition

  • Architecture

  • Interdisciplinary Work

DIVERSITY STATEMENT: Loghaven actively seeks to assemble diverse cohorts. Loghaven does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, religion, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, medical conditions including HIV, or sensory, physical, or mental disability.

RESIDENCY SESSIONS:

  • January 8 – 22, 2024 (2 weeks, preference given to alumni/ae)

  • February 12 – March 8, 2024 (4 weeks)

  • April 8 – May 3, 2024 (4 weeks)

  • May 20 – June 14, 2024 (4 weeks)

  • July 8 – 22, 2024 (2 weeks for teaching artists and faculty artists at the university level)

  • September 30 – November 8, 2024 (6 weeks)

  • January 6 – 20, 2025 (2 weeks, preference given to alumni/ae)

APPLICATION TIMELINE & QUALIFICATIONS:

Applications will be accepted annually starting June 1, until July 15, at midnight Eastern Time. Late applications will not be accepted. The application panel will meet in August and September, and applicants will be contacted by November 1.

A national selection committee composed of artist peers and other arts professionals selects artists. Applicants are judged by the same criteria across disciplines. Panelists are looking for artistic excellence, defined by a depth of conceptual content, sustained impact, and boldness of vision. The panel seeks those with sophisticated technical knowledge, whether the applicant displays a high level of traditional skill or, conversely, subverts that knowledge in new or challenging ways. The panel values potential in emerging artists and evidence of commitment and evolution in more established or mid-career applicants.

REFERENCES:

All applicants are required to submit two professional references. Please provide the name, contact information, and a very brief description of the nature of your professional relationship for each reference. Loghaven contacts references only if the application advances. References would be contacted in the fall by either email or phone and would not submit a formal letter.

WORK SAMPLES:

Determine which discipline best fits your work and follow the instructions below to upload the required work samples.
Name all of your submissions using the following naming structure: last name, first name # (Smith, Jane 1).
If the attached work sample is longer than the limits laid out for your discipline, please indicate the section of video or audio you would like the panel to review. If you do not indicate a section, the panelist will review from the start until the time limit is reached.
Note if any submitted work sample is more than four years old.
Provide all submissions in English or accompanied by a translation.

  • VISUAL ART - Submit eight JPEG images that best represent your work. They can be no more than three MB per image. Each image should contain only one artwork. Two additional optional submissions: Installation documentation (either images or video) or detail shots. If your work is based in video, please submit up to two or three works totaling no more than fifteen minutes of video. Video can be submitted in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link.

  • MUSIC COMPOSITION - Submit two or three audio samples of representative work. Each should be no more than 30MB each and should be in MP3 format or in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link. The work samples should total no more than fifteen minutes of video or audio. If available, please include a score submitted as a PDF.

  • DANCE - Submit two or three works totaling no more than fifteen minutes of video. Each work sample should be submitted in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link.

  • THEATER - Submit either two or three videos or PDFs. If you submit via video, they should total no more than fifteen minutes together in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link. If you submit via PDF, they should total no more than 250MB or two or three PDFs of scripts or librettos, totaling no more than twenty pages.

  • POETRY - Submit eight to ten short poems or excerpts of poems. The total should not exceed 15 pages and should be in PDF format.

  • FICTION, NONFICTION, & SCREENWRITING - Submit two to three work samples in the genre that you wish to work in during your residency. The total should not exceed 20 pages, be double-spaced, and be in PDF format.

  • ARCHITECTURE - Submit two to three examples of previous design-based architecture projects in the form of PDFs, video, or a combination of the two. The applicant may submit work samples including but not limited to models, drawings, and images of completed work. The applicant may submit multiple pages for each project, but the total number of pages submitted should not exceed ten and should be in PDF format. If submitting video, work samples can be in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link. The total length should not exceed ten minutes. The applicant should include a brief, 250-word description of each project with the other submitted materials. In this description, please include whether this project was ever constructed. Please review the FAQs before applying in the discipline of Architecture for additional application guidelines.

  • INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK - Submit three to five work samples. The work samples can be in one type of media or a mixture of media including images (jpegs should be no more than three MB each), PDFs, video (MP4/MOV should be no more than 250 MB), Vimeo link, YouTube link, or audio (MP3 should be no more 30MB each).

loghaven.org/residencies/apply/

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THE BLACK LIST

DEADLINE: July 16, 2023

INFO: The Black List will invite six to eight promising non-professional writers as identified by the Black List to a month-long feature program in Fall 2023. The program will begin virtually and conclude at an in-person weeklong, intensive writers workshop in the greater Los Angeles area, from Monday October 2nd through Friday, October 6th. All writers involved in the Lab will workshop one feature screenplay through one-on-one sessions with each screenwriting mentor and in peer workshops. The program will also include attendance at several story-related events with professional screenwriters, executives, producers, lit agents and managers.

THE SELECTION PROCESS:

The selection process will work like this:

Up to 30 writers will be long listed based on the strength of their scripts as determined by the Black List, and will be invited to submit a one-page personal statement and professional resume. From those submissions, up to 15 writers will be selected for the short list. From the short list, select writers will be chosen to interview, via Zoom, and 6-8 writers will be selected by the Black List to participate in the Lab.

TENTATIVE LAB DEADLINES:

  • Submission Period Closes July 16, 2023 

  • Long List Writers Notified August 14, 2023

  • Personal Statements Due August 21, 2023

  • Short List Writers Notified August 28, 2023

  • Interviews September 5-6, 2023 

  • Final Participants Notified September 7, 2023 

  • Lab Begins (Virtually) September 14, 2023 

  • In-Person Program October 2-6, 2023

* There is no longer a separate evaluation purchase deadline for the Lab. In order for new script evaluations to qualify for consideration for the Lab, they must be purchased by the submission deadline.  Please note, purchase of an evaluation is not required for consideration to participate in the 2023 Lab. However, we strongly encourage having your script evaluated.

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS:

Air Travel (coach class round trip flights within the continental United States (if available and if used)), ground transport to and from the airport in Los Angeles and all Lab events, and accommodations (room and tax only)* will be provided by the Black List. Meals will also be provided. The Lab is a residential program.

If you are accepted into the Lab, you will be required to board in the provided accommodations for the duration of the program and, if air travel is required, must be available to be flown to Los Angeles from a major airport within the continental United States.

Participants must be able to provide proof of vaccination (including boosters per current CDC guidelines) and willing to test for COVID-19 infection prior to arriving at the in-person portion of the program. 

SLOAN FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP":

Writers are also available to opt in to the 2023 Sloan Foundation Fellowship.

The Black List’s 2023 Sloan Foundation Fellow at the Annual Black List Feature Lab will be a science- and technology-focused writer with a science-rooted feature screenplay. Mentoring opportunities for the Sloan Fellow will continue throughout the year following the Lab. Writers will have the opportunity to be considered for this fellowship by selecting the “Sloan Foundation Fellow” option during the opt-in process. Writers applying for the Sloan Fellowship are encouraged to have a science advisor for the project. Scripts that are selected for the short list will be asked to submit the name and title of the advisor, a brief description of their scientific area of expertise, and a statement that he/or she has read the script and attests that it is accurate. Writers are encouraged to submit this information in advance of the short list announcement as well.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a New York based, philanthropic, not-for-profit institution that makes grants in three areas: research in science, technology, and economics; quality and diversity of scientific institutions; and public engagement with science. Sloan's program in Public Understanding of Science and Technology supports books, radio, film, television, theater and new media to reach a wide, non-specialized audience and to bridge the two cultures of science and the humanities.  

Sloan’s Film Program encourages filmmakers to create more realistic and compelling stories about science and technology and to challenge existing stereotypes about scientists and engineers in the popular imagination. Over the past two decades, Sloan has partnered with top film schools in the country, supported screenplay development programs, and has helped develop over 30 feature films including Michael Almereyda’s Tesla, Lydia Dean Pilcher and Ginny Mohler’s Radium Girls, Thor Klein’s Adventures of a Mathematician, Jessica Oreck’s One Man Dies a Million Times, Logan Kibens and Sharon Greene’s Operator, Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game, and Matthew Brown‘s The Man Who Knew Infinity. The Foundation’s book program includes support for Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures, which became the highest grossing Oscar-nominated film of 2017 and a social and cultural milestone.  

For more information about the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, please visit  www.sloan.org or follow the Foundation at @SloanPublic on Twitter and Facebook.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • You are the sole and exclusive author of the feature screenplay submitted for consideration.

  • You have not received more than $100K in aggregate to date as compensation for film or television writing work.

  • If selected as one of the up to fifteen writers invited to submit a professional resume and one page personal statement for additional consideration, you will deliver that personal statement by the deadline.

  • If selected for participation in the Lab program, you are available to participate in the Lab program in person from October 2-6, 2023 (COVID-permitting).

Please read both the Submissions Agreement and the Submissions Requirements before opting in.

blcklst.com/programs/2023-annual-black-list-lab

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Rogers-Black Screen Office Development Fund

Canadian Independent Screen Fund for Black and People of Colour creators

DEADLINE: July 17, 2023 at 8:59 pm PT / 11:59 pm ET.

INFO: The Rogers-Black Screen Office Development Fund supports Black and People of Colour writers to develop original content, from outline to first and second drafts of the pilot episode, with a one-sheet for scripted projects; and from concept to outline, treatment, and character reel for documentaries. Applicants must own 100% of the rights/intellectual property (IP).

PITCH TREATMENT:

The core of the application is a one-page Pitch document that best summarizes the project.

Please do not submit any script bibles, visuals, videos, or URL links. These are not required nor will they form part of your application’s assessment.

ELIGIBLE FORMATS:

  • SCRIPTED series projects must be 30-min or 60-min episodes, ongoing or limited series.

  • DOCUMENTARY projects must be 30-min, 45-min, or 60-min, ongoing or limited series, or one-off projects.

INELIGIBLE FORMATS:

  • Soap Operas, Lifestyle Programs, Short Films, Feature Films, Movies of the Week (MOWs).

ELIBILITY CRITERIA:

  • one episode of a TV show that has been broadcast

  • a feature or short film that has been released theatrically or premiered at an international film festival; List of eligible festivals

  • a full-length produced play.

Writers are not required to have a producer or team attached to be eligible to apply.

Writers are only eligible to apply with one submission to the fund.

Writers who have received funding for either Round 1 or Round 2 are eligible to apply for Round 3.

Writers who have already received two rounds of funding are not eligible to apply to Round 3.

Please note: Applications in this round must be submitted in English OR French only.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Projects will compete for funding according to a selective process. To make its funding decisions, an independent jury will use the criteria noted below to evaluate the pitch document submitted by Applicants. It is important for Applicants to note that revisions will not be accepted once a project is submitted.

Projects will be evaluated by the jury based on the following criteria:

  • Originality

  • Premise

  • Plot

  • Characters

  • Structure

  • Themes

WRITING SAMPLES:

SCRIPTED Writing Samples

  • A script of a TV hour or half hour series (not including news programming)

  • Multiple episodes of a web, animation or children series (20+ pages)

  • A scripted short or feature film

  • A full-length play.

Scripted writing samples are not required to have been broadcast on TV or released theatrically. We encourage you to submit a sample that best reflects your voice as a writer.

UNSCRIPTED WRITING SAMPLES:

  • As most documentaries do not have a script, we require a one-page synopsis of a previous documentary film that has been broadcast on TV, released theatrically or premiered at an international film festival. List of eligible festivals.

  • You must include your credit on the film, dates of broadcast, release, or premiere, and name of broadcaster or exhibitor.

In order for all projects to be fairly assessed, writing samples submitted must NOT be connected to the pitch treatment included in the application.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Applications must include the following:

  1. Pitch document that best summarizes the project – beginning, middle and end (one-page max)

  2. Completed Application Form

  3. Completed Attestation Form

  4. Completed Questionnaire (with short bios and main credits for lead creatives – clearly identifying their role in the project.)

  5. One Writing Sample

Applicants must:

  • Self-identify as Black or a Person of Colour,

  • Have reached the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence

  • Be Canadian citizens or permanent Canadian residents.

SELECTION PROCESS:

A jury of Black and People of Colour screen content creators will select a minimum of 10 projects in this round.

SELF IDENTIFICATION:

Black people: people who trace their roots to Sub-Saharan Africa including those with origins in the United States, Caribbean and Latin America

People of Colour: people who are from one or more of the following communities:

  • Latin Americans (Latino, Latina, Latinx)

  • Middle-Easterns and North Africans

  • South Asians

  • Southeast Asians

  • East Asians

  • Multiracial (a combination of any of the above categories or any of the above categories with White or European ancestry)

independentfund.org/rogers-bso-fund/guidelines/

 

FILM — MAY / JUNE 2023

BRIClab: Film + TV residency

BRIC

DEADLINE: May 8, 2023

INFO: BRIClab is a multi-disciplinary residency program created to advance opportunities for visual artists, performers, and media makers. 

The BRIClab: Film + TV residency track incubates innovative and ambitious documentary filmmakers working on short form, episodic, or feature length non-fiction films. Three residencies will be awarded to create opportunities for emerging to mid-career filmmakers.

RESIDENCY BENEFITS:

  • A stipend of $2,500.

  • Up to $6,000 towards production cost (expenses must be pre-approved and documented via invoices and receipts).

  • Access to courses through BRIC's Media Education program at no fee.

  • Access to BRIC production studios and post-production resources.

  • A mentor with industry experience relevant to your project, selected in collaboration with BRIC staff.

  • A collaborative cohort community with group critiques and access to BRIC networking events.

  • A public presentation of your work upon completion of the program.

  • Professional development workshops tailored to the cohort’s interests and needs.

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

You must be: 

  • An emerging to mid-career documentary filmmaker based in New York City, 18 years of age or older, with completed work samples to share. By emerging to mid-career, BRIC means  an artist at the early stages of their career with at least one professional film/project completed, not including student films.

  • Willing to present work and participate in the final screening event, in Spring 2024.

  • An individual artist and/or a creative team of two.

  • Either not employed by BRIC full-time, or a non-salaried BRIC staffer who works fewer than 500 hours/year.

We are interested in:

  • Documentary projects of all lengths (short/feature/series).

  • Thoroughly-researched, original concepts.

  • A detailed breakdown of budget and the various ways that the project will maximize the use of BRIC facilities and resources, including edit rooms and editing computers, screening room, desk space, and meeting space. 

  • A specific production timeline leading up to a public screening in Spring 2024. This can be the final project or a works in progress cut. 

  • Films can be in any language; if not in English, work must be subtitled.

STAGES OF PRODUCTION: Open to projects in all stages of production, though a clear production timeline should be presented to include project completion/work- in-progress screening by spring 2024. If proposing a feature length film or episodic series, most footage should already be captured. Shorts in development are eligible, though access should be secured and a clear vision for the project articulated. Post-production should not be complete.

SELECTION PROCESS: BRIClab is prioritizing applications from disabled, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ artists, as part of BRIC’s ongoing commitment towards addressing systemic inequities in creative fields and industries, and as part of efforts to expand access for disabled artists, audiences, and staff. We interpret disability broadly and include neurodiversity, chronic illness, mental health disabilities, and invisible disabilities, as well as disabilities that affect mobility, sight, and hearing. No one will be asked to verify their disability in any way, and we understand disclosure can be a complicated and personal decision.

BRIClab review panels reflect BRIC’s values and artists, and will be inclusive of disabled, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ reviewers. Panels are made up of BRIC staff, alumni artists, and active participants in relevant fields. Evaluation will be based on how the goals of the proposed projects match up with resources available; relevant work samples; and the creation of diverse and representative cohorts. Artists will receive final word from BRIC by the end of June 2023.

bricartsmedia.org/briclab/briclab-film-tv

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2024 Development Track

Sundance Institute

DEADLINE: May 15, 2023 at 4:59 pm PT

APPLICATION FEE: $40 (you should not pay the submission fee until you have completed all other application tasks and are ready to submit your application).

INFO: The Development Track application allows an artist’s work-in-progress fiction feature screenplay to be considered for several programs, fellowships, and grants. Screenwriting Labs and Intensives encourage a creatively rigorous process focused on original storytelling, experimentation, and risk-taking.

The application is open for fiction feature writers, directors, writer/directors, or writer/director teams. Applicants will be considered for several opportunities within the Feature Film Program. More details on eligibility requirements in the application.

GUIDELINES:

We accept all application materials electronically ONLY. You will have a chance to save a work-in-progress version of your application before officially submitting.

You must sign in or create an account to access the electronic application. When creating your account, please enter the name of the primary applicant (screenwriter) as the account owner.

The development track has one open application that allows your fiction feature work-in-progress screenplay to be considered for the following programs, fellowships, and grants: 

  • Screenwriters Lab (held annually in January)

  • Screenwriters Intensive (held annually in March, online)

  • Sundance Institute Comedy Fellowship

  • Sundance Institute Horror Fellowship

  • Sundance Institute Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and Commissioning Grant

Our application includes questions to determine your eligibility for each program and fellowship, and you will automatically be considered for all programs and fellowships for which you are eligible. (There is no open application for the Directors Lab, which is typically populated by projects that have been supported through a previous development program.) For more information about each program and fellowship, please visit our website

  • CONTACT INFO for the primary applicant and up to two additional members of the creative team. (Please note that only the writer(s) and director(s) will attend the Screenwriters Lab.)

  • ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS — a series of questions about you and your project that will determine your eligibility for all of the development-track programs and fellowships.

  • SLOAN FELLOWSHIP AND GRANT QUESTIONS (Sloan applicants only) — If your project is eligible for the Sloan Fellowship and/or Commissioning Grant, you must complete follow-up questions regarding the scientific or technological content of the material. If your project does not contain scientific or technological content, please do not answer these questions — they are optional.

  • BIOS (150 words max each) for the primary applicant, co-applicant if applicable, and additional creative team member if applicable.

  • COVER LETTER (500 words max) introducing yourself and your project. There are no strict requirements for this letter, but we’d like to get a brief idea of who you are, what your script is about, where you are in the creative process, and how you think the lab process could be helpful to you.

  • ARTISTIC STATEMENT (500 words max) describing your creative vision for the project. What themes are you most interested in exploring in your work, and what do you want an audience to take away from your film? How do you envision the realization of this script in terms of story, character, tone, and/or visual style? Is there a budget level you have in mind? Who do you see as the audience for this film? Why are you passionate about telling this story now? If this is a resubmission of material we’ve previously considered, how has the material changed since we last read it.

  • PERSONAL CONNECTION (500 words max) What is your personal connection to a) the story you are telling, and b) the specific communities your story is about? How are you working to make sure that the characters and world of your film are authentically represented, and that the community you're writing about has a voice in the creative process?

  • INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/RIGHTS — only required if your project is based on true events or characters.

  • LOGLINE (75 words max ) — a one- to two-sentence description of your story.

  • SYNOPSIS (750 words max) — brief summary of the plot of your script. Please include all major characters and story points, including the ending.

  • FIRST 5 PAGES OF YOUR SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships. Do not upload more than the first five pages.

NEXT STEPS:

Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis as to whether their application has progressed to the next stage of the selection process. Please be prepared to submit the following materials, should you advance to the second round. You will be given approximately 10 days to two weeks from the date of notification to submit these materials and will be notified sometime in August 2023.

  • UPDATED SYNOPSIS — Since screenplays are often revised between the first and second rounds of our application, we request you submit an updated synopsis with the complete draft of your screenplay.

  • FULL SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — Upload a PDF file of the most current draft of your screenplay or treatment. You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development-track programs or fellowships.

  • DIRECTING SAMPLE (optional) — If you are a writer/director, or if a director is attached to the project, you will have an opportunity to submit a link to a directing sample or samples. Please include the title and run time for any sample submitted.

  • VISUAL MATERIAL (optional) — If you have visual materials such as a lookbook or project deck, you may upload a PDF of no more than 40 MB.

All applicants will be notified about their status via email no later than August 31, 2023. Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback about individual projects. If you have additional questions, please visit the Development Track FAQ.

If you have further questions, please email featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.

Development Track Selection Process Timeline

  • April 13, 2023                Application Available Online

  • May 15, 2023              Application Closes (4:59 p.m. PT)

  • August 31, 2023          Second-round notifications complete

  • December 14, 2023    Final selection notifications complete

Giving Back:

The contribution provisions in the below Paragraph apply if the Artist is attending only the Screenwriters Lab.

A.  If the Project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or less than One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000), no contribution is due to the Institute. 

B. If the project is produced for a gross budget between One Million Five Hundred Thousand One Dollars ($1,500,001) and Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) Owner will make a contribution to Institute in the amount of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500), which contribution will be paid to Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the Project.

C. If the project is produced for a gross budget between Three Million One Dollars ($3,000,001) and Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), Owner will make a contribution to Institute in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), which contribution will be paid to Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the Project.

D. If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds Five Million One Dollars ($5,000,001), Owner will make a contribution to Institute in the amount of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500), which contribution will be paid to Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the Project.

The contribution provisions in the below Paragraph apply in lieu of the provisions set forth in the above Paragraph if the Artist is attending the June Directors Lab, or both the Screenwriters Lab and the Directors Lab.

A. If the Project is produced for a gross budget equal to or less than One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000), no contribution is due to the Institute.

B. If the project is produced for a gross budget between One Million, Five Hundred Thousand One Dollars ($1,500,001) and Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) Owner will make a contribution to Institute in an amount of Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500), which contribution will be paid to Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the Project.

C. If the project is produced for a gross budget is between Three Million One Dollars ($3,000,001) and Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), Owner will make a contribution to Institute in an amount of Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000), which contribution will be paid to Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the Project.

D. If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds Five Million One Dollars ($5,000,001), Owner will make a contribution to Institute in an amount of Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($9,500), which contribution will be paid to Institute no later than ten (10) business days following the commencement of principal photography of the Project.

Finally, if selected for the June Directors or Screenwriters Lab, the Sundance Institute will receive a credit line and logo placement in the film’s end titles, “This film was supported by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Film Program.”

sundance.org/deadlines/

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50TH ANNIVERSARY FELLOWSHIPS FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR

Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA)

DEADLINE: May 15, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $30

INFO: Conceived during VCCA’s 50th anniversary year in 2021 and established in 2022, the 50th Anniversary Fund provides free first-time VCCA residencies for 50 artists of color a year. 

Each 50th Anniversary Fellow receives a free residency of up to two weeks at Mt. San Angelo, VCCA’s artist residency program in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. All VCCA residencies include a private studio, a private bedroom with en-suite bath, three prepared meals each day, and access to a community of more than 20 other artists in residence.

APPLICATION DETAILS:

  • Eligibility: Artists of color (writers, visual artists, and composers) who have not previously been in residence at VCCA

  • Length of Fellowship: Up to two weeks with flexible scheduling

Next available for:

  • Winter 2024

  • Residencies Available: January 2 – April 30, 2024

  • Application Deadline: May 15, 2023

  • Notification by: August 31, 2023

To be considered as a 50th Anniversary Fellow, complete the “Application for Mt. San Angelo Residencies, VCCA in Virginia,” selecting your fellowship interest in Question 2.

* If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, please write to vcca@vcca.com by May 10, 2023, to request an application fee waiver.

VCCA intends the term artist of color to broadly include those creating original work in a wide variety of literary, visual art, and/or musical/sound disciplines who self-identify as part of one or more of these U.S. census groups: American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian; Black or African American; Hispanic or Latinx; Middle Eastern or North African; Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; Multi-Racial. If you have a question about whether VCCA’s studio spaces would be suitable to the nature of your creative work, please write to Artists Services at vcca@vcca.com in advance of the deadline.

Applicants must submit an online application by the deadline, complete with recent work samples, a project description, and a variety of biographical and logistical details. VCCA no longer requires letters of recommendation. Applicants will be considered for a VCCA residency and as many funding opportunities for which they are eligible.

vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/50th-anniversary-fellowships-for-artists-of-color/

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Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers

GrubStreet

DEADLINE: May 30, 2023

INFO: GrubStreet’s Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers provides financial and professional development support to two self-identified Black writers interested in teaching classes, participating in events, and working with our instructors and staff to deepen our curriculum. The fellowship includes compensation of $25,000, artistic mentorship, a showcase of the Fellows’ work, and access to the GrubStreet community and the Muse and the Marketplace conference. In time, the program aims to offer sustainable support to Black Writers and create a cohort of fellows who have direct access to GrubStreet resources, classes, and events. We also hope the fellows can influence GrubStreet’s pedagogy and cultural vision based on their experience and feedback.

There are even more reasons to apply this year! Even if your application isn’t accepted, by applying you’ll be given free access to a session focused on the topic of applying to fellowships, conferences, writing programs, and residencies taking place this summer.

DETAILS:

The Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers will provide the following compensation:

  • $25,000 per fellow for the year.

  • Access to mentorship from GrubStreet’s Artistic Director, the Head of Faculty, and fellow instructors.

  • Free access to the Muse and the Marketplace during the fellowship year and the option to lead a paid session at the conference. 

  • Access to additional GrubStreet events.

  • Priority access to space at GrubStreet’s new home to work on personal writing projects.

  • 60 hours (or roughly 20 weeks) of free GrubStreet classes, which can be taken during or after the fellowship.

  • A two-year GrubStreet membership.

The teaching load and responsibilities for the fellowship year include:

  • Teaching one ten-week class.

  • Teaching one six-week class.

  • Teaching one week-long teen camp.

  • Teaching one three-hour seminar (plus, the option to teach more for additional payment).

  • Moderate or participate in a Boston Writers of Color’s event. 

  • Meet with the Head of Faculty and Education Director periodically to track progress.

  • A showcase and conversation on our Writer’s Stage to end the year (additional stipend paid to Fellows for this).

  • Meet with new fellows at the end of your own fellowship year.

The fellowship begins September 5th, 2023 and runs through the end of August 2024.

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

This fellowship is open to writers who self-identify as Black, are 18 or older, are able to work with both adult and teen audiences, and have a passion for expansive pedagogy, curriculum development, and professional growth. Ideal candidates will have some publication and teaching experience. Preference will be given to those working on their first book or a larger project. MFAs, a long publishing record, or extensive teaching experience are not requirements to apply, though feel free to tell us if you have any of these things.

HOW TO APPLY:

The Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers Application Form will require the following:

  • A personal statement (500 words max), which should include:

  • Your background as a writer and teacher.

  • Your personal philosophy or approach to creative writing workshops.

  • How this particular fellowship fits your interests and goals as a writer and educator.

  • Your CV or resume. 

  • A writing sample (20 pages limit for prose; 12 pages for poetry; 25 pages for scripts; and 20 pages for other or fused genres) that best exemplifies your current trajectory as a writer.

  • Two personal references (name, email, and phone number) who can speak to your experience and dedication to writing and teaching.

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Final decisions will be announced at the end of June.

  • Program kicks off on September 5, 2023 and runs through the end of August 2024.

grubstreet.org/programs/teaching-fellowship-for-black-writers/

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Marble House Project artist residency

Marble House Project

DEADLINE: May 31, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $35.00

INFO: Marble House Project is a multidisciplinary artist residency program (ie: Fiction, Non Fiction, Poetry, Playwriting/Screenwriting, Film and Video, etc.) that fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas, by providing an environment for artists across disciplines to live and work together. The residency integrates sustainable practices, including small-scale organic food production and waste conservation. Residents sustain their growth by engaging with the grounds while working on their artistic practice. Marble House Project is founded on the belief that the act of creating, whether in the studio or in nature, is how human potential expands and community thrives.

Marble House Project accepts approximately 60 residents and is open to artists living in the United States and abroad. You must be at least 21 years old.   Each session accommodates eight artists and is specifically curated to bring together a diverse group of creative workers, to maximize potential for collaboration and dialogue while in residence and beyond. 

RESIDENCY DATES FOR 2024:

  • March 5th - 26th

  • April 2nd - April 23rd

  • April 30th - May 21st

  • May 28th - June 18

  • September 17th - October 8th

  • October 15th - November 4th

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY:

All residents live together in the historic, eight-bedroom Manley-Lefevre house, a communal space organized around responsibilities-sharing systems which highlight sustainability and community. The residency is an opportunity to develop and carry out practices of mutual support, group conversation, and to cultivate adaptive relationships with the environment. This can take the form of discussions with guest multidisciplinary artists, thinkers, and activists and other individual and group activities that benefit our community of residents.

Residents will be paired and asked to cook for shared dinners three times over the course of their residency, Monday-Friday. . Each session culminates with a short video interview and artists are invited to share their work with our community and each other. Marble House Project provides private bedrooms, food, private studio space, and artist support. We are not able to cover costs related to travel or materials. There is no fee to attend the residency.

Applications are accepted in all creative fields including but not limited to writing, dance and choreography, performance, music composition and sound, film and video, visual arts, and culinary arts. Applications are reviewed by a jury of alumni and staff. Artists are selected based on quality of work, commitment to practice, and project description. Please choose the application that best describes your work. Two artists may apply together as a collaborative, and should complete one application. Within each application you will be asked to select the session dates best for you. 

marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit

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WOMEN WRITE NOW: Comedic Screenwriting Fellowship for Black Women

Hartbeat / Sundance Institute

DEADLINE: June 5, 2023

INFO: Women Write Now is a partnership between Hartbeat and the Sundance Institute designed to champion and elevate the voices Black female comedy writers through a fellowship that provides mentorship, advocacy, production, and exhibition. This immersive script-to-screen fellowship will support three talented writers in developing short comedic scripts while being advised and mentored by some of the most influential Black women in comedy.

The resulting scripts will be produced by Hartbeat and directed by celebrity Black female directors. The three short films will premiere at a special screening during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and will be distributed by Hartbeat and partner(s). Travel to the 2024 Sundance Film Festival will be provided.

Following the fellowship, the selected writers will also receive a twelve-month first look deal to submit original projects for consideration for development with Hartbeat.

hartbeat.com/womenwritenow/

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William Greaves Research and Development Fund

Firelight Media

DEADLINE: June 6, 2023

INFO: Firelight Media invites mid-career nonfiction filmmakers from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the United States and filmmakers in Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Colombia, with particular interest in those who identify as Indigenous and/or of African descent, to apply for the fourth year of the William Greaves Research & Development Fund.

This fund is dedicated to resourcing and supporting talented storytellers with grants ranging up to $40K each to support research and development on a feature-length nonfiction film and any essential need grantees have, including healthcare and childcare costs. This fund is Firelight Media’s first international initiative and was launched to provide opportunities for filmmakers to connect, learn, and build solidarity across borders.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

  • We will consider projects that address a range of themes and issues.

  • We will consider projects with diverse aesthetic approaches (verité, essay, experimental, investigative, personal, historical, etc.).

  • We will consider projects that are ambitious or narrowly focused.

  • We will consider submissions from filmmakers living and working in the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, or Brazil.

We will consider submissions from filmmakers of all refugee and immigration statuses. We take notice when projects are socially relevant, formally innovative, address or engage underrepresented issues or communities, and are accountable to the impacted communities they represent.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • The Director must hold the intellectual property rights to the film.

  • The Director must identify as a mid-career filmmaker (see FAQfor more information)

  • The Director must self-identify as being from a racially and ethnically underrepresented community in the United States or living and working as a filmmaker in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, and/or Brazil. 

  • The Director must be a mid-career filmmaker

  • Must be working on a feature length documentary film in the pre-production phase

  • The Director must hold the intellectual property rights to the film

SELECTION PROCESS:

Proposals will be accepted in the filmmakers’ language of choice (English, Spanish, or Portuguese) and projects will be selected through a tiered process: the first round by a panel of peers, the second round through an internal review, and the final round through the review and deliberation of an advisory panel comprising filmmakers and industry leaders who work in the countries from which we are accepting applications. All proposals will be reviewed in the language in which they are submitted.

The selection will be based on the strength of the story, the creative approach, the director(s)' career trajectory, social relevance, viability of the plan proposed, and the ethics and accountability of the approach (e.g. the filmmaker’s relationship to the subject matter; navigating differences in power; impact on film participants, vulnerable communities, audiences; community benefit considerations; decisions related to distribution, rights, and ownership; who is on the team and hiring practices; etc.).

firelightmedia.tv/programs/william-greaves-fund

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THE 2023 GEORGIA LIST

The Black List

DEADLINE: June 15, 2023

INFO: The Georgia List is a new opportunity for all writers with close ties to the state of Georgia to submit their feature scripts, pilots, plays, and musicals. The Black List has partnered with Collective Moxie and Trilith Studios–with support from additional partners 3Arts Entertainment, Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content), Content Talent South, the Alliance Theatre, and Art Farm at Serenbe–to identify and curate a list of the ten best unproduced features, pilots, plays, and musicals from writers with a connection to Georgia.

Writers who are new to the Black List may request a fee waiver for one free month of hosting and one free evaluation. 75 fee waivers will be distributed in order of request. When requesting a fee waiver, writers will have to disclose what their close tie to Georgia is, and the Black List and partners will have the right to approve or reject each request based on eligibility.

After submissions close on June 15, 2023, representatives from each supporting partner will read the shortlisted feature scripts, pilots, plays, and musicals and provide input on which scripts show the most promise. The final ten writers on the Georgia List will be announced at the 2023 Georgia Summit in October 2023.

The writers on the Georgia List will meet with managers from 3Arts and Content Talent South for possible representation, and executives from Fifth Season for a potential development deal. The Alliance Theater will mount a staged reading of one of the scripts on the List.

Two writers from the List will also become Artists in Residence at the Art Farm at Serenbe. These two writers will each receive a $10,000 grant and mentorship from Jamie Linden (WE ARE MARSHALL, DEAR JOHN).

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

  • October 20, 2022 - Submissions open on blcklst.com

  • May 14, 2023 - Purchase deadline for paid evaluations / Deadline to use Fee Waiver

  • June 15, 2023 - Submission deadline

  • June 16, 2023 - Shortlist writers notified

  • September 16, 2023 - Georgia List writers notified

  • October 2023 - Announce List at 2023 Georgia Summit

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Writers who submit to the Georgia List must have a close tie to the state of Georgia. Close ties to the state can include but are not limited to:

  • The writer is from the state of Georgia

  • The writer grew up in the state of Georgia

  • The writer currently lives in the state of Georgia

  • The writer went to college in the state of Georgia

  • The writer is a part time resident of the state of Georgia

  • The writer has spent significant time  with family in the state of Georgia

blcklst.com/programs/the-2023-georgia-list

FILM — APRIL 2023

2023 PROJECT MARKET: U.S. FEATURES IN DEVELOPMENT

The Gotham

DEADLINE / FEE: April 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm HT (Hawaii–Aleutian) / $60

INFO: A selection of 20+ fiction feature films at the script stage, U.S. Features in Development offers emerging and established filmmakers the opportunity to introduce new work in development to the Project Market’s attending industry professionals.

Over the course of the Project Market, selected filmmakers are invited to meet with hundreds of industry representatives from companies such as A24, Archer Gray, Kickstarter, IFC Films, MUBI, NEON, Park Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Sundance Institute, SFFilm, Topic Studios, WME, and more.

Years before these films made it to the big screen, they participated in the Project Market. Some notable alumni Include:

  • Ekwa Msangi’s Farewell Amor participated in the 2018 Project Market.

  • Christopher Makoto Yogi’s I Was a Simple Man participated in the 2015 Project Market.

  • Joe Talbot’s The Last Black Man in San Francisco participated in the 2015 Project Market.

  • Isabel Sandoval’s Lingua Franca participated in the 2016 Project Market.

  • Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight participated in the 2014 Project Market.

  • Lauren Hadaway’s The Novice participated in the 2018 Project Market.

  • Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You participated in the 2015 Project Market.

  • Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Swallow participated in the 2018 Project Market.

  • Nikole Beckwith’s Together Together participated in the 2016 Project Market.

  • Robert Eggers’ The Witch participated in the 2013 Project Market.

HOW TO APPLY: If you are interested in submitting your film to participate in the Project Market, learn more about eligibility, application requirements, and materials below.

Please note that once you have begun your application, you will not be able to save and return to your application file. We strongly encourage filmmakers to prepare application materials before beginning the application for a seamless process.

ELIGIBILITY: Active Gotham Membership: To apply to the Project Market, you must be a member of The Gotham. If you are not currently a member, use the code GWPM23 for 15% off of your annual membership fee when you join at the Pro or Essential level. Pro members receive a submission fee waiver. Learn more and become a member.

U.S.-Based Filmmakers: To be eligible to submit your project for consideration, filmmakers must be U.S.-based, meaning U.S. citizens or living and working in the U.S.

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

To apply to the U.S. Features in Development, you must submit a completed, feature-length screenplay. Submitted screenplays do not need to be the final draft, but they must have a beginning, middle, and end. You may not submit a treatment for consideration.

In addition, submitted screenplays must be registered with the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA). The registration fee is $20 for the general public and $10 for WGA Members in good standing.

Submitted screenplays must be translated into English, however films that will be produced in a language other than English are eligible.

A complete application also includes:

  • Logline (25 words)

  • Synopsis (60 words)

  • Project Summary/Development Status Update (500 words)

  • Artistic Statement (500 words)

  • Personal Statement (500 words)

  • Biographies for the film’s core creative team (150 words)

  • Financial information about the project (such as total budget or financing in place)

Please note, submitted films are not required to have financing in place to be eligible.

thegotham.org/gotham-week/project-market/us-features/development/

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2023 My Time Fellowship

Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow

DEADLINE: April 10, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $35

INFO: The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow is pleased to announce the 2023 My Time fellowship funded by the Sustainable Arts Foundation. Writers who are also parents of dependent children under the age of 18 are invited to apply. Work may be any literary genre: poetry, fiction, plays, memoir, screenplays, or nonfiction.  The successful application will demonstrate literary merit and the likelihood of publication. Prior publication is not a requirement.

Two fellowship winners will receive a one-week residency to allow the recipient to focus completely on their work, at least one to be awarded to a Person of Color. A $500 stipend will be provided to cover childcare and/or travel costs. Each writer’s suite has a bedroom, private bathroom, separate writing space, and wireless internet. We provide uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week, and served in our community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when you want it, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for other meals.

Fellowship applications must be accompanied by a writing sample and a non-refundable $35 application fee. There is a limit of one submission per application. The submission period opens on Monday, January 30, 2023. The deadline is midnight CST on Monday, April 10, 2023. The winner will be announced no later than May 1, 2023. Residencies may be completed at any time during 2023. This may be extended up to twelve months for extenuating circumstances including COVID-19 concerns.

www.writerscolony.org/fellowships

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2023 NEW YORK CITY Film, Video and Digital Production Grant

Jerome Foundation

DEADLINE: April 13, 2023 by 5:00pm EST

INFO: Offered every two years, Jerome Foundation’s NYC Film, Video and Digital Production (NYC FVDP) grant providesNew York City-basedearly career filmdirectors, working in short and/or long form experimental, narrative, animation or documentary genres, or in any combination of theseforms, a production grant of up to $30,000 for all stages of production.

The NYC FVDP grant supports early career film directorswhose work takes creative risks in expanding, questioning, experimenting with or re-imagining film, video and digital production. Applicants must be film directorsin their 2nd–10thyear in the field, who have completed at least two short or feature-length films1, but do not have more than two feature-length films (running time of 50+ minutes or more) released and in distribution. This grant supports artists who embrace their roles as part of a larger community of artists and citizens, and consciously work with a sense of service, whether aesthetic, social or both.

The 2023 program supports film projects that will be in production between November 9, 2023 and April 10, 2025.This program does not fund retroactively: only costs incurred after the grant is awarded and a grant contract is signed will be supported. Grantees must accept all grant funds between November 9, 2023 and April 10, 2025, but are not expected to complete the project by April 2025.

Production grants are awarded to either individual film directors or co-directing teams applying jointly. Production grants are not for organizations. Funds are issued directly to the applicant filmdirector/sor to their single-member LLCs (if applicable). Applications cannot be accepted from, nor payments made to fiscal sponsors, management companies, producers, multi-owned or Partnership LLCs, S-Corps, consultants or 501(c)3 organizations .Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the following:

ELIGIBILITY: 

Eligible Applicants:

  • Are residents of one of the 5 boroughs of New York Citywho have been residents for at least one year at time of application and plan to be residents during the span of the grant period, through April 2025.

    • Jerome does not require citizenship, but does require residency and a social security number or ITIN number for tax purposes.

    • Applicants must file US federal taxes as a resident of New York City in 2022, 2023 and 2024;

    • And must bein residence in New York City for at least 183 days in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

    • Current New York City artists who plan to relocate to Minnesota before the application deadline should apply in the Minnesota program. Please note, the Minnesota grant requirements and objectivesare different than those of the New York City program.

  • Are early career film directorswith at least 2 years, but no more than 10 years, of experience directing their own films orvideos, workingin documentary, narrative, experimental or animation, or any combination of these genres.

    • Jerome Foundation expansively frames the early career spectrum as film directors with at least a 2-year track record of directing and presenting their own projects (i.e.,not first-time directors)and with no more than 10 years of experience. Age is not a factor in determining eligibility or career status.

    • Mid-career or established artists from other fields who have recently shifted to film directing will not be considered early career. For example, a composer with a 10-year career in music who is now moving into film directing will not be considered an early career film director for the purposes of this grant.

    • The Foundation recognizes that career-paths can be non-linear or disrupted along the way. The Foundation additionally acknowledges that the number and types of opportunities afforded to directors may differ significantly based on discipline, race/ethnicity, class, gender, physical ability and geography among other factors. We also recognize that some directors may experience significant success and move past early career status well before their 10th year of practice.

    • If an applicant self-defines as an early career artist but has been making work for more than 10 years or has received significant support for multiple projects and/or does not “pass” the eligibility quiz, they should contact Jerome staff no later than March 31, 2023 to discuss before submitting an application. 

    • Film directors who wish to discuss any aspect of their eligibility should contact Jerome program staff no later than March 31, 2023in advance of applying.

  • Have directed, released, screened and distributed no more than 2 feature-length films (running time of 50 minutes or more).

  • Are not at a point in their careers where they receive consistent development and production opportunities, commissions, awards, acclaim, commercial success, national or regional prizes for multiple projects, (are not mid-career or established film directors). In the eligibility quiz, there is a detailed listing of awards and prizes that impact eligibility for this grant.

  • Have directed, completed, released and screened at least two film projects, whether two short films, two feature-length filmsOR the combination of one short film and one feature film. Qualifying films are those for which the applicant is listed in the credits as the director, owns the copyright of the production and has artistic, budgetary and editorial control over the film. These works must have been publicly screened and not made while the applicant was in a degree-granting program.

    • Applicants are required to name 2 qualifying films as described above and provide the completion date, the public screening location or platform and links to the films. Public screening includes but is not limited to film festivals, presenting or community organizations, or in online screening platforms with a juried or curated selection process and/or through project grants. These works must be directed solely by the film director/s applying. Either of these qualifying films may be used as work samples, but applicants have the flexibility to use their other film work.

    • Public screening includes but is not limited to film festivals, presenting or community organizations, or in online screening platforms with a juried or curated selection process and/or through project grants.

    • Films that have been screened publicly only through a film director’s own platforms or through un-curated, “sign up” or “first come, first served” formats are not eligible. Film directors who are entirely self-presented and who have no additional support through grants, festivals, community or public screenings and/or competitive grants or prizes are not eligible.

    • The Foundation funds early career film directors who have created enough work to communicate who they areas makers, their unique style and original voice. This work must be directed solely by the film director/s applying.

    • Commercial, industrial work, PSAs, journalism, or music videos over which the film director does not have creative control cannot be used to confirm eligibility and cannot be the focus of a grant project or used for work samples. We understand the creative value of this work but, because of its nature, it does not provide panelists the opportunity to understand the filmdirector’s voice and vision.

  • Are the Director/s of the proposed film (i.e., own the copyright of the film, have artistic, budgetary, and editorial control and will be listed in the film credits as the director/s).

    • Only the director or a co-directing team who meet all eligibility requirements may apply.

    • Producers, cinematographers, screenwriters, editors, actors, or interdisciplinary artists, who are not also primarily film directors, are not eligible. For example, choreographers making a dance film or visual artists who incorporate video as part of an installation, technology-based projects, games or interactive work are not eligible for this grant.

    • Individual applicants must be the sole director of the proposed film. Films created with a co-director will not count towards eligibility and may not be used as work samples. Applicants will be required to affirm sole creation of all work samples

    • Co-directing applicants may not include individually created films or films co-directed with other artists not included in the application to establish eligibility. Co-directors submit a single application and will share the grant funds equally. To apply, all co-director applicants must meet all the eligibility requirements.

    • Co-directing applicants may not submit work samples directed individually or co-directed with anyone other than the co-applicant.Applicants will be required to affirm co-creation of all work samples.

  • Create new films that are innovative and/orthat take creative risksin expanding, questioning, experimenting with or re-imagining artistic forms.

  • Will have a film project in production between November 2023 and April 2025. Funds can be used to support all stages of production, but projects that are only in pre-production during the grant period should not apply in this round; projects that are primarily in post-production during the grant period are a lower funding priority.

  • Have completed or are compliant on all reporting requirements for any direct grant received from Jerome Foundation, including the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, Jerome@Camargo or a previous Film, Video or Digital Production grant.

    • Directors who have received a production grant through this program may not reapply for additional funding for the same film.

    • Directors who have received a NYC FVDP grant through this program may not apply for funding for a new film until the already-supported film is complete. A single film may not receive more than one grant from this program.

    • Jerome Hill Artist Fellows may not use this grant to support the same costs covered by the Fellowship fund

jeromefdn.org/new-york-city-film-video-and-digital-production-grant

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DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB

WeScreenplay

DEADLINE: April 15, 2023

INFO: Diverse Voices is a dynamic virtual screenwriting lab with a proven track record of helping elevate stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in film and TV today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.

A minimum of 4 winners will be selected to participate in this career-changing lab!

All readers for this lab come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of FREE written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.

Over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned as a direct result of their Diverse Voices Lab meetings. Past finalists and winners have signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more. See some of our past WeScreenplay success stories.

wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/

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Rhinebeck Residency

The Seventh Wave

DEADLINE: April 15, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: Applications for The Seventh Wave’s 2023 Rhinebeck Residency are now open.

The residency, which is located in Rhinebeck, NY, is now a two-week artist residency open to four writers or artists. This is specifically for the artist or writer who is looking to work on a longer-length work, such as a chapbook, manuscript, film, or play. This is our longest-standing residency, and the property sits on 27 acres of wildness, providing an oasis of lush silence and creative space amid canopies of green and disappearing paths perfect for some natural inspiration. Known for, and as, The Crystal Cottage, our residents tend to congregate in the glass octagon attached to the side of the house, which offers incredible acoustics during rainstorms.

Held in the summer, the Rhinebeck Residency offers residents the opportunity to get a little lost. With 27 acres of disappearing paths, a wrap-around deck that faces west (think: sunsets), and a little glass greenhouse that provides for an acoustic environment that beckons the creative spirit, especially during rainfall. What used to be a three-day program designed to provide writers, artists, and creatives a physical interlude, is now a two-week artist residency catered toward the artist or writer working on a longer-length project, manuscript, or work.  

2023 RESIDENCY: This residency will take place July 9-23 in the blues and greens of upstate NY. There is no cost to apply and no cost to attend; you just have to get yourself there + pitch in on a meal or two.

If shared meals, summer storms, and late-night chats on a wooden deck overlooking rolling hills call to your sensibilities as an artist, we want to hear from you. Those with larger projects and manuscripts are especially encouraged to apply.

Any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at residency@seventhwavemag.com anytime.

theseventhwave.co/rhinebeck-residency/

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RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT GRANT

Chicken & Egg Pictures

DEADLINE: April 24, 2023

INFO: The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant supports filmmakers from around the world who have directed at least two feature-length documentaries and are in the research & development stage of their next feature-length film. Each year, The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant will offer up to thirty (30) filmmaking teams a $10,000 USD grant for research or a $20,000 USD grant for development.

The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant is Chicken & Egg Pictures’ newest initiative born during our 2023-2025 Strategic Planning process. This new initiative supports directors with a track record while they ideate, think, plan, and write their next feature-length film. Unfortunately, it is well known that many filmmakers invest their personal resources into their first and second films, and continue to face challenges with funding when entering into the research & development stages of new projects. It is very hard to secure funding for a new project without significant sample material and yet it can be impossible to produce material without external funding. Responding to this particular challenge, The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant provides financial support to experienced directors during a filmmaking stage that has too often gone unpaid and unsupported. 

Through The 2023 Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant, up to 30 filmmaking  teams will:

  • Receive a $10,000 USD grant for research or a $20,000 USD grant for development

  • Join our AlumNest community of supported filmmakers for further peer support, mentorship opportunities and deeper connections in the documentary film industry.

The 2023 Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant is generously supported by Netflix.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  • Trust: This grant initiative is driven by our trust in filmmakers with an established track record. We look forward to working with them on new projects at a stage that is especially hard to fundraise for. We trust that applicants will make the best determination about which stage to apply to based on the information presented below.

  • Simplicity: We aim to keep The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant application as simple and straightforward as possible so that filmmakers are not burdened by the process. Some important things to note about the application:

    • The applications for the Research Grant vs. the Development Grant are not the same. Most of the questions are shared across both applications, but some questions are specific to each application.

    • Most questions are based on the Nonfiction Core Application 2.0. Some questions from the Core App have been simplified for inclusion in the Research Grant Application, in recognition of the very early stage of the project idea.

    • The application also includes some supplemental questions to help us gather the necessary information in this pilot year.

  • Deep listening: This new grant initiative was born through deeply listening to a wide range of stakeholders including filmmakers and field representatives who were interviewed during our 2023-2025 Strategic Planning process. We heard the need for being fully trusted with funding early on. We heard the need for more funding and less mentorship for experienced filmmakers and we also heard the need to be financially supported for time and space to think, research, and develop new ideas. In its pilot year, we are excited to continue practicing deep listening, and learning and adapting this new initiative as needed.

ELIGIBILITY:

In this pilot year, Chicken & Egg Pictures is accepting applications from filmmakers globally. 

To be eligible for The 2023 Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant, 

  • your project must be directed or co-directed by a self-identified woman or non-binary filmmaker;

  • the eligible director (see above) must have directed at least two (2) completed feature-length documentary films (48 minutes or more). Note that short, series, new media works, branded content, or other cultural expressions are not eligible; 

  • you must have the intention to develop and direct a feature-length (48 minutes or more) documentary/nonfiction film;

  • you do not need a fiscal sponsor in order to apply for the Research & Development Grant. However, if you are awarded, you must have a US fiscal sponsor, or be a 501(c)(3), in order to receive the funds. 

  • Note for AlumNest filmmakers: 

    • Chicken & Egg Pictures-supported filmmakers are eligible if they are working on new projects and meet all other eligibility criteria. 

    • AlumNest filmmakers can seek research & development support for new projects which have not received prior research & development support from C&E through other grants/programs. (e.g. Chicken & Egg Award, Critical Issues Fund, etc).

  • you may only submit one application. You may not apply for more than one project, and the application must be for either the Research Grant OR Development Grant, not both categories.

You are NOT eligible if:

  • you haven’t directed at least two (2) completed feature-length nonfiction films (48 minutes or more);

  • your project for which you are applying for is a short or medium-length film;

  • your project has already received support by Chicken & Egg Pictures;

  • your project is a student film being produced in a graduate or undergraduate program;

  • your project is a series;

  • your project is a VR or interactive project; 

  • your project is a fiction film.

For further details, please review the full list of FAQs at the end of this page. In the event of questions regarding our open call that are not addressed in the FAQs, you can reach out to us at research-development@chickeneggpics.org

GRANT AMOUNT:

Each year, up to 30 filmmaking teams at advanced stages of their careers with feature-length projects in early stages of research & development will be awarded a total of $450,000 in grants. The 2023 Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant will offer grants of $10,000 for projects in the research stage or grants of $20,000 for projects in the development stage. 

Each grant will be disbursed in full at the beginning of the grant cycle (July 2023).

Note: The selection committee reserves the right to consider an application for another stage than the one applied to. In that case, the applicant will be contacted by the Chicken & Egg Pictures team and informed of the selection committee’s recommendation to be considered for the Research grant (if applied to Development grant) or for the Development grant (if applied to the Research grant) based on the content of the application.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

  • The project idea and planned activities are feasible in terms of scope and timeline, and the grant will have an impact on advancing the project.

  • The director has access and connection to the story and articulates it clearly in the proposal.

  • The director has a body of prior work that exhibits artistry and compelling storytelling.

  • In alignment with our vision of an equitable and just world shaped by the power of documentary films, priority will be given to films that address equity and social justice, defined broadly by issues ranging from the global to the personal, and exploring a variety of artistic approaches (e.g. personal story, experimental, animated, essayistic, etc).

chickeneggpics.org/programs/#research-development-grant

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CALL FOR FILM SUBMISSIONS

Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series

DEADLINES:

  • Regular Deadline: April 24, 2023

  • Final Deadline: May 22, 2023

INFO: Reel Sisters, the first Oscar Qualifying Film Festival for narrative shorts devoted to women filmmakers, is seeking films and web series directed, written or produced by women of color. Shorts, features, animation, works-in-progress, narratives, documentaries and experimental works are eligible. Filmmakers will have their original works viewed at the 24th Annual Reel Sisters Film Festival from October 21-23, 2021 in Brooklyn! Venues will be announced. Early bird Deadline: March 24, 2023.

AWARDS: Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series will present cash awards to several category winners in our 2023 season! Winners of our Best Short ($1,000), Best Director ($500), Reel Sisters Best Spirit Award ($300) and Best Animation ($150) will be the recipients of the awards.

filmfreeway.com/ReelSistersoftheDiasporaFilmFestival

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Call for Applications: 2023 Works-in-Progress Lab

Cucalorus

DEADLINE: April 28, 2023

INFO: The Cucalorus Works-in-Progress (WiP) Lab supports social justice documentaries with a focus on expanding support for projects being directed by Black filmmakers. Co-designed and coordinated by Working Films, participating artists will receive feedback on their work-in-progress and explore audience engagement strategies through workshops, consultations, and community screenings during a residency at Cucalorus’ campus September 24th through Oct 1st, 2023.

Now in its fifteenth year, the Works-in-Progress Lab was launched in 2008 through a partnership between Working Films and Cucalorus. We will be accepting applications through April 28th, 2023!

PROGRAM, APPLICATION + RESIDENCY DETAILS:

Working Films and Cucalorus are teaming up again for the 2023 Works-in-Progress Lab. Selected filmmakers will come to Wilmington, NC – where Cucalorus and Working Films are based – for a weeklong residency which includes trainings, workshops and community engagement screenings. Participants should plan for arrival on Sunday, September 24th and departure Oct 1st, 2023. The lab begins on Monday, September 25th and runs through Saturday, Sept. 30th.

Filmmakers will spend time participating in workshops with the Working Films and Cucalorus teams. They will be joined by experienced documentary filmmaker mentors. Previous mentors include Byron Hurt, Natalie Bullock Brown, Jacqueline Olive, and Lana Garland. We create a tight knit atmosphere of peer support where the facilitators and mentors lead the cohort in giving one another feedback on their work in progress. Using Working Films’ 24 years of experience in creating impact campaigns for documentary films, we also spend time workshopping the distribution and impact strategies for participating films.

And finally, during residency week, filmmakers will have an opportunity to screen their work-in-progress footage with organizations and individuals who are working on the issues which their film addresses. These are intimate, closed door screenings. The audiences are change leaders, whose lived experiences and work align with the film content, who can provide valuable feedback for filmmakers as they continue to edit and plan for how their film can make an impact once it’s completed.

Filmmakers will also have down time to work on their edit, write, and relax or sight-see in downtown Wilmington and surrounding beaches. Previous cohorts have found the downtime creates the perfect opportunity to build lasting relationships and share experiences & learnings with their peers.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Cucalorus WiP lab serves diverse filmmakers with a focus on expanding support for Black directors making social issue documentaries. Films may be shorts, features, or episodic, but must be nonfiction. Films can be at any stage of development, but we find that filmmakers benefit most when they are in the production or post production phase of their project. We will need some sample footage to show at feedback screenings. This could be an assembly, sizzle reel, rough cut, or fine cut. It’s up to the filmmaker to decide what to show. The goal is to have these opportunities for feedback be of benefit to the director wherever they are in their process.

What’s Included:

  • Working Films and Cucalorus cover the following expenses for each selected director:

  • Round trip transportation to Wilmington, NC for the residency

  • Housing during the residency

  • Most meals during the residency

  • Airport transfer and most local transportation during the residency

  • Three years of all-access passes to Cucalorus Film Festival in November

Note: At this time we remain hopeful that we will be able to continue the WiP Lab in person as the schedule is presented above. We will certainly keep applicants updated if there are any adjustments to the current program details.

cucalorus.org/programs/works-in-progress-lab/

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REST RESIDENCY FOR SINGLE MOTHERS

The Old Knitting Factory

DEADLINE: April 30, 2023

INFO: The Old Knitting Factory exists to support single mothers and other twice-marginalized single parents. Here’s how you can apply for a retreat and support our work.

Applications are now open for a free one-week stay in the Old Knitting Factory’s residency space, including a cash stipend to apply to childcare costs. The residency is open to single mothers and other twice-marginalized single parents from anywhere in the world. Come enjoy the beauty and peace of Connemara, and take some time to rest and honor yourself and your children.

Inspired by the work of The Nap Ministry, adrienne maree brown’s Pleasure Activism, and The Mae House, I am offering it as a rest residency, meaning that you don’t have to be an artist to apply; you just have to be a single mom (or other twice-marginalized single parent) who could use some rest. And couldn’t we all?

RESIDENCY / STIPEND: You’ll have use of our residency space for any week of your choosing, and you are welcome to bring your children or not, as best suits your needs. The space features a double bed, fold-out single bed, futon, and pack-and-play crib. The resident will receive a €250 cash stipend toward childcare costs, to use at your discretion.

Please note: Travel costs are not included.

GUIDELINES: To apply, email us with a brief statement (up to 500 words, shorter is fine!) on why this residency would be useful to you and your children (whether they will come with you or stay with someone else while you rest).

oldknittingfactory.com/single-mother-retreats

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Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition

Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences

DEADLINE / FEE: May 1, 2023 by 11:59 pm / $90

INFO: Each year, the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition awards up to five $35,000 fellowships to amateur screenwriters. To enter, submit a feature length screenplay and entry fee via the online application when the competition is open for submissions. Fellowship winners are invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars, receive individualized Academy member mentorship and are expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during their Fellowship year.

QUALIFICATIONS: Up to five $35,000 fellowships are awarded each year to promising new screenwriters. From the program’s inception in 1986 through 2022, 192 fellowships totaling $4.81 million have been awarded.

FELLOWSHIP OBLIGATIONS: Up to five fellows in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition will be invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars in November.

Fellowship recipients will be expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during the fellowship year.

Fellowship payments will be made quarterly subject to satisfactory progress of the recipient’s work, as judged by the Academy Nicholl Fellowships Committee.

The Academy reserves the right to grant no awards if, in the opinion of the Academy Nicholl Fellowships Committee, no entry is of sufficient merit.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

  • Original feature film screenplay (no shorter than 70 pages and no longer than 160 pages) in PDF format only

  • Completed online application form

  • Early entry fee of US$50 (by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on March 1) or regular deadline entry fee of US$65 (by 11:59 p.m. PT on April 3) or late deadline entry fee of US$90 (by 11:59 p.m. PT on May 1).

  • Writers must create an account at the Nicholl website to enter the competition. PDF scripts must be uploaded and all other requirements met no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on May 1, 2023.

REGISTER AND APPLY: Writers may create an online account at the Nicholl website at any time. When the competition opens each year, they should use that account to enter, following the links to the Log In page. The Nicholl website allows entrants to fill out the required online application form, submit a PDF version of their script and pay the entry fee with a credit or debit card. It also allows entrants to confirm receipt of their entry and to update their contact information at any time during the competition.

Only online applications will be accepted.

SCRIPT SUBMISSIONS: A single entrant or writing team may submit a maximum of ONE script in the 2023 year competition.

The script should be no shorter than 70 pages and no longer than 160 pages. The recommended length is 80 to 125 pages.

Writers must create an account at the Nicholl website to enter the competition. Script PDF must be uploaded and all other requirements met no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on May 1, 2023.

HOW TO APPLY:

Register an online account (returning entrants should sign in to their existing one) to be able to:

  • Enter the competition (when open for submissions)

  • Verify that your entry has been processed into the competition

  • Update your contact information at any time

PAYMENT: The entry fee must be paid online via credit card or debit card.

THE COMPETITION: 5,526 entries were received in 2022. All scripts are read at least twice in the competition. About 10 percent are read a third time. About 5 percent of entries advance to the competition quarterfinals, about 2 percent advance to the semifinals and about 10-15 entries reach the finals.

READER COMMENTS: Brief reader comments for each entered script are available for purchase but are not required for entry.

Every screenplay entry will receive at least two comments and may receive as many as six, up to and including the Quarterfinal round. These comments are released on the date specified in the online application.

Not intended as comprehensive notes, these comments offer a peek at readers’ reactions to the entry.

JUDGING: The first and quarterfinal rounds are judged by industry professionals who are not members of the Academy. The semifinal round is judged by Academy members drawn from across the spectrum of the motion picture industry. The finalist scripts are judged by the Academy Nicholl Committee.

To further the Academy’s commitment to encouraging and valuing diversity in the industry, the Nicholl Fellowships Program takes measures to ensure that our selection process is as fair as possible and without bias.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: All entrants will receive email notification of whether they've advanced to the Quarterfinals in early August. Semifinalist notifications are emailed in early September.

oscars.org/nicholl/about

FILM — MARCH 2023

2024 Writer in Residence (WiR) program

Hedgebrook

DEADLINE / FEES:

  • By March 7, 2023 (by midnight, PST) / $45

  • From March 8-14, 2023 (by midnight, PST) / $55

INFO: Hedgebrook’s Writer-in-Residence Program supports writers from all over the world for residencies of two to four weeks. The cottage, all meals, and the entire residency experience at Hedgebrook is free to selected writers. Travel is not included and is the responsibility of the writer to arrange and pay for. Up to 6 writers can be in residence at a time, each housed in their own handcrafted cottage. They spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, “The Gathering” is a social time for residents to connect and share over their freshly prepared meals.

Hedgebrook’s mission is to support visionary women-identified writers, 18 and older, whose stories and ideas shape our culture now and for generations to come. Writers must be women, which is inclusive of transgender women and female-identified individuals. Because gender inequity still occurs in all spaces including literary ones, it is part of our explicit mission to support and promote women’s voices. This application is not for alumnae seeking a return stay.

These residencies will take place February to mid-June 2024.

ACCEPTED GENRES:

  • FICTION

  • NON-FICTION

  • PLAYWRITING

  • POETRY

  • SCREENWRITING/TV WRITING

  • SONGWRITING

hedgebrook.org/writers-in-residence

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EMERGING WRITER FELLOWSHIP

GrubStreet

DEADLINE: March 13, 2023 at 11:59pm EST

INFO: The Emerging Writer Fellowship aims to develop new, exciting voices by providing three writers per year tuition-free access to GrubStreet’s classes and two Muse & the Marketplace summits. Over the course of one year, each Emerging Writer Fellow will attend a combination of seminars and multi-week courses of their choosing, along with a wide selection of Muse & The Marketplace programming, in order to enhance their understanding of craft and the publishing industry.

OVERVIEW:

The Emerging Writer Fellowship will be awarded to three writers who demonstrate a passion for writing, a commitment to developing their writing abilities, and financial need. Any person 18 and older who demonstrates ability and passion for writing is eligible.

The Emerging Writer Fellowship will provide access to each of the following:

  • 4 multi-week courses

  • 4 one-day (6hr) classes

  • 4 three-hour seminars

  • Access to a wide selection of 2023 and 2024 Muse & the Marketplace conference series programming

  • Access to GrubStreet's Education Director and/or other program staff members for quarterly (or as-needed) office hours for personalized mentorship. (Not Required)

The fellowship year begins in May, 2023.

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

This fellowship is open to anyone 18 and older with a passion for writing. The fellowship specifically aims to assist writers in need of financial assistance in reaching their writing goals. We particularly encourage writers of color, ethnic minorities, those who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and other members of communities historically underrepresented by the literary community to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:

The Emerging Writer Fellowship Application Form will require the following:

  • A sample of your writing that demonstrates your artistic style and voice. 5-10 pages for prose, screenwriting, or playwriting. 3-7 pages for poetry.

  • A personal statement -- no more than 500 words please! -- which should include the following:

    • How you envision using the fellowship.

    • A description of your relationship to writing. By this we mean: what excites you about it? What does it mean to you personally?

    • How the fellowship will help you in your growth and success as a writer. 

    • Your writing and workshop history (Note: Prior workshop experience at GrubStreet is not required).

grubstreet.org/programs/emerging-writer-fellowship/

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DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB

WeScreenplay

DEADLINES:

  • Regular: March 15, 2023

  • Final: April 15, 2023

INFO: Diverse Voices is a dynamic virtual screenwriting lab with a proven track record of helping elevate stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in film and TV today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.

A minimum of 4 winners will be selected to participate in this career-changing lab!

All readers for this lab come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of FREE written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.

Over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned as a direct result of their Diverse Voices Lab meetings. Past finalists and winners have signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more. See some of our past WeScreenplay success stories.

wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/

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2023 Project Market: U.S. Features in Development

The Gotham

DEADLINES / FEES:

  • Early: March 22, 2023 at 11:59 pm HT (Hawaii–Aleutian) / $45

  • Final: April 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm HT (Hawaii–Aleutian) / $60

INFO: A selection of 20+ fiction feature films at the script stage, U.S. Features in Development offers emerging and established filmmakers the opportunity to introduce new work in development to the Project Market’s attending industry professionals.

Over the course of the Project Market, selected filmmakers are invited to meet with hundreds of industry representatives from companies such as A24, Archer Gray, Kickstarter, IFC Films, MUBI, NEON, Park Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Sundance Institute, SFFilm, Topic Studios, WME, and more.

Years before these films made it to the big screen, they participated in the Project Market. Some notable alumni Include:

  • Ekwa Msangi’s Farewell Amor participated in the 2018 Project Market.

  • Christopher Makoto Yogi’s I Was a Simple Man participated in the 2015 Project Market.

  • Joe Talbot’s The Last Black Man in San Francisco participated in the 2015 Project Market.

  • Isabel Sandoval’s Lingua Franca participated in the 2016 Project Market.

  • Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight participated in the 2014 Project Market.

  • Lauren Hadaway’s The Novice participated in the 2018 Project Market.

  • Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You participated in the 2015 Project Market.

  • Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Swallow participated in the 2018 Project Market.

  • Nikole Beckwith’s Together Together participated in the 2016 Project Market.

  • Robert Eggers’ The Witch participated in the 2013 Project Market.

HOW TO APPLY: If you are interested in submitting your film to participate in the Project Market, learn more about eligibility, application requirements, and materials below.

Please note that once you have begun your application, you will not be able to save and return to your application file. We strongly encourage filmmakers to prepare application materials before beginning the application for a seamless process.

ELIGIBILITY: Active Gotham Membership: To apply to the Project Market, you must be a member of The Gotham. If you are not currently a member, use the code GWPM23 for 15% off of your annual membership fee when you join at the Pro or Essential level. Pro members receive a submission fee waiver. Learn more and become a member.

U.S.-Based Filmmakers: To be eligible to submit your project for consideration, filmmakers must be U.S.-based, meaning U.S. citizens or living and working in the U.S.

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

To apply to the U.S. Features in Development, you must submit a completed, feature-length screenplay. Submitted screenplays do not need to be the final draft, but they must have a beginning, middle, and end. You may not submit a treatment for consideration.

In addition, submitted screenplays must be registered with the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA). The registration fee is $20 for the general public and $10 for WGA Members in good standing.

Submitted screenplays must be translated into English, however films that will be produced in a language other than English are eligible.

A complete application also includes:

  • Logline (25 words)

  • Synopsis (60 words)

  • Project Summary/Development Status Update (500 words)

  • Artistic Statement (500 words)

  • Personal Statement (500 words)

  • Biographies for the film’s core creative team (150 words)

  • Financial information about the project (such as total budget or financing in place)

Please note, submitted films are not required to have financing in place to be eligible.

thegotham.org/gotham-week/project-market/us-features/development/

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CALL FOR FILM SUBMISSIONS

Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series

DEADLINES:

  • Early bird Deadline: March 24, 2023

  • Regular Deadline: April 24, 2023

  • Final Deadline: May 22, 2023

INFO: Reel Sisters, the first Oscar Qualifying Film Festival for narrative shorts devoted to women filmmakers, is seeking films and web series directed, written or produced by women of color. Shorts, features, animation, works-in-progress, narratives, documentaries and experimental works are eligible. Filmmakers will have their original works viewed at the 24th Annual Reel Sisters Film Festival from October 21-23, 2021 in Brooklyn! Venues will be announced. Early bird Deadline: March 24, 2023.

AWARDS: Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series will present cash awards to several category winners in our 2023 season! Winners of our Best Short ($1,000), Best Director ($500), Reel Sisters Best Spirit Award ($300) and Best Animation ($150) will be the recipients of the awards.

filmfreeway.com/ReelSistersoftheDiasporaFilmFestival

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NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program

The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)

DEADLINE: March 26, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: For nearly twenty years, the NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program has helped launch the careers of more than 200 Latinx writers. 

10 Latinx writers nationwide are selected for a virtual 8-week intense writers lab. At the end of the program, these writers will have either a half-hour or hourlong original series pilot, which they will pitch to industry leaders. Over the 8-week course of the program, writers work with a professional writing mentor, meet and speak with professional industry writers, and connect with a community of Latinx writers.

NHMC graduates have worked on shows that can be viewed on Disney, Netflix, AppleTV+, CW, NBCUniversal, HBOMax, Hulu, Viacom CBS, Amazon Prime, Telemundo and more.

This program is virtual, to run Monday-Friday evenings, and Saturday mornings over the course of the 8 weeks. On-screen participation in all meetings is mandatory.

Virtual Program Run Dates: 5/30/23 – 7/21/23

FAQ:

  • Do I have to be Latino to apply?

No, the program is open to people of all races and ethnicities.

  • Is the NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program open to all ages?

No, you must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the program.

  • Do you have to be a U.S. Citizen to apply to the program?

No.

How much does it cost to apply?

Thanks to our sponsors, the NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program is completely free from the application to the program itself.

  • What kind of writing sample should be submitted? Is there a length restriction? Can I submit more than one?

Please submit a properly formatted script. We will accept the following:

  • 1-hour (max 59 pages)

  • Half-hour (max 35 pages)

  • Feature (max 110 pages)

  • Only ONE writing sample can be submitted.

  • Will the judges provide feedback on the work that I submit for my application?

Due to the amount of applications received, judges are unable to provide feedback on submitted work.

  • Will you return my application materials that were submitted if I am not accepted?

No, any materials submitted will not be returned to the owner.

nhmc.org/writers/

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THE SIGNPOST FELLOWSHIP

Chisa Hutchinson

DEADLINE: March 31, 2023

INFO: The Signpost Fellowship is a six-month situation intended for a person of color age 18 or over who's interested in shadowing a professional playwright or screenwriter of color. What that looks like is entirely up to you and your Writer-Mentor but could involve:

  • being invited to meetings, auditions, rehearsals, and events

  • giving and receiving feedback on script drafts

  • performing dramaturgical research

  • fielding bottomless requests for bios and headshots

  • figuring out wtf to do with a stack of 1099s

AWARD: Oh, and there's $2,500 in it for you.

POSSIBLE WRITER -MENTORS (Click name for info):

GUIDELINES:

  • Drop a message below explaining where you are in life and how this opportunity could be helpful to you.

  • Attach a short (10-page maximum) dramatic writing sample.

TIMELINE:

  • Finalists will be selected by Friday, June 30th.

  • Interviews will be conducted in the weeks following.

  • The recipient(s) will be selected by Tuesday, August 1st.

chisahutchinson.com/the-signpost-fellowship.html

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2024 “Wild Futures” Visual Arts and Film OPEN CALL

Creative Capital

DEADLINE: March 31, 2023

INFO: In celebration of our upcoming 25th Anniversary, Creative Capital is pleased to announce “Wild Futures: Art, Culture, Impact”— the one-time theme for our next grant cycle in 2024.

In the upcoming grant cycle, we invite artists to propose experimental, risk-taking projects in the visual arts and film/moving image, which push boundaries formally and thematically, and/or venture into wild, out-there, never-before-seen concepts and future universes real or imagined. Ultimately, we seek proposals for groundbreaking new work—including, but not limited to, work that attends to the many relationships between social, economic, and environmental justice, and advances the global dialogue around critical issues impacting the sustainability of artists, our communities, our planet, and beyond.

  • Film/Moving Image: including experimental film, short film, animation, documentary film, narrative film, and socially engaged and/or sustainable film/moving image-based practices.

  • Visual Arts: including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, architecture, design, multimedia, installation, video art, new genres, craft, and socially engaged and/or sustainable visual art-based practices.

APPLICATION:

ROUND I: Tell us your idea. Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

Along with your project title, one line project description (25 words max), project description (250 words max), resume, and artist website (if applicable), please answer the following questions:

  1. How does your project take an original and imaginative approach to content and form? Please be as specific as possible. (150 words)

  2. Please place your work in context so we may better evaluate it. What are the main influences upon your work as an artist? How does your past work inform your current project? Please use concrete examples, which may include other artists’ work, art movements, cultural heritage, science, philosophy, research/work from outside the arts field, etc. (150 words)

  3. What kind of impact—artistic, intellectual, communal, civic, social, political, environmental, etc.—do you hope your project will have? What strategies will you employ to achieve the desired impact? (100 words)

  4. Who are the specific audiences/communities that you hope to engage through this project? Please think beyond the broader art community where possible. How are you hoping to reach them? (100 words)

  5. How might your proposed project act as a catalyst for your artistic and professional growth? In what ways is it a pivotal moment in your practice? (100 words)

  6. In addition to funding, Creative Capital also provides scaffolding and support services for awardees (such as expert consultations, gatherings, alumni network, workshops). How would our non-monetary services help you to realize your goals for this project and/or your long-term artistic and professional growth? (100 words)

ROUND II: Project Details

  1. Project itemized budget (1 page)

  2. Project timeline (1 page)

  3. Work samples (see application handbook for guidelines)

ROUND III: Final Panel Review
Finalists submit proof of eligibility. Any awarded projects which are directly related to any of the 17 UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and Project Drawdown 100 Ways to Reverse Global Warming will have the opportunity to have the “Way” or the icon of that UN Sustainable Development goal attached to their project on the Creative Capital website in effort to advance the global dialogue around these critical issues impacting the future of our communities, our planet, and beyond.

2024 Creative Capital Grant Timeline
Artists will be able to submit applications for their projects in Visual Arts and Film/Moving Image. These dates may change.

  • March 1 to March 31, 2023: Letter of Inquiries (LOI) accepted

  • March 31, 2023 4:00 PM [Eastern Time / New York Time]: LOI deadline

  • July 2023: Notification of advancement to Round II

  • September 2023: Notification of advancement to Final Panel Review

  • January 2024: Public announcement of 2024 Creative Capital Awards

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY:

  • US citizen, permanent legal resident, or O-1 visa holder

  • At least 25 years old

  • Working artist(s) with at least 5 years of professional artistic practice

  • Applicant may not be enrolled in a degree granting program

  • May not apply to the Warhol Foundation Arts Writers grant program in the same year

  • May not have previously received a Creative Capital Award

  • May not be an applicant or collaborator on more than one proposed project per year

Projects that are not eligible:

  • Projects whose main purpose is promotional

  • Project is to fund ongoing operations of existing business

  • Curation or documentation of existing work

Juror Information

  • Creative Capital invites regional, national, and international experts in a wide range of disciplines to serve in our review process.

  • External reviewers are offered honoraria for their time and expertise.

  • All external reviewer names are confidential until the review process has been completed.

creative-capital.org/about-the-creative-capital-award/

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BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL

DEADLINE: April 1, 2023

INFO: The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world.

AWARDS & PRIZES:

  • Best Feature Narrative 

  • Best Feature Documentary 

  • Best Short Narrative (ACADEMY AWARDS® qualifying) 

  • Best Short Documentary (ACADEMY AWARDS® qualifying) 

  • Best Experimental 

  • Audience Awards

ELIGIBILITY:

To be eligible for consideration:

  • Films must be directed by a person of African descent or who otherwise identifies as Black, Brown or Indigenous, and feature persons of African descent, or tell a story of Black, Brown or Indigenous experiences.

  • Narrative feature films and documentary films must not exceed a runtime of 120 minutes.

  • Shorts must not exceed a runtime of 40 minutes.

  • Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted. Dialogue lists will not be accepted.

  • Though not required for eligibility, preference is given to premiere status films: Philadelphia, East Coast, US, North American, and World premieres.

  • Note: Submissions may be in work-in-progress form; however, works that are not final cuts must be clearly marked “Work in Progress (WIP)” or “Rough Cut” with an indication of what will change or what is missing (e.g., temp sound, missing animation, etc.). If accepted, final prints/media files must be received by June 15, 2023. No exceptions.

  • Entrants must fully comply with these entry rules and regulations, including all deadlines, film length, entry material and other requirements.

  • Note: Entry fees are in U.S. dollars, are per film and are non-refundable. BlackStar reserves the right to disqualify a submission, without refund of any kind, if eligibility requirements are not met including if eligibility status changes post-submission. Shorts are films 40 minutes or less; features are films greater than 40 minutes, but not exceeding 120 minutes.

  • Students: Entry fees for student submissions for the Official Entry Deadline will be waived upon receipt of a photocopy of a current and valid student ID card or a letter from an accredited school that verifies enrollment. For questions, contact submissions@blackstarfest.org.

  • Films will be automatically entered into audience competition unless the entrant(s) request to be withdrawn. Entrants must make this request at the time of application.

  • Please note that recipients of the juried Short Narrative and Short Documentary Awards are eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short and Documentary Short categories of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy's rules.

filmfreeway.com/BlackStarFest

FILM — FEBRUARY 2023

DOCLANDS Documentary Film Festival

DOCLANDS

DEADLINE: February 10, 2023

INFO: Presented by the California Film Institute, DOCLANDS Documentary Film Festival brings compelling stories and the provocative insight behind them to Marin County, CA.

The fully in-person, in-theatre DocLands is scheduled to take place May 11-14, 2023 to again deliver an inspiring slate of events that engages our members and patrons, supports filmmakers and our valued partners, and bolsters the documentary film community. As we have throughout the past three years, we will remain responsive and respectful of the public health situation.

DocLands film slate of recently completed films is non-competitive and non-juried, with one overall Audience Choice Award. Dedicated to building connections and partnerships to invigorate the business and art of nonfiction filmmaking, DocLands aims to build an active, inclusive, and fully supportive community around documentary film through public screenings, engaged conversations, and grassroots networking and pitching events. It showcases documentary film with a diversity of content, within three main programming sections: Art of Impact, The Great Outdoors, and WonderLands.

AWARDS & PRIZES: DocLands film slate of recently completed films is non-competitive and non-juried, with one overall Audience Choice Award.

SUBMISSION PROCESS: DocLands entries will be accepted only via upload through the FilmFreeway submission platform. No DVDs or external links will be considered.

PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS:

Programming emphasizes new works in documentary features and shorts.

  • Feature-length entries (45 minutes and over) that have been or will have been exhibited theatrically or otherwise made available to the general public, either for free or for purchase, prior to DocLands dates may not be eligible to submit to this category. This includes, but is not limited to, public theatrical release or exhibition, television broadcast, home video, or any digital platform. Exceptions may be made under special circumstances.

  • Entries accepted for DocLands will NOT be eligible for inclusion in the Mill Valley Film Festival.

  • DocLands does not pay rental fees. Instead, our resources are invested in the production and promotion of the best possible showcase for your work. Films may subsequently be considered for theatrical runs (in-theater if possible or virtual) at our year-round venue, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center.

  • Films may be screened more than once during the festival

  • Industrial, promotional or instructional films are NOT eligible.

  • Films must have been completed after October 1, 2021.

  • Filmmakers are responsible for providing an exhibition-quality file for online or for in-theater screenings, a DCP ONLY.

  • Filmmakers will be notified via email of entry status by approximately April 14, 2023.

  • Once a film is accepted it may not be withdrawn.

  • If selected to screen in the festival, you may be asked to provide an electronic press kit.

  • Theatrical exhibition prints must be sent to the Festival prepaid. Online transfer of DCPs is strongly preferred. Generally we do not accept shipments of drives outside of North America.

  • In case of loss or damage during the Festival, the responsibility of the Festival is limited to the costs of repair or replacement of the theatrical print only.

filmfreeway.com/DocLandsDocumentaryFilmFestival

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DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB

WeScreenplay

DEADLINES:

  • Early: February 15, 2023

  • Regular: March 15, 2023

  • Final: April 15, 2023

INFO: Diverse Voices is a dynamic virtual screenwriting lab with a proven track record of helping elevate stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in film and TV today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.

A minimum of 4 winners will be selected to participate in this career-changing lab!

All readers for this lab come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of FREE written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.

Over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned as a direct result of their Diverse Voices Lab meetings. Past finalists and winners have signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more. See some of our past WeScreenplay success stories.

wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/

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Nawat Fes RESIDENCY

Nawat Fes

DEADLINE: February 15, 2023

INFO: Nawat Fes offers funded residencies in the eighth-century medina of Fes, Morocco to U.S. and international creators in multiple disciplines.

The initiative engages art to cultivate understanding among multifaceted cultures through the exchange of ideas. Hosted by the American Language Center Fes / Arabic Language Institute in Fez, a member of the American Cultural Association, Nawat Fes is a new program that hosted its first residencies in May 2022.

Two Nawat Fes artist residents at one time live and work in the ancient medina of Fes, which is considered one of the most extensive and best conserved historic cities of the Arab-Muslim world.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Fes medina is one of the world’s largest pedestrian zones, containing narrow alleyways leading to ancient architectural treasures, traditional houses, artisan workshops and open-air markets.

Within this unique setting, Nawat Fes provides a supportive environment for research, reflection and artistic practice, allowing artists from around the world to experience and learn from Moroccan culture, and to contribute to the local cultural conversation.

DAR BENNIS: Two artists at one time reside and work on separate floors of Dar Bennis, a restored traditional Moroccan house in the old medina, tucked away not far from the main street. Each artist will have a bedroom, a private bath, and a basic studio in the house. The house has wifi, a shared kitchen, a laundry room and a roof terrace with a view of the medina.

As the rooms in Dar Bennis all open onto an interior courtyard, perfect quiet in the living and work spaces cannot be assured. There are several great cafes nearby that also make excellent off-site working environments.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS / OPPORTUNITIES: Nawat Fes artist residents will be expected to offer two opportunities for our community to engage with their work. These could be public programs such as a talk, performance, reading, lecture, workshop or concert, or an exhibition of their work during the residency.

These programs are intended for local students of English and/or international students of Arabic, as well as the local community. Artists should be prepared to engage with our community in English or Arabic.

RESDIENCY PERIODS: Nawat Fes offers several residency periods each year of roughly two months each. Artists are expected to arrive at the beginning of each residency period and to stay through the end of the residency period.

Residencies from Mid-May 2023 through Mid-May 2024 will be awarded to artists who apply at the February 15, 2023 application deadline. These residency periods will be:

  • SUMMER 2023 (Mid-May through Mid-July 2023)

  • FALL 2023 (Mid-October to Early December 2023)

  • WINTER 2024 (Mid-January to Mid-March 2024)

  • SPRING 2024 (Mid-March to Mid-May 2024)

Residencies after May 2024 will be scheduled in a future application process. If you are interested in applying at a future deadline, please add your name to the Nawat Fes email list and we will inform you when the next application cycle opens.

ARTIST STIPENDS: Residencies are supported by the American Language Center Fes, which provides housing at no cost to artist residents, along with a 200-dirham/day living allowance (depending on the exchange rate, this normally ranges from 16-20 USD/day), from which artists will provide their own food. Half of the stipend is provided on arrival, and half at the midpoint of the residency. We can recommend some excellent local cooks who can come to Dar Bennis to prepare a variety of meals, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options, as well as traditional Moroccan dishes. Artists can use their stipend to pay for this service. The ALC will host occasional meals including other members of the Fes community.

ALC-ALIF staff and volunteers will be available on a limited basis to help artists engage with the local community. Artists will also be offered the option of a complimentary course in Moroccan Arabic, as well as optional translation services into Arabic for their descriptive and biographical material. Artists support the cost of their own travel, travel medical insurance, artist materials, any cost for mailing finished work out of Morocco, and all other costs.

SELECTION CRITERIA: Artists will be selected by a jury. We value diversity highly within our community of artist residents. Residencies are awarded based on the quality of work submitted, diversity of cohort, the proposal for intended new work, and the fit of the artist within Morocco and the Fes medina.

A high value is placed on linguistic exchange between the artists and the Moroccan community in Fes, which participates in American Language Center Fes programs in English, so artist applicants must have good conversation skills in English. Arabic and French are helpful but not required.

alcfes.org/nawatfes/

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Interdisciplinary Artist-in- Residence Programs

The Peter Bullough Foundation

DEADLINE: February 21, 2023

INFO: The Peter Bullough Foundation provides fall and spring residencies for emerging artists and scholars with diverse backgrounds and interests. We hope to create a community that elevates voices that are underserved, including those of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.  

The ideal applicant will be self-directed, motivated, able to work independently, and interested in engaging with the local community. Each awarded residency period is roughly four weeks long and is shared with one or two other artists in residence. Artistic collaborators in groups of two to three may apply in one application. While in residence, artists are required to host a community workshop, lecture, or event virtually or in-person.

The PBF accepts applications from artists working in the following disciplines: architecture, literature, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, music, music composition, playwriting, screenwriting, poetry, theatre, and the visual arts.

APPLICATION: Fall residencies begin in August, September, and October, and November and spring residencies start in late January, February, March, and April. Applications open in January for fall residencies and in August for spring residencies. Please sign up for our newsletter to be notified when applications open. 

​Applicants are not required to mail in hard copies of the application forms. If you need assistance with the online application process, or do not have access to a computer, please contact the PBF staff for guidance on applying.

When open, applications are available through the Call for Entry website by first making an artist account at Call for Entry and then by applying to the residency. 

Applications include the following requirements:

  • Application Form

  • Personal Statement/Proposal

  • Resume, CV, or Statement of Qualifications

  • Work Samples/Portfolio

  • Two Personal References

LOCATION: Winchester, Virginia is a quintessential American small town with a rising arts scene. The town is home to a large regional art museum, several house museums, a children's discovery museum, and many small, local shops that embrace the area's creative community. Downtown Winchester offers numerous dining options and four award-winning locally-owned breweries. Additionally, Winchester is home to Shenandoah University which regularly hosts   theater, dance, and music performances.

ACCOMMODATIONS & SUPPORT: The Peter Bullough Foundation is delighted to offer free accommodations for two to three artists at a time in Dr. Bullough’s former home, a renovated 1840’s house with private bedrooms and shared bathrooms and common spaces. Private studios and workspaces are located in an adjacent building that also houses the majority of Dr. Bullough’s book and art collections. Private gardens connect the properties and are also available as open-air workspaces.

A $550 stipend is provided to aid in covering supplies, necessities, and food for the month. If you have any questions about the residency program, please contact the PBF or check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.

SELECTION: Selection is a multi-step process involving the PBF staff, residency committee, residency alumni, and board. We may request an interview with you to learn more about you and your work. Selections will be announced 30-45 days after the application deadline. The PBF does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, religion, creed, national origin, age, and/or disability.

peterbulloughfoundation.org/residencies

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New Voices Filmmaker Grant

NewFest / Netflix

DEADLINE: February 28, 2022

INFO: NewFest’s New Voices Filmmaker Grant, in partnership with Netflix, supports emerging LGBTQ+ directors by providing funding to make new work, assisting in getting their work more widely shared, and propelling their careers forward through mentorship, networking and professional development opportunities

AWARD: The Grant seeks to support the creation of work from underrepresented voices in the film industry, and awarded a $25,000 grant each to 4 director recipients who have not yet had their work distributed. In addition to the $25,000 grant and the opportunity to be connected with an industry mentor, fellows will also participate in events and have their work showcased at NewFest’s New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, one of the largest queer film festivals in the world. Fellows will also have the opportunity to travel as guests of NewFest to other North American film festivals.

CATEGORIES: Submissions are accepted for documentary, narrative, animated or episodic projects by and about the LGBTQ+ community.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

  • Applying director must be at least 18 years of age

  • Identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community

  • A citizen of the United States, or permanent resident/green card holder

  • Eligible filmmakers must have directed at least one (1) short film or episodic inclusive of LGBTQ+ content that was completed within the past 5 years (January 2018)

  • Eligible directors must not have previously completed a feature-length film (over 45 mins), even if self-funded or without distribution, prior to February 2023

  • Eligible film directors must not have previously had their directorial work (short or episodic) publicly distributed with exclusivity and monetary compensation by anyone other than themselves in North America.

newfest.org/new-voices-grant

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Reel Sisters Micro Budget Film Fellowship

Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series

DEADLINE: February 28, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $20 (Reading fee for processing your application).

INFO: Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series, the first Academy qualifying festival devoted to women filmmakers, will offer you an opportunity to produce a short film or pilot for your web series!

You will receive $5,000 to produce the first episode of your web series, which you can use as a calling card to attract a producer and other film opportunities. Short films of 15 minutes or less are also eligible. You will be guided on your journey in learning the art of creating a high quality micro budget short film.

Be prepared to begin production and shooting of your web series project shortly after you are selected as the Reel Sisters Fellow.

GENRES: Animation, Documentary, Narrative, Comedy & Sci-Fi.

You will retain full production and copyrights to your film. You must include Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series in your production credits as a supporter.

The pilot episode of your web series or short film will air on Reel Sisters Tea & Cinema virtual series and have a world premiere in our annual international Oscar qualifying film festival. If you are unable to commit to a world premiere with Reel Sisters, please do not apply for this opportunity.

ELIGIBILITY: Script must be written or co-written by a woman of color and non-binary filmmakers of color. Reel Sisters will accept submissions by women of African, Caribbean, Latina, Asian, Indian and Native American Descent. Please include your ethnicity in the application to confirm your eligibility. We encourage writing teams to apply.

FELLOWSHIP:

  • $5,000 to direct and produce the first episode of your micro budget film.

  • Announced as the Winner on Reel Sisters & African Voices websites. A feature will also be published in African Voices magazine.

  • Your Web Series Pilot will premiere on Reel Sisters Tea & Cinema online series and your film will have a world premiere in our annual film festival.

  • Under the guidance of a mentor, you will revise your production schedule and begin development.

  • Full scholarship to Scriptwriting Essentials: The Art of Creating Strong Female Characters™ (Instruction value: $600). Any script revisions will be done in our workshop series.

  • Access to The Micro Budget Indie Filmmaker’s Podcast produced by Zanah Thirus.

  • One on one consultation with mentors who will guide you in how to produce your first micro budget film.

  • Reel Sisters will assist in securing distribution opportunities and marketing support.

  • One Year Membership to African Voices/Reel Sisters (Includes free magazine subscription and discount to our programs).

REEL SISTERS APPLICATION GUIDELINES:

Your application must include the following information to be complete. Thank you for submitting your webs series project in consideration for our Reel Sisters Micro Budget Film Fellowship!

INTRODUCTION (700 words max): Briefly tell us about your journey as a storyteller. Share information about what led you to writing and filmmaking as a career. Share your inspiration for creating the web series and the audience you would like to reach. Describe how the Reel Sisters Micro Budget Film Fellowship would make a difference in your career.

LOGLINE (75 words max): a one to two-sentence description of the story.

SYNOPSIS (350 words max): brief summary of the plot of the script. Please include all major characters and story points, including the ending.

PILOT Web Series Screenplay (no longer than 15 pages)

  • Length - no longer than fifteen (15) pages. This does not include the title page.

  • Limited to one (1) main location (INT or EXT). If you use more than one location, explain in your application any donated space or ability to accommodate additional locations on a microbudget project

  • Written in English (Translated scripts are welcomed as long as you are the author).

  • Writing teams are welcomed but one member must be a woman of color.

  • Include a title page displaying only title of screenplay and name of credited writer(s)

  • Submit only original screenplays. The rights must be wholly original with and owned by the writer

  • Submit as a pdf file and must meet all standard screenplay format guidelines

  • Include 1 page draft of your Production Schedule. It will be revised if you are accepted as a Fellow.

Submissions will be evaluated with the following criteria:

  • PLOT: Create compelling richly textured characters. Films with strong female roles are encouraged.

  • CHARACTERS: Quirky and original characters that are relatable. Give us three dimensional protagonists and antagonists.

  • PRO TIP: “Every villain has someone who loves him,” Steve Carter, playwright.

  • ORIGINALITY: Create bold characters that the world has not seen before. Take risks and experiment with visual and written language on the screen and page. Hook the viewer in the first five pages of your script.

africanvoices.submittable.com/submit/243648/reel-sisters-microbudget-film-fellowship-2023

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BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL

DEADLINES:

  • Preferred: March 1, 2023

  • Late: April 1, 2023

INFO: The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world.

AWARDS & PRIZES:

  • Best Feature Narrative 

  • Best Feature Documentary 

  • Best Short Narrative (ACADEMY AWARDS® qualifying) 

  • Best Short Documentary (ACADEMY AWARDS® qualifying) 

  • Best Experimental 

  • Audience Awards

ELIGIBILITY:

To be eligible for consideration:

  • Films must be directed by a person of African descent or who otherwise identifies as Black, Brown or Indigenous, and feature persons of African descent, or tell a story of Black, Brown or Indigenous experiences.

  • Narrative feature films and documentary films must not exceed a runtime of 120 minutes.

  • Shorts must not exceed a runtime of 40 minutes.

  • Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted. Dialogue lists will not be accepted.

  • Though not required for eligibility, preference is given to premiere status films: Philadelphia, East Coast, US, North American, and World premieres.

  • Note: Submissions may be in work-in-progress form; however, works that are not final cuts must be clearly marked “Work in Progress (WIP)” or “Rough Cut” with an indication of what will change or what is missing (e.g., temp sound, missing animation, etc.). If accepted, final prints/media files must be received by June 15, 2023. No exceptions.

  • Entrants must fully comply with these entry rules and regulations, including all deadlines, film length, entry material and other requirements.

  • Note: Entry fees are in U.S. dollars, are per film and are non-refundable. BlackStar reserves the right to disqualify a submission, without refund of any kind, if eligibility requirements are not met including if eligibility status changes post-submission. Shorts are films 40 minutes or less; features are films greater than 40 minutes, but not exceeding 120 minutes.

  • Students: Entry fees for student submissions for the Official Entry Deadline will be waived upon receipt of a photocopy of a current and valid student ID card or a letter from an accredited school that verifies enrollment. For questions, contact submissions@blackstarfest.org.

  • Films will be automatically entered into audience competition unless the entrant(s) request to be withdrawn. Entrants must make this request at the time of application.

  • Please note that recipients of the juried Short Narrative and Short Documentary Awards are eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short and Documentary Short categories of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy's rules.

filmfreeway.com/BlackStarFest

FILM — JANUARY 2023

YADDO RETREAT

Yaddo

DEADLINE: January 5, 2023

INFO: Yaddo has been a haven for artists for a century. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment for individual artists, giving you the time, space and silence to create your best work. Our mission is to nurture the creative process at our 400-acre retreat in upstate, New York, protecting the essential privacy of artists and offering an opportunity to work without interruption in a supportive environment.

We offer residencies to professional creative artists from all nations and backgrounds working in one or more of the following disciplines: choreography, film, literature, musical composition, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and video. You may apply individually or as members of collaborative teams of up to three artists. Peer review is the keystone of our selection process, with different panelists each season. Residencies last from two weeks to two months and include room, board and a studio. There is no fee to come to Yaddo, and we have access grants to help offset the costs of attending a residency.

All artists are encouraged to apply! Generally, those who qualify for Yaddo residencies are either working at the professional level in their fields or are emerging artists whose work shows great professional promise. An abiding principle at Yaddo is that applications for residency are judged solely on the quality of the work. There are no publication, exhibition or performance requirements if granted a residency.

ELIGIBILITY: Artists in all disciplines who are enrolled in graduate or undergraduate programs, or are engaged in completing work toward an academic degree at the time of application, are not eligible to apply to Yaddo.

Artists may apply once every other calendar year. For example, if you applied in 2021 (January or August deadline), you will be eligible to apply again in either January or August of 2023.

REAPPLICATION: All artists seeking residency at Yaddo must submit a complete application, including recent work samples. The criterion for repeat visit requests is the same as for first visits – the quality of the artist’s work. However, preference is normally given to artists who have not recently visited Yaddo.

FEES: Yaddo’s nonrefundable application fee is $30, to which is added a fee for media uploads ranging from $5 to $10, depending on the discipline. Application fees must be paid by credit card. Applicants who might experience difficulty in paying the application fee are encouraged to contact our Program Department. Artists are responsible for the means to travel to and from Yaddo. However, we have access grants available to offset the costs of accepting an invitation to Yaddo.

LENGTH OF STAY: Residencies vary in length – the average stay is five weeks. The minimum stay is two weeks; the maximum is eight weeks.

FINANCIAL AID: Funds exist to provide limited financial aid to artists, based on need. Only individuals who have already been invited for visits may apply for financial assistance. Specific instructions and an application form are included with each letter of invitation.

ADMISSIONS PANEL: Applications are considered by five independent admissions committees in the artistic disciplines represented at Yaddo: Literature, Visual Art, Music Composition, Performance, and Film & Video. Membership in these committees rotates frequently and the members are artists whose work is recognized and esteemed by their peers. Collaborative applications are considered by appropriate cross-disciplinary panelists.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES:

Five admissions panels consider applications to Yaddo in the following disciplines:

  1. Literature, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, translation, librettos, and graphic novels.

  2. Visual Art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, mixed media, and installation art

  3. Music Composition, including instrumental forms, vocal forms, electronic music, music for film, and sound art

  4. Performance, including choreography, performance art, multi-media and/or collaborative works incorporating live performance

  5. Film & Video, including narrative, documentary and experimental films, animation, and screenplays

Applicants should apply to the Admissions Panel that best represents the project they wish to undertake should they be invited for a residency. Applicants may apply to only one admissions panel, and in one genre, at a time. Artists working in new disciplines or on projects that do not fit easily into the above disciplinary categories are encouraged to contact the Program Director about which category is most appropriate for their project.

COLLABORATIONS: Small groups (2 to 3 individuals) of artists wishing to work collaboratively are encouraged to apply. Each member of the group will need to submit an individual application under “Collaborative Teams.” Work samples should give a clear and precise representation of the nature of the collaboration, preferably via previous work the applicants have undertaken together as a collaborative team. Support personnel or interpretative artists, such as computer programmers, instrumentalists, set and lighting designers, and dancers, cannot be included in a residency as part of a collaborative team.

Artists who do not have a collaborative history but who wish to be in residence at the same time should apply to the admissions panel most closely connected to their individual artistic discipline, rather than Collaborative Teams. Concurrent dates of residence may be requested.

Specific questions should be directed to the Program Director before submitting an application.

REFERENCES: Artists are required to have one current reference on file for each application. Rather than a standard letter of recommendation, applicants must provide the name of a colleague who can answer two brief questions regarding artistic work and character. Jurors evaluating your application give more consideration to references from peers in your field. Yaddo does not accept letters of reference on paper or from Interfolio or other reference services. All references must come through SlideRoom.

yaddo.org/about-applying/

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Saltonstall Residency

DEADLINE: January 15, 2023

INFO: Saltonstall offers free residencies to artists and writers who are current residents of New York State and/or one of the Indian Nations located therein. Our residencies are designed for those looking for a quiet, supportive environment in which to focus on their craft.

In 2019, we piloted a new program: a free six-night residency specifically for artist/writer parents with at least one dependent child under the age of 18 at home. This new residency was a huge success, and is now in its fourth year. We are not able to accommodate children, spouses, partners, or collaborators. This residency is designed for the artist/writer parent alone.

Our categories include:

  • Poetry

  • Fiction & Creative Nonfiction

  • Photography (film or digital) & Filmmaking

  • Painting | Sculpture | Visual Arts

Each residency session includes the same combination of five artists and writers: one poet, one fiction or creative nonfiction writer, one photographer or filmmaker, and two visual artists. These residencies are designed for individual artists and writers; we cannot accommodate collaborations or partners working together.

All residencies (incl. the six-night residency for artist/writer parents, the two-week, and four-week) function exactly the same way. Each group of five arrives and leaves together, and the application process for all residencies is also exactly the same.

2023 RESIDENCY DATES:

We are offering two residencies specifically for artist/writer parents:

  • Thursday – Thursday, June 1 – 8

  • Thursday – Thursday, October 19 –  26

(Please note: this residency is strictly for artist/writer parents who have at least one dependent child at home. The residency is designed to be a period of solitude and focus; as such, we ask that children and other family members remain home.)

Our four-week residencies:

  • Monday – Monday, June 12 – July 10

  • Monday – Monday, July 17 – August 14

Our three-week residency (new in 2023!):

  • Monday – Monday, August 21 – September 11

Our two-week residencies:

  • Thursday – Thursday, September 14 – 28 

  • Monday – Monday, October 2 – 16

Our one-week residency (new in 2023!): 

  • Monday – Monday, October 30 – November 6

Note: for our two-, three-, and four-week sessions, artists and writers will be expected to participate in an open house at the end of the residency.

AWARD: There is no cost associated with the residency and no cost to apply. Artists and writers who are awarded a residency are provided the following:

  • $100 per-week stipend + additional stipend support based on financial need. This will be new in 2023. We expect the upper threshold to be approximately $1,000 with priority given to those living below the median household income for their NYS County.

  • writers: a spacious private apartment with ample desk space

  • visual artists: a private apartment with adjoining studio space on the same level

  • photographers or filmmakers: a private apartment with ample desk space and a fully functional wet darkroom

  • all apartments have private baths and a patio or balcony

  • hearty chef-prepared vegetarian dinners (we always accommodate for allergies but cannot always accommodate very specific dietary sensitivities.)

  • groceries and a 24-hour accessible kitchen

  • washer and dryer in each building

Saltonstall is located eight miles outside Ithaca, NY in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes region.

The residency competition is statewide and is open to residents of New York State and/or the Indian Nations located therein. Residency alumni are eligible to re-apply two years after being accepted for a residency. (Ex. artists/writers who were in residence in 2021 are eligible to re-apply in 2023.)

saltonstall.org/residencies/juried-residencies/

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2023 Emerging Artist Residency - For MN & NYC Artists

Anderson Center at Tower View

DEADLINE: January 16, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: The Anderson Center’s Emerging Artist Residency Program offers month-long residency-fellowships at Tower View to a cohort of early-career artists from Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City for concentrated, uninterrupted creative time to advance their personal artistic goals and projects.

The Anderson Center’s Emerging Artist Residency is an ideal fit for early-career artists in need of focused time and dedicated space in an inspiring residency work environment that empowers them take risks, embrace challenges, and utilize unconventional approaches to problem-solving.

Thanks to generous support from the Jerome Foundation, selected emerging artists receive a $625/week artist stipend, documentation support, art-making resources, lodging & studio space, a travel honorarium, groceries, and chef-prepared communal dinners.

The Anderson Center is an artist community founded in 1995 on the Tower View estate, a venerable research-and-development lab for the arts rooted in an expansive natural setting in rural Red Wing, MN (approximately 1-hour outside the Twin Cities metro).

The Anderson Center’s Emerging Artist Residency is geared toward generative art making, as well as exchange across an interdisciplinary cohort. The program is well suited for vocational early-career artists in pursuit of time, space, and resources to truly commit to a project and explore new creative territories. Critiques, studio visits, and formal professional development are not offered.

The Anderson Center seeks to support emerging writers and artists with an uncompromising drive to create new work at Tower View in August 2023 that demonstrates significant potential for cultural and community impact, is technically accomplished, and engages diverse communities. The organization also believes that the environment and resources of Tower View, along with an exchange of ideas between artists working across disciplines, can serve as a catalyst for new inspiration and innovative directions for the work emerging artists create while in residence.

DEFINITION OF “EMERGING ARTIST”: While the Anderson Center’s general Artist Residency Program hosts artists with a wide range of talent and experience, its Emerging Artist Residency Program exclusively focuses on meeting the specific needs of artists who are in the early stages of their artistic development and career.
The Anderson Center’s goal is to support artists early in their careers who create work that is and/or has the potential to be:

  • Compelling—offering distinctive vision and authentic voice;

  • Deeply considered, imaginative, and executed with attention to craft and with technical proficiency, providing artistic experiences that communicate unique perspective/s, and invite viewers to question, discover, explore new ideas in new ways;

  • Innovative and risk-taking—engaging, questioning, challenging or re-imagining conventional artistic forms.

The Anderson Center defines an emerging artist as someone in the early stages of their creative development with 2-10 years of generative experience, and:

  • have a focused direction and goals, even while still developing their artistic “voice”

  • have yet to be substantially celebrated within their field, the media, funding circles or the public at large

  • are vocational (as opposed to avocational, academic, amateur or educational) artists

Artists who have been in the field for longer than 10 years (excluding any time in a degree-granting program; as a dancer in work created by others; remounting the work of other choreographers; or time away from working as an artist due to circumstances–e.g., having children, caring for family members, long-term illness, etc.) are generally not eligible, even if they feel under-recognized. Age is not a factor in determining emerging artist status.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
The four primary eligibility guidelines for the Anderson Center’s Emerging Artist Residency are:

  1. Legal residency in the State of Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City.

  2. Not enrolled in any degree-granting program from time of application through residency period.

  3. Self-identification as an “emerging artist” with 2-10 years of generative experience in the field

  4. An artistic practice centered in generating and creating entirely new work.

Minnesota or New York City artists - Artists must currently be legal residents of Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City and have been residents for at least one year prior to the submission of an application. Artist did (or will) file US federal taxes as a resident of Minnesota or New York City. Account address in Submittable must be within MN or NYC. Selected artists will be required to provide proof of Minnesota or New York City residency before a residency is formally offered. Artists must have a US Social Security Number or US Tax ID.

No students - Students enrolled in any degree-granting program from the time of application through the residency period are not eligible to apply for an Emerging Artist Residency at the Anderson Center (this includes any and all K-12, technical school, college, graduate, postgraduate, ABD studies). There are no exceptions to this eligibility criterion. If an artist is pursuing a degree-granting program in some form, they are not eligible. Please do not contact Anderson Center staff regarding technical situations or special edge cases around student status. This program supports vocational artists, not students. No matter the specifics or details, if an artist can be considered a student of a degree-granting program in any way, they are simply not eligible.

“Emerging Artist” Status – Eligible artists self-identify as an “emerging artist” and are in the early stages of their creative development with 2-10 years of generative experience. The Anderson Center’s goal is to serve a spectrum of artists typically in their 2nd to 10th year of creative practice, post-student status (if applicable). This spectrum is framed by artists with some track record of creating and presenting full work (not beginning artists), and artists who are NOT at a point in their careers where they receive consistent development and production opportunities and significant recognition, awards, and acclaim (not mid-career or established artists).

Artists who have been in the field for longer than 10 years (excluding any time in a degree-granting program; as a dancer in work created by others; remounting the work of other choreographers; or time away from working as an artist due to circumstances–e.g., having children, caring for family members, long-term illness, etc.) are generally not eligible, even if they feel under-recognized.

Age is not a determining factor. Career stage is assessed by the cumulative number of years an artist has been generating their own work. Mid-career or established artists shifting from one artistic discipline to another will not be considered early career. For example, a composer with a substantial career in music who is now moving into film will not be considered early career.

The Anderson Center has defined the 2–10 year span recognizing that some artists may experience enormous success and move past early career status well before their 5th year or 10th year. The organization recognizes that the number of opportunities afforded to artists may differ significantly based on discipline, race/ethnicity, class, gender, physical ability, and geography among other factors. Consequently, some artists may be past their 10th year and still be on the spectrum of early career status due to taking time out of active artistic practice for school or other circumstances. The Anderson Center understands that the lack of an absolute or rigid definition leaves room for interpretation, but embraces this flexibility out of our value around diversity and in recognition of the many variables that impact artists’ careers.

New Work – Eligible artists are generating and creating entirely new work (rather than interpreting, translating, arranging, copying, remounting pre-existing work or the work of others). Generative artists are those who conceive and create new original work (e.g., choreographers, composers, playwrights and devisers, filmmakers, writers, visual artists, etc.). This program does not support artists who solely perform or develop/produce the work of others (e.g., dancers, musicians, actors, editors, journalists, etc.).

Collaboratives - Artists that are part of an artistic collective, partnership, or collaborative are welcome to apply, but collaborative residencies are also rare. The program is extremely competitive, and space is simply limited. Each artist must also complete their own application form. Obviously, each application will repeat things and have much overlap. That is OK. In the work plan for in each application, highlight that artist's contribution / skills, while making clear the collaborative nature of the project.

Notes - Artists of all disciplines are eligible and are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted through the Anderson Center’s online webform via Submittable.

Please direct any questions regarding emerging artist status and eligibility requirements to Adam Wiltgen, Anderson Center at Tower View Program Director at: adam@andersoncenter.org.

APPLICATION: A completed application form includes a brief artist statement, a work plan, an emerging artist statement, a community engagement statement, work samples, and a resume or CV. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the panel. You may begin your application, leave and return as many times as necessary to complete the form PRIOR to clicking the submit button at the bottom of the completed form. Important: do not submit your application form until you are completely finished editing as your application will be finalized at that time. If you are a prior resident of the Anderson Center, you must wait one year from the time of your residency to apply again.

The Artist Statement, provides an opportunity for you to share, in 100 words or less, a brief statement or summary about your current and future work.

The Resume, CV, or Biographical Statement is a Word or PDF document that shows education, work experience, publications, awards, and previous residency experience. 3 pages maximum.

The Work Plan is a one page Word or PDF document that clearly and concisely describes what you are working on and what you’d like to accomplish at the Anderson Center. Successful applicants address how the timing, location, and cohort-based model of the residency would benefit their practice. Artists may also mention how specific amenities or resources at the Anderson Center (such as the surrounding natural environment, specific studio spaces or equipment) would advance their work. The statement can be single-spaced.

An Emerging Artist Statement addresses, in 250 words or less, your status as an emerging artist or early-career artist. How would participating in this program impact or advance your practice as an emerging artist? In what ways would this program meet your needs as an emerging artist? Why is this residency important to this stage of your career path? How do you identify as an emerging artist? 

Community Engagement Statement is a chance for you to address, in 200 words or less, any interests, goals, or connections that may help staff in developing your engagement activity with community members in Red Wing. What sort of mutually beneficial exchange would both advance your practice and be meaningful for local participants? We are not asking for any concrete plans here, just some general ideas for us to consider.

Work Samples should be of recent work and should include:

· For composers and musicians: 3 to 5 recordings
· For visual artists: At least 5 images of work (300 dpi or larger)
· For nonfiction and fiction writers: 10 pages of double-spaced prose
· For playwrights & screenwriters: 10-page excerpt (does not need to be from the beginning)
· For poets: 10 pages of poetry
· For translators: 10 pages of translation and original text
· For performance artists: 3 short videos excerpts of performances (no videos longer than 5 minutes)
· For filmmakers: at least 3 short film clips (no videos longer than 5 minutes)
· For Scholars: 10 pages of work, including research abstracts and relevant diagrams

DURATION OF RESIDENCY
The Anderson Center’s Emerging Artist Residency Program is a 4-week residency-fellowship the month of August 2023. Selected artists must commit to arriving on August 1 and departing on August 30. August is the only month the program takes place.

PROGRAM DETAILS
Each artist-in-residence receives:
· $625/week artist stipend
· Travel honorarium ($550 for New Yorkers and $150 for Minnesotans)
· $450 documentation budget (services for photography, video, audio, etc.)
Evening dinners are prepared and presented by the Anderson Center chef Monday through Friday. The chef also shops for meal items for artist residents, and residents are responsible for preparing their own breakfasts and lunches, and meals over the weekends. There are also housekeepers who clean and maintain the historic facilities.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Each resident is provided room, board, and workspace for the length of the residency period in the historic Tower View residence. Visual artists are provided a 15' x 26' studio and are responsible for supplying their own materials.  Other workspaces on site include a cone 10 gas kiln and electric kilns, an open-air metalsmith facility, a dark room, and a print studio (with a Vandercook 219 letterpress and a Charles Brand-like etching press). Practice space is also available for dancers, choreographers, and musicians. Composers are provided with access to a 1904 Steinway piano and a Royale grand piano.

Residents have access to the many walking trails on campus and to the Cannon Valley Trail, which goes through the Anderson Center’s property. Bicycles are also provided. Residents have responded to many different aspects of the gorgeous Tower View campus through their work, including composers sampling natural sounds and visual artists harvesting plant materials to create site-specific natural inks.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The program is set-up to minimize distractions and other obligations so that artists have every opportunity to fully focus on their work. However, the Anderson Center was one of the first artist residency programs in the country to require that residents give back to the local community and connect with area residents & organizations through community engagement activities.

Staff work with artists to facilitate and customize at least one hour of mutually beneficial exchange with the Red Wing community that helps foster connection and greater a sense of place.

Within the last few years, Anderson Center residents have connected with 12 schools in five area communities (ranging from elementary through college), 5 senior centers, 2 correctional or detention facilities, 7 community organizations serving children and families, and 8 community organizations serving adults. Residents have also engaged individuals from all walks of life through public workshops, events, discussions, and artful interventions -- both at the Anderson Center or in the community of Red Wing.

PROGRAM MISSION & VALUES
The mission of the Anderson Center is to, in the unique and historic setting of Tower View, offer residencies in the arts, sciences, and humanities; provide a dynamic environment for the exchange of ideas; encourage the pursuit of creative and scholarly endeavors; and serve as a forum for significant contributions to society.

The Anderson Center Residency Program was set-up by a working poet to support other artists and continues to function by those with hands-on experience in the creative process. The organization seeks out feedback from residents each month in order to implement necessary changes as it works toward continual improvement of the program. Most importantly, staff trust artists to know what they need most to advance their individual practices. The Center does not dictate specific outcomes or arrange regular structured activities. Instead, the expectation is that the gift of time and space will generate significant advancements in residents' work. The Anderson Center trusts the artists to best use their time to benefit their own work and reach their own goals.

Since 2014 the Anderson Center has offered such month-long residencies in alternating years to small groups of Deaf artists, including poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers, whose native or adoptive language is American Sign Language (ASL). Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Anderson Center's Deaf Artists Residency is the only program in the country that is Deaf-centric. It was developed with the goal of contributing to the creation of a local and national network of Deaf culture-creators.

The Center also engages in artist exchange programs with the city of Salzburg, Austria, and with Red Wing's Sister City, Quzhou, China. The Center participates in annual scholarship programs with the MFA  programs at The University of Minnesota and Pacific Lutheran University in Washington.

As an interdisciplinary arts organization, the Anderson Center embraces artists who are diverse in every way. Since its inception, the organization has intentionally worked with artists representing a wide range of disciplines, with the belief that the exchange of ideas is generative. The residency program supports artists from around the world, representing a wide range of cultures, races, sexual identities and genders. The Center strives to bring people and ideas together and operates with a spirit of welcome for all.

VACCINATION POLICY
Prior to arrival, all artists are sent a revised Residency Handbook outline many items related to daily life for artists-in-residence, including the most current safety policies and protocols. The organization's goal is to balance standard pandemic policies and clear expectations while also highlighting areas where communication or flexibility within each cohort might be beneficial or needed. Again, the Anderson Center Residency Program trusts that artists know what they need most to advance their individual practices and how best to use their time to benefit their own work and reach their own goals. Likewise, artists are empowered to collectively make changes where appropriate and ultimately build the artist community they'd like to see.

At the same time, and as is outlined in the Residency Handbook, the Anderson Center is committed to supporting artists by creating a safe space for their residency experience. As such, for the 2023 season, the organization requires all participating artists to provide proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination prior to arrival.

Of course even with all of these precautions, by simply participating in an artist residency program, there is an inherent risk of exposure, even for vaccinated persons, that is beyond the ability of the Anderson Center to control entirely. By applying to this program you are communicating that you are comfortable with that risk and that you are also up-to-date on your COVID vaccinations (or will be prior to arrival).

SELECTION TIMELINE
January 16, 2023 (12:00 p.m. Noon CST) – application deadline
February 3, 2023 – Jury has selected Round 2 applications. All artists are notified of the status of their application.
February 20, 2023 – Jury has determined finalists. Phone interviews with finalists begin.  
March 2, 2023 – Final notification to selected artists, wait-list and runners-up

SELECTION CRITERIA Selection criteria include (in order of importance):
1) Artistic excellence as demonstrated by work samples, resume and artist statement
2) Potential benefit and impact on career as demonstrated by work plan and emerging artist statement
3) Balance of artistic disciplines, identity, geography, etc within selected cohort

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Anderson Center provides equal opportunity for all people to participate in and benefit from the activities of the Center, regardless of race, national origin, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, in admission, access, or employment. The Anderson Center staff is willing to do what they can to accommodate residents with disabilities. Please call before applying to discuss special needs.

theandersoncenter.submittable.com/submit/237467/2023-emerging-artist-residency-for-mn-nyc-artists

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2023 Anderson Center Residency

Anderson Center at Tower View

DEADLINE: January 16, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $20

INFO: The Anderson Center, founded in 1995 on the Tower View estate in rural Red Wing, Minn., has renovated and restored historic buildings to support working artists and the creative process, including developing twenty-two active studio spaces and three galleries. A renovated barn serves as a performance and event venue, the historic main residence houses artists-in-residence, and fifteen acres support a sculpture garden.

The Anderson Center at Tower View's flagship artist residency program enables artists, writers, musicians, and performers of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment to create, advance, or complete work. In addition to community engagement activities through the artist residency program, the organization has a strong history of helping integrate the arts into community life through local partnerships, hosting annual arts events and participating in other community-based initiatives.

ELIGIBILITY: The Residency Program is open to emerging, mid-career, and established visual artists, writers, composers, choreographers, multidisciplinary artists, musicians, performance artists, scholars, and translators from across the globe. The program is interdisciplinary and the organization welcomes applications from a wide range of creative and intellectual genres, including those that don't fit neatly into the above list.

To be considered, artists must submit an application through the Anderson Center’s online form via Submittable. Complete program details are below. Please contact Adam Wiltgen at 651-388-2009 x4 or adam@andersoncenter.org for any questions.

DURATION OF RESIDENCY: For the 2023 season, the Anderson Center is offering month-long residencies in July, September, and October with rare exceptions made for two-week stays. Additionally, a 2-week session is also taking place the first half of November 2023. In general, there is a 48-hour turnover between residencies to allow time for housekeeping. Specific start and end dates are listed in the application form. Please plan your requested residency dates carefully and provide as much detail as possible regarding your availability.

The Anderson Center is not offering residencies in May or June of 2023 as restoration work and improvements are being completed on the Historic Tower View Residence. August 2023 residencies are reserved for the organization’s Emerging Artist Residency-Fellowship Program.

2023 SCHEDULING & AVAILABILITY: With construction work happening on the residency house in May and June, the 2023 season is running from July through the first half of November. This truncated schedule, coupled with other fellowships, exchanges, and deferrals, has resulted in less availability than would be offered during organization’s regular full May – October season.

Available spots in 2023 for artists submitting materials for this General Residency program opportunity (as of 9/2022):

  • July 2023 - Three 4-week spots; space for 3 – 5 artists depending on duration

  • September 2023 - Three 4-week spots; space for 3 – 5 artists depending on duration

  • October 2023 - Two 4-week spots; space for 2 artists each staying the entire month

  • November 2023 – Four 2-week spots; space for four artists each staying two weeks

Please keep in mind the organization gives preference to 4-week residencies. While flexibility is possible, in general, no more than two spots (4 artists) would be scheduled for 2-week residencies in a given month. Again, ideally all residencies outside of November 2023 would be 4-weeks in duration. In practical terms across the season, there is space available for eight 4-week residencies (and the four 2-week residencies in November) or at least four 4-week residencies and up to twelve 2-week residencies.

Due to the competitiveness of the program, the organization's goal is to be upfront and transparent about the availability for the General Residency program in 2023 in an effort to help you make a decision about whether this year is the best time to submit an application. Please contact us if you have any questions or need further clarification here.

LOCATION: The Anderson Center campus is located on the 350-acre historic Tower View Estate, built by scientist & farmer Dr. Alexander Pierce Anderson between 1915 and 1921, on the western edge of Red Wing, Minnesota, and its buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Center features a large sculpture garden, and is adjacent to the Cannon Valley Trail, a 20-mile biking and walking trail that runs from Cannon Falls to Red Wing.

The Center is approximately 45 minutes southeast of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Transportation is provided between the Center and the Twin Cities airport on the first and last day of residencies only. Artist Residents that choose to drive will have access to private parking on the property.
The community of Red Wing, Minn., (pop. 16,000) is nestled amidst the scenic bluffs of the upper Mississippi River.

The town is settled on the ancestral homelands of the Mdewakanton & Wahpakute bands of the Dakota people. The City of Red Wing is named after Tatanka Mani (Walking Buffalo), a leader of the Mdewakanton Dakota in the upper Mississippi Valley who wore a ceremonial swan’s wing dyed in brilliant red. In 1815, Tatanka Mani and his people moved their village south to a place they called Khemnichan (Hill, Wood, & Water) in present-day downtown Red Wing. Euro-American immigrants who met him as they advanced into the region in the early nineteenth century came to know him and his village as “Red Wing.”

Since its settlement and eventual incorporation in 1857, Red Wing established itself as a center for agriculture, industry, tourism, medical care, technology, and the arts. The Red Wing Shoe Company and its iconic brands, in particular, continue to have a significant impact on the community’s economic, business, and community development climates. Natural resources abound with Red Wing's riverfront, winding paths through the majestic bluffs, bike trails, and 35 city parks. The Prairie Island Indian Community is located northwest of the city. Frontenac State Park is to the southeast on Lake Pepin. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical’s Red Wing campus is known for its string and brass instrument repair programs. The MN Dept. of Corrections also operates a large juvenile residential facility in Red Wing.

Other amenities include a destination bakery, a chocolate shop, coffee shops, restaurants, the flagship Red Wing Shoe Company store, Goodhue County Historical Society Museum, the Red Wing Stoneware & Pottery store, the Pottery Museum of Red Wing, a Duluth Trading store, the Red Wing Marine Museum, a Target, several pharmacies, a plant nursery & garden center, a Mayo Health System Hospital, a small independent bookstore, and a public library.

Other key community stakeholders include the historic Sheldon Theatre, the Red Wing Arts Association, Red Wing YMCA, Red Wing Youth Outreach, Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County, Red Wing Area Friends of Immigrants, Red Wing Area Women’s Network, Live Healthy Red Wing, Artreach, Red Wing Artisan Collective, the Artist Sanctuary, Pier 55 Red Wing Area Seniors, Big Turn Music Festival, Red Wing AAUW, Red Wing Environmental Learning Center, Red Wing Girl Scouts, Red Wing Public Schools, Tower View Alternative School, and Universal Music Center, as well as several City boards, commissions, and departments.

APPLICATION: A completed application form includes a brief artist statement, a work plan, a community engagement statement, work samples, and a resume or CV. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the panel. You may begin your application, leave and return as many times as necessary to complete the form PRIOR to clicking the submit button at the bottom of the completed form. Important: do not submit your application form until you are completely finished editing as your application will be finalized at that time. If you are a prior resident of the Anderson Center, you must wait one year from the time of your residency to apply again.

The Artist Statement, provides an opportunity for you to share, in 100 words or less, a brief statement or summary about your current and future work.

The Resume, CV, or Biographical Statement is a Word or PDF document that shows education, work experience, publications, awards, and previous residency experience. 3 pages maximum.

The Work Plan is a one-page Word or PDF document that clearly and concisely describes what you are working on and what you’d like to accomplish at the Anderson Center. Successful applicants address how the timing, location, and cohort-based model of the residency would benefit their practice. Artists may also mention how specific amenities or resources at the Anderson Center (such as the surrounding natural environment, specific studio spaces or equipment) would advance their work. The statement can be single-spaced.

Community Engagement Statement is a chance for you to address, in 200 words or less, any interests, goals, or connections that may help staff in developing your engagement activity with community members in Red Wing. What sort of mutually beneficial exchange would both advance your practice and be meaningful for local participants? We are not asking for any concrete plans here, just some general ideas for us to consider.

Work Samples should be of recent work and should include:

  • For composers and musicians: 3 to 5 recordings

  • For visual artists: At least 5 images of work (300 dpi or larger)

  • For nonfiction and fiction writers: 10 pages of double-spaced prose

  • For playwrights & screenwriters: 10-page excerpt (does not need to be from the beginning)

  • For poets: 10 pages of poetry

  • For translators: 10 pages of translation and original text

  • For performance artists: 3 short videos excerpts of performances (no videos longer than 5 minutes)

  • For filmmakers: at least 3 short film clips (no videos longer than 5 minutes)

  • For Scholars: 10 pages of work, including research abstracts and relevant diagrams

ACCOMMODATIONS: Each resident is provided room, board, and workspace for the length of the residency period in the historic Tower View residence. Visual artists will be provided a 15' x 26' studio and are responsible for supplying their own materials. Other workspaces on-site include a cone 10 gas kiln and electric kilns, an open-air metalsmith facility, a dark room, and a print studio (with a Vandercook 219 letterpress and a Charles Brand-like etching press). Practice space is also available for dancers, choreographers, and musicians. Composers are provided with access to a 1904 Steinway piano and a Royale grand piano. 

Dinners are prepared and presented by the Anderson Center chef Monday through Friday. This chef also shops for groceries for artists-in-residence. Residents are responsible for preparing their own breakfasts and lunches, and meals over the weekends. There are also housekeepers who clean and maintain the historic facilities.

Residents have access to the many walking trails on campus and to the Cannon Valley Trail, which goes through the Anderson Center’s property. Bicycles are also provided. Residents have responded to many different aspects of the gorgeous Tower View campus through their work, including composers sampling natural sounds and visual artists harvesting plant materials to create site-specific natural inks.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The program is set-up to minimize distractions and other obligations so that artists have every opportunity to fully focus on their work. However, the Anderson Center was one of the first artist residency programs in the country to require that residents give back to the local community and connect with area residents & organizations through community engagement activities. 

Staff work with artists to facilitate and customize at least one hour of mutually beneficial exchange with the Red Wing community that helps foster connection and greater a sense of place. 

Within the last few years, Anderson Center residents have connected with 12 schools in five area communities (ranging from elementary through college), 5 senior centers, 2 correctional or detention facilities, 7 community organizations serving children and families, and 8 community organizations serving adults. Residents have also engaged individuals from all walks of life through public workshops, events, discussions, and artful interventions -- both at the Anderson Center or in the community of Red Wing.

theandersoncenter.submittable.com/submit/237200/2023-anderson-center-residency

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2023 Writer's Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices

Lambda Literary

DEADLINE: January 18, 2022

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: Applications to attend the 2023 Writer's Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices open on November 30, 2022 and close at 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday, January 18, 2022. You may apply to more than one workshop, however, each application must be submitted separately and requires an additional fee.

The application fee for each application is $25.00. We are offering a number of application fee waivers for the QTBIPOC** (Queer and Trans folks who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color) members of our community applying for a fellowship (excluding Writers in Residence). Please email retreat@lambdaliterary.org with your eligibility to request an application fee waiver.

WRITERS IN RESIDENCE: Writers in Residence is a program within The Retreat specifically for Retreat Alumni. There are seven spots open for Writers in Residence in 2023 to study within the seven genres we offer. Please only apply to be a Writers in Residence if you are a former Retreat Attendee.

Writers in Residences will be able to attend daily workshops within one of our seven genre-specific cohorts, but will not have their manuscript workshopped within the cohort. Writers in Residence, will, however, be given a one-on-one with the faculty member leading the genre you apply to.

For example, the Writer in Residence for the Nonfiction cohort with Meredith Talusan will be able to attend 5 days of nonfiction workshops, and will have a one-on-one with Meredith to workshop and critique their piece of writing.

There will be one Writer in Residence chosen per in-person genre for a total of seven spots available for Writer's in Residence in 2023 in-person.

We are also giving Writers in Residence the option to be a part of a panel during the retreat, Life After Lambda, to share with current fellows their experiences as an alumni of The Retreat.

In-Person Retreat Dates and Location

The 2023 Writer's Retreat will be held from July 30-August 5, 2023, at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Virtual Retreat Option

Lambda Literary is excited to announce its all-new Multi-Genre Virtual Cohort, a completely virtual option to attend The Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices. Like our in-person workshops, this cross-genre cohort will serve twelve writers. The group will be led by a talented multidisciplinary faculty member with experience in a multitude of different forms, genres, and approaches. This cohort’s daily workshops will take place fully online all week, with the opportunity to virtually attend all other panels, craft talks, and nightly readings held during the week of The Retreat.

As we work to confirm our Multi-Genre Virtual Cohort faculty member, we will adhere to the same high standards we always have when inviting an instructor to lead at The Retreat, We will be releasing the application with the option to choose “Virtual Cohort”, and we will notify our community once we have the faculty member on board. This will be a wonderful opportunity for writers looking to work in multiple genres. Writers of all genres represented at The Retreat are encouraged to apply to the Virtual Cohort.

Tuition & Scholarships

Writer's Retreat tuition is $1,875. Lambda Literary has a host of full and partial scholarships that are available for accepted applicants. Ability to pay is in no way part of the decision-making process. The $25.00 application fee is processed through Submittable's online portal. If you wish to pay by cash or check please contact retreat@lambdaliterary.org.

Application Status Notifications

Writer's Retreat Faculty make the final determinations regarding accepted and waitlisted applicants. All applicants will be notified of their application status in March 2023.

Refund Policy

The $25.00 Writer's Retreat application fee is nonrefundable.

Covid-19 Policy

Lambda Literary will monitor infection rates, health care system capacity, variants, and state and local regulations. If any changes, spikes, or other information deems necessary to switch back to all-virtual programming, we will make the call to do so. Find our full Covid-19 safety policy on our website.

Accessibility Strategy for In-Person Retreat

Chestnut Hill is a very small campus, find their map here. The workshops, readings, and panels will take place in building 1, Fornier hall, which is the bulk of where fellows will be spending their days. Fellows will be staying overnight in building 4, Fitzsimmons hall, where all dorm rooms are air conditioned. The map doesn’t have distance on it, but Fitzsimmons hall is about .1 mile to Fornier hall.

The school has a variety of physical accessibility supports built in such as elevators in the dorm, ramps and lifts throughout for wheelchair users, and hand railings on all other steps. Outside of the dorms, our meeting rooms are all situated on the first floor, but there is elevator access throughout Fornier hall as well. All of the classrooms, larger meeting spaces, and dining hall are in close proximity inside Fonier hall. Bathrooms in the dorms and Fournier Hall are accessible for those with wheelchairs as well.

lambdaliteraryawards.submittable.com/submit/28c61fbc-eadc-43b5-97d2-6afbd2511ddb/2023-writers-retreat-for-emerging-lgbtq-voices-application

_____

WURLITZER FOUNDATION RESIDENCY

Helene Wurlitzer Foundation

DEADLINE: January 18, 2023

APPLICATION FEE: $30

INFO: The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico (HWF) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational and charitable organization committed to supporting the arts. Founded in 1954, the HWF manages one of the oldest artist residency programs in the USA and is located on fifteen acres in the heart of Taos, New Mexico, a multicultural community renowned for its popularity with artists.

The Foundation offers three months of rent-free and utility-paid housing to people who specialize in the creative arts. Our eleven artist casitas, or guest houses, are fully furnished and provide residents with a peaceful setting in which to pursue their creative endeavors.

The Foundation accepts applications from painters, poets, sculptors, writers, playwrights, screenwriters, composers, photographers, and filmmakers of national and international origin.

Applications are reviewed by a selection committee consisting of professionals who specialize in the artistic discipline of the applicant. Numerous jurors serve on committees for each: visual arts, music composers, writers, poets, playwrights, and filmmakers. Jurors, who know nothing about the artist's demographics, score in five categories based purely on the merit of the applicant's creative work samples.

Artists in residence have no imposed expectations, quotas, or requirements during their stay on the HWF campus. The HWF’s residency program provides artists with the time and space to create, which in turn enriches the artistic community and culture locally and abroad.

GUIDELINES:

  • Literary artists may upload writing samples in .pdf format using the application form above. Alternatively, literary artists may choose to mail hard-copies. Include a cover sheet containing your contact info and table of contents, but please omit names and contact info on the writing samples themselves.

  • Writers: samples should not exceed 35 double-spaced pages

  • Poets: a maximum of six poems.

  • Playwrights: include one complete play.

  • Screenwriters: include one complete screenplay.

Digital work samples are accepted and encouraged for applications from visual artists and composers. Applicants should prepare to submit five work sample files when filling out the online application form. Acceptable file types for images include jpg, gif and png. Accepted types for audio files are mp3 and m4a.

Filmmakers must mail a DVD or USB-drive containing up to 30 minutes of video which represents no more than five different samples of your work.

wurlitzerfoundation.org/apply

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DCEFF Vantage Grant For Emerging BIPOC Filmmakers

Environmental Film festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF)

DEADLINE: January 20, 2023

INFO: It is widely known that the harms from climate change fall disproportionately upon underserved communities, and particularly Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. This invokes the need to consider the racial inequities that result from various environmental issues. While many films in recent years have addressed environmental disparities, most of these are made by filmmakers who do not identify with the communities they portray. The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) is committed to expanding the storytelling pipeline, amplifying the voices and supporting the work of emerging BIPOC filmmakers with a commitment grant. The $12,500 DCEFF Vantage Grant will be bestowed to an emerging BIPOC filmmaker, working on a short film or their first feature, addressing a timely environmental issue at any stage of pre-production through post-production. The grant will be the culminating award given to a winning pitch, presented live at the 31st Annual DCEFF on March 26, 2023.

THE PITCH PROCESS: On December 13, 2022, DCEFF opened pitch project submissions on FilmFreeway, from which 4-6 emerging BIPOC filmmakers will be selected to present their project in a live pitch in front of a panel of industry and environmental leaders and subject experts. All finalists will receive extensive pitch training from Judith Helfand, co-creator of Chicken & Egg Pictures, filmmaker (A Healthy Baby Girl, Blue Vinyl, Cooked: Survival By Zip Code) and professor at the Columbia University School of Journalism. Helfand will also emcee the live pitch program. Travel and hospitality will be provided to all pitch finalists to attend the Festival. Additionally, all of the pitch presenters will receive feedback on their projects from the industry panel, with one project awarded the $12,500 DCEFF Vantage Grant, as determined by the panel. All remaining finalists will receive $500.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Filmmaker (Director or Producer)

  • Emerging (not yet made a feature-length film)

  • Pitch project is a short or feature on an environmental theme*

  • Must be in stage: Research and development, pre-production, production, or post-production

  • If selected, pitch presenter must be available to attend, and travel from within the US (travel support from within the US only)

  • If selected, you must be able to present in English

*DCEFF defines environmental as any theme broadly related to the natural and built environment. Examples include (but are not limited to): conservation, climate change, environmental justice, Indigenous perspectives, advocacy and activism, and sustainability.

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • February 3, 2023: Pitch finalists are notified

  • March 26, 2023: Live pitch at DCEFF

dceff.org/grants/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-southerndocfund&utm_content=later-31995677&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio

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MGM + THE BLACK LIST FEATURE PARTNERSHIP

MGM / The Black List

DEADLINE: January 23, 2023

INFO: The Black List and MGM invites new voices with unique perspectives from historically underrepresented communities to submit their work for the fourth and final round of the Feature Partnership. This submission window is the last chance for writers to opt in to consideration for a two-step Guild minimum blind deal with MGM.

MGM seeks to work with creative partners who want to tell original stories with universal, all-audiences appeal for the big screen. The studio is genre-agnostic and aspires to work with great talent to join the ranks of MGM’s historic studio. Stage play (plays and musicals) samples will be considered for this opportunity along with feature film samples - no pilots or webseries, please.

The fourth and final opt-in period for the MGM partnership begins September 23, 2022, and will close January 23, 2023. If you wish to purchase an evaluation for consideration in this partnership, we strongly recommend doing so no later than December 23, 2022 in order to guarantee that it is received by the partnership’s close.

MGM can offer the agreed upon deal to any number of or none of the shortlist candidates. Shortlist candidates may be asked to provide a resume and personal statement by MGM.

FAQ

When's the deadline?

The deadline for the fourth and final round of the MGM partnership is January 23, 2023. Please purchase your evaluation(s) no later than December 23, 2022 if you wish to receive them by the close of the submission window.

Who’s Eligible to Apply?

MGM seeks to discover new voices with unique perspectives from historically underrepresented communities. We are looking for creative partners who want to tell original stories with universal, all-audiences appeal for the big screen. The studio is genre-agnostic and aspires to work with great talent to join the ranks of MGM’s historic studio. For the first time ever, stage plays (plays and musicals) will be accepted along with feature film samples - no pilots or webseries, please.

Do I Submit a Feature or a Pilot?

Feature film and stage play (plays and musicals) samples will be considered for the MGM opportunity.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/93

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Climate Story Fund

Doc Society

DEADLINE: February 1, 2023

INFO: Doc Society's Climate Story Fund is open now! ⁠

The Climate Story Fund prioritizes climate stories centering the most affected, the unengaged and the underrepresented, and puts them at the center of the story. The Fund also prioritizes storytellers working in and from those communities, sharing narratives that resonate deeply with new and unengaged audiences, bringing them into critical conversations around climate justice.⁠

The fund will support 6-8 projects with grants ranging between $50,000 to $100,000 per project.⁠

We are looking for creative nonfiction projects including long form, shorts or episodic documentaries as well as podcasts and radio documentaries, that can complete production in 2023 with support from the Climate Story Fund. The Fund also supports completed creative nonfiction and fiction projects of any medium looking to pilot an impact campaign in 2023 to engage audiences who are not typically included in the climate conversation.

docsociety.org/climate-story-fund/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-southerndocfund&utm_content=later-31790479&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio

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ELEVATE COLLECTIVE

Inevitable Foundation

DEADLINE: Rolling

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: The Elevate Collective empowers mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters with the mentorship, coaching and connections they need to level-up their careers.

FAQS:

Why did you create Elevate Collective?

Mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters need targeted support, education, connections and financial resources—small to medium-sized actions that can have an outsized impact, especially in an industry that is mostly focused on supporting emerging talent. Based on the learnings from our Fellowship program, we wanted to support more disabled screenwriters and help them accelerate their careers, with an important emphasis on building community. For mid- and upper-level disabled writers, there are very few places to turn for this industry-specific support, which is why we created Elevate Collective.

What is the difference between the Elevate Collective and an Elevate Collective Award?

Elevate Collective is an ongoing community of disabled writers who can turn to each other for ongoing support, networking and camaraderie. The Collective is made up of Elevate Collective Award recipients, who have received one-time $5,000 grants that can be used for coaching, education, mentorship, work-from-home equipment and/or IP acquisition.

What does an Elevate Collective Award include?

Elevate Collective Members receive a $5,000 professional development grant, which can be used for career coaching, professional development script consultations, equipment and IP acquisition. Elevate Collective Members also have quarterly check-ins with the Inevitable Foundation team and regular events for members to meet their peers and build community with other disabled screenwriters.

Does Inevitable Foundation own the Intellectual Property (IP) that Elevate Collective Members acquire?

No. When Elevate Collective Members use Elevate Collective Awards to purchase IP, the Member is the right’s holder.

How long does an Elevate Collective Award last?

The financial benefits of an Elevate Collective Award must be used within six (6) months. However, Elevate Collective Members will continue to have access to events and community building opportunities indefinitely.

Can I apply for an Elevate Collective Award more than once?

Yes. If you receive an Elevate Collective Award, you are not permitted to apply again for one (1) calendar year, after which you may re-apply. Receiving an Elevate Collective Award once does not guarantee that you will selected in the future.

ELIGIBILITY:

What are your eligibility requirements? 

General eligibility requirements: 

  • Self-identifies as disabled. 

  • 18 years of age or older.

  • Currently pursuing a career in screenwriting.

  • Not enrolled in an accredited degree program. 

  • Currently or previously has worked in the entertainment industry.

Applicants must also meet at least two (2) of the following criteria: 

  • Has an agent or a manager

  • Member of the WGA, Animation Guild or equivalent union 

  • Has sold a script, TV show, or pitch before 

  • Has staffed on a tv show or received a writing credit on a movie

  • Has been or currently are in development with a major production company, studio, or network

APPLICATION PROCESS:

What information does the Application ask for?

The Application requires the following information:

  • Standard Demographic Information including race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

  • Writer Questions (max 250 words each)

    • What have you accomplished in your career over the last two years? 

    • What is the next level you want to achieve in your career

    • What are the biggest things in the way of you reaching that next level? 

    • Why is disability representation important to you? 

    • What projects are you currently working on? 

      • List title, format, genre(s) and loglines.

  • Resume or CV

inevitable.foundation/elevate

FILM — DECEMBER 2022

ELEVATE COLLECTIVE

Inevitable Foundation

DEADLINE: Rolling

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: The Elevate Collective empowers mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters with the mentorship, coaching and connections they need to level-up their careers.

FAQS:

Why did you create Elevate Collective?

Mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters need targeted support, education, connections and financial resources—small to medium-sized actions that can have an outsized impact, especially in an industry that is mostly focused on supporting emerging talent. Based on the learnings from our Fellowship program, we wanted to support more disabled screenwriters and help them accelerate their careers, with an important emphasis on building community. For mid- and upper-level disabled writers, there are very few places to turn for this industry-specific support, which is why we created Elevate Collective.

What is the difference between the Elevate Collective and an Elevate Collective Award?

Elevate Collective is an ongoing community of disabled writers who can turn to each other for ongoing support, networking and camaraderie. The Collective is made up of Elevate Collective Award recipients, who have received one-time $5,000 grants that can be used for coaching, education, mentorship, work-from-home equipment and/or IP acquisition.

What does an Elevate Collective Award include?

Elevate Collective Members receive a $5,000 professional development grant, which can be used for career coaching, professional development script consultations, equipment and IP acquisition. Elevate Collective Members also have quarterly check-ins with the Inevitable Foundation team and regular events for members to meet their peers and build community with other disabled screenwriters.

Does Inevitable Foundation own the Intellectual Property (IP) that Elevate Collective Members acquire?

No. When Elevate Collective Members use Elevate Collective Awards to purchase IP, the Member is the right’s holder.

How long does an Elevate Collective Award last?

The financial benefits of an Elevate Collective Award must be used within six (6) months. However, Elevate Collective Members will continue to have access to events and community building opportunities indefinitely.

Can I apply for an Elevate Collective Award more than once?

Yes. If you receive an Elevate Collective Award, you are not permitted to apply again for one (1) calendar year, after which you may re-apply. Receiving an Elevate Collective Award once does not guarantee that you will selected in the future.

ELIGIBILITY:

What are your eligibility requirements? 

General eligibility requirements: 

  • Self-identifies as disabled. 

  • 18 years of age or older.

  • Currently pursuing a career in screenwriting.

  • Not enrolled in an accredited degree program. 

  • Currently or previously has worked in the entertainment industry.

Applicants must also meet at least two (2) of the following criteria: 

  • Has an agent or a manager

  • Member of the WGA, Animation Guild or equivalent union 

  • Has sold a script, TV show, or pitch before 

  • Has staffed on a tv show or received a writing credit on a movie

  • Has been or currently are in development with a major production company, studio, or network

APPLICATION PROCESS:

What information does the Application ask for?

The Application requires the following information:

  • Standard Demographic Information including race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

  • Writer Questions (max 250 words each)

    • What have you accomplished in your career over the last two years? 

    • What is the next level you want to achieve in your career

    • What are the biggest things in the way of you reaching that next level? 

    • Why is disability representation important to you? 

    • What projects are you currently working on? 

      • List title, format, genre(s) and loglines.

  • Resume or CV

inevitable.foundation/elevate

FILM — NOVEMBER 2022

Emerging Voices Partnership

The Hallmark Mahogany / The Black List

DEADLINE: November 8, 2022

INFO: The Hallmark Mahogany x The Black List Emerging Voices Partnership is a new collaboration that will offer a WGA-minimum open script deal to one writer who has an aptitude and passion for telling authentic stories that reflect the Black experience in the spirit of such classic movies like LOVE & BASKETBALL, JUMPING THE BROOM, and LOVE JONES.

The selected writer will develop an original Mahogany teleplay that embraces the initiative and Mahogany card brand’s core pillars of community, love, sisterhood, faith, and purpose.  

In addition to the open script deal, Crown Media will provide 50 writers with coupons for one free month of hosting and two evaluations on blcklst.com.

This opportunity is open to all writers who can organically and authentically capture the Black experience. Interested writers may submit a feature or pilot script, play, or musical to blcklst.com.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/125

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THE MINORITY REPORT 2023: A SCREENWRITING FELLOWSHIP

DIVERSO

DEADLINE: Extended to November 10, 2022

ENTRY FEE: $20 (Pilot + Feature)

INFO: The Minority Report is an industry-vetted fellowship program for the top diverse screenwriters enrolled in undergraduate or graduate educational institutions (Class of 2022 Graduates are eligible). Made by students, for students, it's the first-ever initiative of its kind.

The contest is sponsored by DIVERSO, a student-run film nonprofit dedicated to changing the face of entertainment by empowering the underrepresented storytellers of the next generation.

At DIVERSO, we believe that long-term, systemic change in Hollywood starts at the student level: providing underrepresented student groups with exposure, resources, and connections in Hollywood that they may not otherwise have access to.

We offer an extensive professional platform to break into entertainment by connecting our Minority Report Fellows with top companies/executives/mentors and providing individualized guidance and stipend for career development.

BENEFITS:

Each year, the Minority Report Fellowship program changes. Below, you'll find the benefits afforded to the Fellows over the last two seasons.

PREVIOUS SEASONS' BENEFITS:

1. Distribution to Agencies: The Minority Report was sent out to over a dozen agents and managers at different companies from Anonymous Content to Paradigm to United Talent Agency.

2. Virtual Panels with Top Industry Professionals:

  • The Daniels, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

  • Shaka King, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

  • Jessica Gao, RICK & MORTY

  • Amy Aniobi, INSECURE

  • JD Dillard, STARWARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

  • Dennis Liu, RAISING DION

3. General Meetings: Our fellows were set up on 5+ general meetings with executives from studios and production companies such as Plan B, 3Arts, Paramount, Universal, Big Beach, JuVee, Tornante, and more.

4. Mentorship: Fellows were matched with experienced writers in the industry based on their personalized style and experience. Mentors provided both career and script guidance. Last season's mentors included:

  • Charles Rogers, SEARCH PARTY

  • Charise Castro Smith, ENCANTO

  • Ifuoma Ofordire, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY

Industry Jury Members last season included:

  • Lee Daniels - Academy Award® Nominated Director, THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLLIDAY

  • Kemp Powers - Academy Award® Nominated Writer, SOUL, ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

  • Tze Chun - Showrunner, GREMLINS

  • Moisés Zamora - Showrunner, SELENA

  • Alexander Hodge - Actor, INSECURE

  • Nava Mau - Actor, GENERATION

  • Sadé Grandberry - Actor, IMMORTAL

  • Yalda Uhls - Founding Director of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, UCLA

  • Jo Jo Lam - Kodak Vision Award for Excellence in Cinematography, CEREMONY

writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/the-minority-report

_____

Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting

Writers Guild Initiative / The Black List

DEADLINE: November 11, 2022

INFO: The Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting is a one-year fellowship that is awarded to an emerging screenwriter who intends to pursue a career in screenwriting. The winner receives a $10,000 stipend to write an original screenplay (not the script used to opt in to the fellowship) and is mentored during the course of the fellowship year by a prominent screenwriter. This program, now in its 15th year, is a partnership between the Writers Guild Initiative and the King Family Foundation, and this is its seventh year being hosted on blcklst.com.

The purpose of the fellowship is to provide an opportunity for an emerging screenwriter to develop an original screenplay and assist in transitioning into the professional world of screenwriting.  The Writers Guild Initiative (WGI) is looking for diverse and unique voices, and for projects that are character driven and personal in nature. They are exclusively seeking feature films; no shorts or TV pilots at this time.

This year, the Black List will choose ten feature screenplays to send to the Writers Guild Initiative selection committee for consideration. The short list will be determined in early December, and the Fellowship recipient will be selected by WGI no later than January 30, 2023. The winner of this year’s Fellowship will be announced in Spring 2023.

Please keep in mind that, upon opting in, we will verify your age, so it does not benefit you to opt in if you are not within the age bracket of 18-25. Any writers who do not fit into the age requirements for this partnership will not be considered.

Additionally, please note that you will be writing a new script for this fellowship, not rewriting the script you submitted to this opportunity. The Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship provides the opportunity to write an entirely new script with a mentor. The submitted script is used to show your writing skills, voice, etc. and the potential for wanting to hear more of the stories that you’d want to write.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/127

_____

WORKSPACE RESIDENCY FOR LGBTQ+ WRITERS

Velvet Park

DEADLINE: November 11, 2022 at 11:59pm

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: Velvet Park invites writers to apply for a six-month workspace residency (January – June 2023). Please keep in mind that the studio space is 114 sq ft. – 14’ x 8’, with 12’ ceilings, large 6’ x 6’ window). The studio is located in Crown Heights in Brooklyn.

CHECKLIST:

  • Poets, submit up to 15 – 20 pages of poetry 

  • Prose, 25 – 30 pages of prose 

  • Screenplay/play script, provide 1 – 2 completed works

  • additional works accepted via url, to online portfolio or published works

CV/Resume
should reflect your artistic/creative accomplishments

2 references

  • 1 professional reference, who can speak about your work and 

  • 1 personal reference, who can speak about you personally, your work ethic, values, and any other pertinent information about you.

  • provide names and contact; phone/email of these individuals (letters not required).

  • finalists’ references will be contacted by selection committee to speak about you.

velvetparkmedia.com/writers-residency-2023/

_____

Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship

Sundance Institute / The Black List

DEADLINE: November 13, 2022

INFO: The Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship is an annual program designed to encourage and identify new talent in the field of independent cinema by awarding one screenwriter each year with an all-expenses paid trip to the Sundance Film Festival and an opportunity to meet with producer Cassian Elwes (MUDBOUND, Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB). 

Unrepresented feature writers with an independent sensibility who have made less than $5,000 in aggregate in their film or television writing careers will be able to opt into consideration via the Black List website. At that time, the Black List will choose ten screenplays imbued with an independent spirit by unrepresented screenwriters, which will be sent on to Mr. Elwes for his consideration. Up to two fellowship recipients will be selected by Mr. Elwes by calendar year's end.

Evaluations purchased before midnight on October 13, 2022 will be guaranteed consideration. The Black List recommends—but does not require—that writers obtain at least one script evaluation for their hosted scripts, as the data from script evaluations inform the process by which the short list of writers is determined for this opportunity.

Though the Sundance 2023 Film Festival will take place both in person and online January 19-29, 2023, whether this year's Fellowship recipient(s) can travel to Park City, UT will depend on current CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. If COVID-19 continues to disrupt general travel and Festival schedules, then the Fellowship recipient(s) will receive a pass to the modified 2023 Sundance Film Festival and a stipend of $2,500. Additional events and meetings will be hosted with Mr. Elwes via Zoom. Fellowship finalists will be informed about the viability of traveling to Park City once they are selected.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/122

_____

Screening Internship (Winter-Spring 2023)

BlackStar Fest

DEADLINE: November 17, 2022

INFO: BlackStar is a filmmaker centric and POC-led organization that brings an intersectional analysis of race, gender and power into the work while providing high quality opportunities for artists and critics, and a thoughtfully curated experience for audiences. Founded to focus on the work of Black filmmakers (of the African diaspora), we are now dedicated to solidarity across artists and communities of color, including Black, Asian, Latinx, Arab, Native, and Indigenous while still centering anti-Black racism as core to our racial justice analysis.  

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

These internships are designed to give students and emerging professionals insight into programming for an international film festival. Interns will assist programmers overseeing our six submission categories (Experimental, Music Video, Short Documentary, Feature Documentary, Short Narrative, and Feature Narrative) with all aspects of the programming process. Major responsibilities include screening submissions and detailed film evaluation via our online submission platform FilmFreeway. Interns will have access to private filmworks and must keep everything confidential. Flexible hours, at least 20 hours per week. Interns will be assigned one or two specific film categories. The dates of this internship are from January 9, 2023 to April 28, 2023. Upon successful completion of the internship, BlackStar offers college credit or a small stipend of $600 and a BlackStar 2023 festival pass.

SKILLS + QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Strong knowledge of and interest in film and media

  • Strong analytical skills

  • Good writing and communication skills

  • Excellent organizational skills

  • Ability to work independently viewing about 20 hours of film weekly

  • Ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel

  • Access to a laptop or desktop computer

  • Foreign language ability desirable

blackstarfest.org/opportunities/screening-internship-2023/

_____

Spring 2023 Mesa Refuge Residency

Mesa Refuge

DEADLINE: December 1, 2022

APPLICATION FEE: $50 (with possibility for fee waiver)

INFO: Mesa Refuge welcomes a diverse group of writers—both emerging and established—who define and/or offer solutions to the pressing issues of our time. Particularly, it is our priority to support writers, activists and artists “working at the edge,” in the areas of the environment, economic equity and social justice.

We welcome writers in all genres, including nonfiction, journalism, fiction, radio, film and others. Applicants will be contacted approximately 8-10 weeks after the application deadline, which is December 1, 2022.

We are a small nonprofit and our application fee of $50 helps underwrite the cost of application review. As an organization committed to equity, however, we do not want the application fee to be a barrier to apply. To request a fee waiver, please email us directly here

mesarefuge.org/residencies/application/

_____

ELEVATE COLLECTIVE

Inevitable Foundation

DEADLINE: Rolling

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: The Elevate Collective empowers mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters with the mentorship, coaching and connections they need to level-up their careers.

FAQS:

Why did you create Elevate Collective?

Mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters need targeted support, education, connections and financial resources—small to medium-sized actions that can have an outsized impact, especially in an industry that is mostly focused on supporting emerging talent. Based on the learnings from our Fellowship program, we wanted to support more disabled screenwriters and help them accelerate their careers, with an important emphasis on building community. For mid- and upper-level disabled writers, there are very few places to turn for this industry-specific support, which is why we created Elevate Collective.

What is the difference between the Elevate Collective and an Elevate Collective Award?

Elevate Collective is an ongoing community of disabled writers who can turn to each other for ongoing support, networking and camaraderie. The Collective is made up of Elevate Collective Award recipients, who have received one-time $5,000 grants that can be used for coaching, education, mentorship, work-from-home equipment and/or IP acquisition.

What does an Elevate Collective Award include?

Elevate Collective Members receive a $5,000 professional development grant, which can be used for career coaching, professional development script consultations, equipment and IP acquisition. Elevate Collective Members also have quarterly check-ins with the Inevitable Foundation team and regular events for members to meet their peers and build community with other disabled screenwriters.

Does Inevitable Foundation own the Intellectual Property (IP) that Elevate Collective Members acquire?

No. When Elevate Collective Members use Elevate Collective Awards to purchase IP, the Member is the right’s holder.

How long does an Elevate Collective Award last?

The financial benefits of an Elevate Collective Award must be used within six (6) months. However, Elevate Collective Members will continue to have access to events and community building opportunities indefinitely.

Can I apply for an Elevate Collective Award more than once?

Yes. If you receive an Elevate Collective Award, you are not permitted to apply again for one (1) calendar year, after which you may re-apply. Receiving an Elevate Collective Award once does not guarantee that you will selected in the future.

ELIGIBILITY:

What are your eligibility requirements? 

General eligibility requirements: 

  • Self-identifies as disabled. 

  • 18 years of age or older.

  • Currently pursuing a career in screenwriting.

  • Not enrolled in an accredited degree program. 

  • Currently or previously has worked in the entertainment industry.

Applicants must also meet at least two (2) of the following criteria: 

  • Has an agent or a manager

  • Member of the WGA, Animation Guild or equivalent union 

  • Has sold a script, TV show, or pitch before 

  • Has staffed on a tv show or received a writing credit on a movie

  • Has been or currently are in development with a major production company, studio, or network

APPLICATION PROCESS:

What information does the Application ask for?

The Application requires the following information:

  • Standard Demographic Information including race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

  • Writer Questions (max 250 words each)

    • What have you accomplished in your career over the last two years? 

    • What is the next level you want to achieve in your career

    • What are the biggest things in the way of you reaching that next level? 

    • Why is disability representation important to you? 

    • What projects are you currently working on? 

      • List title, format, genre(s) and loglines.

  • Resume or CV

inevitable.foundation/elevate

FILM — OCTOBER 2022

TASVEER FILM FUND

Tasveer

DEADLINE: October 5, 2022

INFO: Tasveer is excited to present the 3rd year of the Tasveer Film Fund (TFF), with partial support from Netflix. This fund is solely for people of South Asian origin and for South Asian-based films.

We are excited to announce that Tasveer is more than doubling its Tasveer Film Fund grant in 2022, from $15,000 to $50,000. The Tasveer Film Fund aims to empower South Asian filmmakers to bring their scripts to life with monetary grants, as well as year-long support with resources and mentorship access. We believe that our support can help to take some of the fundraising burden away from filmmakers, while helping to connect them with important resources to get their projects made. These films, that bring necessary representation and social justice issues to light, deserve to be fully resourced and widely seen.

With support from Netflix, TFF will once again offer awards for US-based filmmakers, which includes increased grants in the Short Narrative, LGBTQIA+ Short, and Documentary categories.

New in 2022, Tasveer is presenting a Feature Film Track, which will award up to $15,000 to a feature-length narrative. This track is open to submissions from any country.

We will host a live pitching session to determine the award winners in each category. The top 3 finalists will be invited from each category to pitch their short film, LGBTQ+ films, or their documentary treatment.

PITCH DATE + TIME:

  • Thursday, October 13th
    - 8am-10am PST: Documentary pitch
    - 12pm - 2pm PST: LGBTQI+ Short film pitch

  • Friday October 14th, 2022
    - 8am-10am PST: Feature film pitch
    - 12pm- 2 pm PST: Short Film Pitch

AWARDS + PRIZES:

  • Narrative Short: $10,000 (US only)

  • LGBTQIA+ Narrative Short: $10,000 (US only)

  • Documentary: $15,000 (US only)

  • Narrative Feature: $15,000 (Global)

filmfreeway.com/tasveerfilmfund

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2023 ART OMI: WRITERS RESIDENCY

Art Omi

DEADLINE: October 15, 2022 by 11:59pm ET

INFO: Art Omi: Writers hosts authors and translators from around the world for residencies throughout the spring and fall. The program’s strong international emphasis provides exposure for global literary voices and reflects the spirit of cultural exchange that is essential to Art Omi’s mission.

Guests may select a residency of one week to two months; about ten writers at a time gather to live and work in a rural setting overlooking the Catskill Mountains. Daytime is reserved for writing and quiet activities, while evenings are more communal. A program of weekly visits bring guests from the New York publishing community. Noted editors, agents and book scouts are invited to share dinner and conversation on both creative and practical subjects, offering insight into the workings of the publishing industry, and introductions to some of its key professionals. Readings throughout the year invite the public to experience finished and in-process work by writers and translators in residence.

Art Omi: Writers welcomes published writers and translators of every type of literature. All text-based projects -- fiction, nonfiction, theater, film, poetry, etc.—are eligible. International, cultural and creative exchange is a foundation of our mission, and a wide distribution of national background is an important part of our selection process.

All residencies are fully funded with accommodations, food, local transport and public programming provided. However, please note that Art Omi: Writers does not provide travel funds. Selected residents are responsible for funding their own travel or securing travel funds from a third party.

2023 RESIDENCY DATES:

  • Spring: March 24 - Friday, May 26, 2023

  • Fall: Friday, September 1 - Friday, November 3, 2023

GUIDELINES:

Each applicant is required to provide 4 (four) separate items in total:

  1. A cover letter, which provides the following details: country of birth, country of residency, the language in which you write, your preferred residency dates. Please note we have two sessions per year: Spring (March 20 - June 5) and Fall (September 4 - November 6). Additionally, please let us know how you heard about Art Omi: Writers, why you want to come to Art Omi: Writers and what you expect to get from the experience. Important Note: If you are eligible for our sponsored residency for a previous Whiting Award winner please indicate so in your cover letter.

  2. A brief (2 pages, maximum) statement about your work history, referencing publications, performances and writing credits. This can be submitted in CV format.

  3. A writing sample, no more than 50 pages. Please be sure to indicate if the writing is published or unpublished; if it is published please provide details.

  4. A one page description of the work to be undertaken while at Art Omi: Writers.

Your writing sample does NOT have to be an English translation; please submit your writing sample in your mother tongue. All other documentation must be submitted in English.

Your cover letter should be provided in the designated Cover Letter field. Items 2-4 should each be provided as separately uploaded files.

Alumni of the program are eligible to reapply.

artomi.submittable.com/submit/232906/art-omiwriters-2023-application

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2022 NRDC CLIMATE STORYTELLING FELLOWSHIP

Natural Resources Defense Council / The Black List / The Redford Center / The CAA Foundation

DEADLINE: October 30, 2022

INFO: The Black List has once again partnered with NRDC’s (Natural Resources Defense Council) Rewrite the Future program, The Redford Center, and The CAA Foundation to launch a second iteration of the NRDC Climate Storytelling Fellowship.  

AWARD: The Fellowship will grant $20,000 each to three writers to support revision of a feature screenplay or pilot that engages with climate change in a meaningful way through events, actions, character, emotions, plot, and/or setting. 

In addition, NRDC will connect each fellowship recipient with the following professionals for feedback and guidance on their scripts:

  • A credited professional screenwriter with an interest in climate storytelling 

  • A climate story consultant from NRDC’s Rewrite the Future program to advise on effective approaches to climate storytelling that are entertaining and impactful 

  • As applicable, one or more NRDC experts to advise on climate issues highlighted in the script.

  • After receiving these consultations, Fellows have six (6) months to complete a revision of their script. Revised scripts may be reviewed for development by prominent studios, agencies and/or production companies including Hyperobject Industries, Madica Productions, UTA and WME.

  • At the end of the Fellowship, each recipient will provide a designated representative of the NRDC with a short reflection of how the grant has been used to advance their work and/or career in addition to a revised version of their script including an overview of the changes they made during the revision process. 

The first 400 writers that opt in with a qualified screenplay or pilot will receive one free month of hosting and one free evaluation. If you meet these criteria when you opt in, you will receive a notification. Fee Waivers must be requested no later than October 23, 2022. 

Each fellowship recipient will retain complete ownership of their work.

To be considered for the fellowship, a script should engage with climate in a meaningful way through events, actions, character, emotions, plot, and/or setting.

WHAT IS A CLIMATE STORY? 

The script can be in any genre but climate change and solutions must drive action and affect choices made by characters. 

A climate story is one in which climate change affects characters, influences choices, and drives action.

A climate story acknowledges that we already live in a climate-altered world whether or not our house has burned up or been washed away in a flood.

We worry about climate change. We feel shame and grief about it. We talk about it with our partners and friends. People discuss whether it makes sense to have children, or wonder where the safest place is to live, or what they can possibly do to help.

Climate can be a central factor in motivating characters and driving plot. The story and genre options are limitless because climate can touch every aspect of life, from food, health, and relationships to justice, jobs, and national security. 

There have been few climate stories in mainstream entertainment, especially considering the scale of the crisis. Most depict extreme weather disasters, societal breakdown, and apocalypse. That dark and narrow vision is understandable, and it can be entertaining, but if all the climate stories we see show characters stuck in despair, or in dystopian futures, it reinforces the view that there’s no way out. 

It also overlooks the enormous potential for original content that illuminates the more complex and nuanced human reality of the climate crisis, including stories about people fighting for a healthier, more equitable and sustainable future.

We need it all–the bleak and the inspirational, the fantasies, dramas, satires, and rom-coms.

It is the power and privilege of writers to show us how climate change is transforming our world, and to help us find a path to salvation.

Note: For TV pilot submissions, applicants who make the short list must also provide a long synopsis or treatment describing the primary story arcs and how the climate themes will be developed throughout the show. 

THE SELECTION PROCESS:

Writers who meet the submission requirements will be able to opt into consideration via the Black List website until November 30, 2022. Up to 15 writers will be invited, based on the strength of their scripts as determined by the Black List, to submit a one-page personal statement and professional resume. From those submissions, three fellowship recipients will be selected no later than February 15, 2023.

Evaluations purchased before midnight on October 30, 2022 will be guaranteed consideration. The Black List recommends—but does not require—that writers obtain at least one script evaluation for their hosted scripts, as the data from script evaluations inform the process by which the short list of writers is determined for this opportunity.

NEW TO THE BLACK LIST?

If you are new to the Black List, register for a FREE account by clicking the REGISTER button below. Once you are logged in, you will be able to apply for a Fee Waiver and submit your script. If you have any questions, please check out our FAQ or email us at support@blcklst.com.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/118

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NYC WOMEN’S FUND FOR MEDIA, MUSIC AND THEATRE

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)

DEADLINE: November 1, 2022 at 5:00 pm ET

INFO: The NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre provides grants to encourage and support the creation of digital, film, music, television, and live or online theatre content that reflects the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women.

The NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre (“Women’s Fund”), administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) in partnership with the City of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), is part of a groundbreaking series of initiatives that address the underrepresentation of women in film, music, television and theatre. The Fund provides grants to encourage and support the creation of content that reflect the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women.

The $2 million to be awarded in the fourth cycle brings the grand total of funding to $7.5 million, allocated to a total of 335 recipients (89 in Cycle 3, 94 in Cycle 2, and 63 in Cycle 1).

THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE:

  • Finishing grants* for film, television, and digital projects

  • Funds for the creation of music recordings or videos

  • Production funds for live or online theatre

In addition to being made by, for, or about all who identify as women, projects are eligible if they feature a prominent woman perspective; and/or include a woman-identified director and/or producer and/or writer/songwriter and/or engineer (for recordings) and/or woman-indentified protagonist(s) or lead musical role. 

*To be eligible, projects need to have completed principal photography.

GRANTS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES (AMOUNTS LISTED ARE THE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL GRANT):

  • Fiction Feature (running time of 60 minutes or more) – $50,000

  • Fiction Short (running time of 59 minutes or less) – $25,000

  • Fiction Webisode/Webseries (all forms) – $20,000

  • Documentary Feature (running time of 60 minutes or more) – $50,000

  • Documentary Short (running time of 59 minutes or less) – $25,000

  • Documentary Webisodes/Webseries (all lengths and forms) – $20,000

  • Music – $20,000

  • Theatre Production – grant amounts up to $50,000

GRANT TIMELINE:

  • Recipients notified: March, 2023

  • Funded Project completion: March 31, 2024

nyfa.org/awards-grants/nyc-womens-fund-for-media-music-and-theatre/?mc_cid=2e07b71541&mc_eid=b2828bf2ea

_____

The WAVE Grant

Wavelength Productions

DEADLINE: November 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT

INFO: The WAVE Grant is devoted to helping emerging female and non-binary filmmakers of color tell their own “great f**king story.” This year we will select five recipients to receive a $5,000 seed grant for the production of their short film. Recipients will also receive mentorship from our award-winning team with development, production, and distribution strategies.

AWARD:

  • Recipients will receive a $5,000 seed grant for the production of their short film.

  • Recipients will receive a mentorship program. The Wavelength team will assist with development, production, and distribution strategies.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Wavelength’s WAVE Grant is for a short narrative film of approximately 10 minutes. Shorts already in production or post-production will not be considered.

  • Production of the short must be completed within 2023.

  • This project must be the applicant’s directorial debut. Student films do not count as prior work. Applicants may have prior experience in film industry apart from directorial role.

  • Applicants must own the copyright of their production and have budgetary and editorial control.

  • Applicants must identify as a member of the BIPOC community and identify as woman or non-binary.

  • Applicants must be based in the United States and will be required to provide proof of residency.

  • Student films, feature films, series and engagement/outreach campaigns will not be considered. Documentary concepts or films in need of finishing funds will not be considered.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Treatment (one-page max) – include a brief outline of the story and tone

  • *Optional — A script is not required but preferred if you have it.

  • Budget – work-in-progress budget at development stage only. (A note on film financing: Wavelength partners with Seed & Spark as a platform tool for grantees to utilize. If the budget exceeds $5,000, must include information on how you plan to raise the additional funding.)

  • Resume – include a PDF of your CV. A link to your personal portfolio is also welcome.

  • Video pitch (3 minutes max) – 1-3 minute video introducing yourself and the project (private Vimeo or YouTube link is preferred)

  • Signed release form – we will not be able to review your application without this release.

  • If currently enrolled in university, must be graduating in or by 2023.

TIMELINE:

  • Applications close: November 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT

  • Interviews with finalists: December 2023

  • All applicants will be notified by January 31, 2023 of the status of their submission

wavelengthproductions.com/grants

_____

THE MINORITY REPORT 2023: A SCREENWRITING FELLOWSHIP

DIVERSO

DEADLINE: Extended to November 10, 2022

ENTRY FEE: $20 (Pilot + Feature)

INFO: The Minority Report is an industry-vetted fellowship program for the top diverse screenwriters enrolled in undergraduate or graduate educational institutions (Class of 2022 Graduates are eligible). Made by students, for students, it's the first-ever initiative of its kind.

The contest is sponsored by DIVERSO, a student-run film nonprofit dedicated to changing the face of entertainment by empowering the underrepresented storytellers of the next generation.

At DIVERSO, we believe that long-term, systemic change in Hollywood starts at the student level: providing underrepresented student groups with exposure, resources, and connections in Hollywood that they may not otherwise have access to.

We offer an extensive professional platform to break into entertainment by connecting our Minority Report Fellows with top companies/executives/mentors and providing individualized guidance and stipend for career development.

BENEFITS:

Each year, the Minority Report Fellowship program changes. Below, you'll find the benefits afforded to the Fellows over the last two seasons.

PREVIOUS SEASONS' BENEFITS:

1. Distribution to Agencies: The Minority Report was sent out to over a dozen agents and managers at different companies from Anonymous Content to Paradigm to United Talent Agency.

2. Virtual Panels with Top Industry Professionals:

  • The Daniels, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

  • Shaka King, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

  • Jessica Gao, RICK & MORTY

  • Amy Aniobi, INSECURE

  • JD Dillard, STARWARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

  • Dennis Liu, RAISING DION

3. General Meetings: Our fellows were set up on 5+ general meetings with executives from studios and production companies such as Plan B, 3Arts, Paramount, Universal, Big Beach, JuVee, Tornante, and more.

4. Mentorship: Fellows were matched with experienced writers in the industry based on their personalized style and experience. Mentors provided both career and script guidance. Last season's mentors included:

  • Charles Rogers, SEARCH PARTY

  • Charise Castro Smith, ENCANTO

  • Ifuoma Ofordire, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY

Industry Jury Members last season included:

  • Lee Daniels - Academy Award® Nominated Director, THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLLIDAY

  • Kemp Powers - Academy Award® Nominated Writer, SOUL, ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

  • Tze Chun - Showrunner, GREMLINS

  • Moisés Zamora - Showrunner, SELENA

  • Alexander Hodge - Actor, INSECURE

  • Nava Mau - Actor, GENERATION

  • Sadé Grandberry - Actor, IMMORTAL

  • Yalda Uhls - Founding Director of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, UCLA

  • Jo Jo Lam - Kodak Vision Award for Excellence in Cinematography, CEREMONY

writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/the-minority-report

_____

Elevate Collective

Inevitable Foundation

DEADLINE: Rolling

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: The Elevate Collective empowers mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters with the mentorship, coaching and connections they need to level-up their careers.

FAQS:

Why did you create Elevate Collective?

Mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters need targeted support, education, connections and financial resources—small to medium-sized actions that can have an outsized impact, especially in an industry that is mostly focused on supporting emerging talent. Based on the learnings from our Fellowship program, we wanted to support more disabled screenwriters and help them accelerate their careers, with an important emphasis on building community. For mid- and upper-level disabled writers, there are very few places to turn for this industry-specific support, which is why we created Elevate Collective.

What is the difference between the Elevate Collective and an Elevate Collective Award?

Elevate Collective is an ongoing community of disabled writers who can turn to each other for ongoing support, networking and camaraderie. The Collective is made up of Elevate Collective Award recipients, who have received one-time $5,000 grants that can be used for coaching, education, mentorship, work-from-home equipment and/or IP acquisition.

What does an Elevate Collective Award include?

Elevate Collective Members receive a $5,000 professional development grant, which can be used for career coaching, professional development script consultations, equipment and IP acquisition. Elevate Collective Members also have quarterly check-ins with the Inevitable Foundation team and regular events for members to meet their peers and build community with other disabled screenwriters.

Does Inevitable Foundation own the Intellectual Property (IP) that Elevate Collective Members acquire?

No. When Elevate Collective Members use Elevate Collective Awards to purchase IP, the Member is the right’s holder.

How long does an Elevate Collective Award last?

The financial benefits of an Elevate Collective Award must be used within six (6) months. However, Elevate Collective Members will continue to have access to events and community building opportunities indefinitely.

Can I apply for an Elevate Collective Award more than once?

Yes. If you receive an Elevate Collective Award, you are not permitted to apply again for one (1) calendar year, after which you may re-apply. Receiving an Elevate Collective Award once does not guarantee that you will selected in the future.

ELIGIBILITY:

What are your eligibility requirements? 

General eligibility requirements: 

  • Self-identifies as disabled. 

  • 18 years of age or older.

  • Currently pursuing a career in screenwriting.

  • Not enrolled in an accredited degree program. 

  • Currently or previously has worked in the entertainment industry.

Applicants must also meet at least two (2) of the following criteria: 

  • Has an agent or a manager

  • Member of the WGA, Animation Guild or equivalent union 

  • Has sold a script, TV show, or pitch before 

  • Has staffed on a tv show or received a writing credit on a movie

  • Has been or currently are in development with a major production company, studio, or network

APPLICATION PROCESS:

What information does the Application ask for?

The Application requires the following information:

  • Standard Demographic Information including race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

  • Writer Questions (max 250 words each)

    • What have you accomplished in your career over the last two years? 

    • What is the next level you want to achieve in your career

    • What are the biggest things in the way of you reaching that next level? 

    • Why is disability representation important to you? 

    • What projects are you currently working on? 

      • List title, format, genre(s) and loglines.

  • Resume or CV

inevitable.foundation/elevate

FILM — SEPTEMBER 2022

2022 LATINX LIST

The Black List

DEADLINE: September 2, 2022

INFO: For the third year in a row, the Black List has partnered with the Latin Tracking Board, NALIP, and the Untitled Latinx Project to create the Latinx List, highlighting the very best in Latinx storytelling in film and television. 

Filmmakers and content creators are invited to submit a script for consideration by uploading it to The Black List website during Summer 2022. The submission period for this year is June 21, 2022 through September 2, 2022 with an evaluation purchase deadline of August 2, 2022. Feature film, one-hour, and half-hour original pilot submissions will be considered for this opportunity (no webseries, theatrical scripts, or documentaries, please.) The final Latinx List will include 5 feature film scripts and 5 pilot scripts. Scripts from any genre are eligible for this partnership. Selected scripts will be written by at least one Latinx writer and feature a Latinx or Latin American character in a prominent role. 

Writers selected for the Latinx List will be notified of their placement in Fall 2022 with a public announcement to follow. Further, Netflix has committed to offering WGA minimum script deals to two of the ten writers selected for this year’s Latinx List. Writers retain the right to decline a deal if offered. 

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Writers should be Latinx and currently residing currently in the US - any country of origin or other status is fine

  • Any kind of story is eligible and will be considered

  • All scripts must have one Latinx character in a prominent, lead role

  • Scripts can be bilingual as long as they are written primarily in English

  • Original feature films, half-hours and one-hour pilots considered, no webseries or documentaries 

  • All levels of experience considered for submitting writers  

  • Writing teams are eligible as long as one member of the team identifies as Latinx.

  • Scripts submitted should be as free from attachments as possible

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/120

_____

MACDOWELL FELLOWSHIP

MacDowell

DEADLINE: September 10, 2022 at 11:59pm EST*

PROCESSING FEE: $30

INFO: MacDowell is a fellowship and residency program for writers, visual artists, composers, filmmakers, playwrights, interdisciplinary artists, and architects. About 300 artists are awarded Fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence.

There are no residency fees. Need-based travel grants and stipends are available to open the residency experience to the broadest possible community of artists. Artists with professional standing in their fields, as well as emerging artists, are eligible to apply.

MacDowell encourages artists from all backgrounds and all countries in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. Any applicant whose proposed project does not fall clearly within one of these artistic disciplines should contact the admissions department for guidance. We aim to be inclusive, not exclusive in our admissions process.

MacDowell is currently accepting applications for the Spring Summer 2023 residency season (March - August 2023) and has suspended a longstanding admissions requirement that applicants supply reference letters as part of the application process.

macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship

_____

Princeton Arts Fellowship

Princeton University

DEADLINE: September 13, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

INFO: Princeton Arts Fellowships, funded in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, David E. Kelley Society of Fellows in the Arts, and the Maurice R. Greenberg Scholarship Fund, will be awarded to artists whose achievements have been recognized as demonstrating extraordinary promise in any area of artistic practice and teaching. Applicants should be early career composers, conductors, musicians, choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, poets, novelists, playwrights, designers, directors and performance artists–this list is not meant to be exhaustive–who would find it beneficial to spend two years teaching and working in an artistically vibrant university community.

Princeton Arts Fellows spend two consecutive academic years (September 1-July 1) at Princeton University and formal teaching is expected. The normal work assignment will be to teach one course each semester subject to approval by the Dean of the Faculty, but fellows may be asked to take on an artistic assignment in lieu of a class, such as directing a play or creating a dance with students. Although the teaching load is light, our expectation is that Fellows will be full and active members of our community, committed to frequent and engaged interactions with students during the academic year.

STIPEND: An $88,000 a year stipend is provided. Fellowships are not intended to fund work leading to an advanced degree. One need not be a U.S. citizen to apply. Holders of Ph.D. degrees from Princeton are not eligible to apply.

GUIDELINES: To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae, contact information for three references (should the search committee choose to contact references, please do not request letters or have letters sent in advance of a request from the search committee), and work samples (i.e., a writing sample, images of your work, video links to performances, etc.). Please also submit a 750-word proposal that includes how you would hope to use the two years of the fellowship to develop your work, how you would contribute to Princeton’s arts community through teaching and/or production, and how you have encouraged diversity and inclusion in your artistic practice, teaching, and/or research.

arts.princeton.edu/fellowships/princeton-arts-fellowship/

_____

CANADIAN WOMEN ARTISTS’ AWARD

New York Foundation for the Arts / Canadian Women’s Club

DEADLINE: Extended to September 13, 2022

INFO: The Canadian Women Artists’ Award is a $5,000 cash grant open to Canadian women artists ages 25-40 in New York State. The CWAA is an unrestricted cash grant and can be used in any manner the recipient deems necessary to further their artistic goals. 

In 2022, CWC and NYFA will be awarding three (3) $5,000 awards, one in each of the following categories:

  1. Visual Arts: Painting, Photography, Craft/Sculpture, Printmaking/Drawing, or Interdisciplinary Work

  2. Media and Design: Video/Film, Experimental Sound, or Design

  3. Literary Arts: Poetry, Nonfiction, Fiction, or Playwriting/Screenwriting

ELIGIBILITY:

The Canadian Women Artists’ Award is open to Canadian women artists living in New York State who meet the following requirements:

  • Must be a Canadian citizen, and able to provide proof of citizenship with legal documentation upon receipt of the award.

  • Must be between the ages of 25 and 40 before the application deadline.

  • Must be a current resident of New York State.

  • Must apply in only one of the eligible discipline categories.

  • Must be the originators of the work.

  • Must not be a previous recipient of the Canadian Women Artists’ Award.

  • Must not be a NYFA employee, member of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, and/or an immediate family member of any of the previous.

Students in bachelor’s or master’s degree programs are eligible to apply.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT:

NYFA is committed to supporting artists from every background, and at all stages in their creative careers. We strongly encourage artists of color, LGBTQ+ artists, artists with disabilities, and artists living outside of the metropolitan area to apply.

To request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email CWAA@nyfa.org. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible, or by Tuesday, August 9, 2022, to allow adequate time for staff to support you in submitting an application before the deadline.

https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/canadian-women-artists-award/

_____

Tasveer Film Fund

Tasveer

DEADLINE: September 15, 2022

INFO: Tasveer is excited to present the 3rd year of the Tasveer Film Fund (TFF), with partial support from Netflix. This fund is solely for people of South Asian origin and for South Asian-based films.

We are excited to announce that Tasveer is more than doubling its Tasveer Film Fund grant in 2022, from $15,000 to $50,000. The Tasveer Film Fund aims to empower South Asian filmmakers to bring their scripts to life with monetary grants, as well as year-long support with resources and mentorship access. We believe that our support can help to take some of the fundraising burden away from filmmakers, while helping to connect them with important resources to get their projects made. These films, that bring necessary representation and social justice issues to light, deserve to be fully resourced and widely seen.

With support from Netflix, TFF will once again offer awards for US-based filmmakers, which includes increased grants in the Short Narrative, LGBTQIA+ Short, and Documentary categories.

New in 2022, Tasveer is presenting a Feature Film Track, which will award up to $15,000 to a feature-length narrative. This track is open to submissions from any country.

We will host a live pitching session to determine the award winners in each category. The top 3 finalists will be invited from each category to pitch their short film, LGBTQ+ films, or their documentary treatment.

PITCH DATE + TIME:

  • Thursday, October 13th
    - 8am-10am PST: Documentary pitch
    - 12pm - 2pm PST: LGBTQI+ Short film pitch

  • Friday October 14th, 2022
    - 8am-10am PST: Feature film pitch
    - 12pm- 2 pm PST: Short Film Pitch

AWARDS + PRIZES:

  • Narrative Short: $10,000 (US only)

  • LGBTQIA+ Narrative Short: $10,000 (US only)

  • Documentary: $15,000 (US only)

  • Narrative Feature: $15,000 (Global)

filmfreeway.com/tasveerfilmfund

_____

Apprenticeship and Cultural Mentorship Funding

Indigenous Screen Office

DEADLINE: September 20, 2022

INFO: ISO has partnered with Netflix to provide funding to support training, professional development and culturally specific approaches for Indigenous on-screen content creators and Indigenous-owned production companies. There are two funding streams available:

  1. Production Apprenticeships: The intent of this funding is to support new opportunities for hands-on training and career progression for Indigenous creatives through all stages of production, or in a production studio. The apprentice(s) should have a record of production experience and demonstrate that this opportunity, with the support of the proposed mentor(s), will support their skills building and career development.

  2. Cultural Mentorships: This opportunity was created for Indigenous producers, directors and writers to be able to engage in cultural mentorship, community engagement, cultural learning, and protocols work during the pre-development, development, and production phases of their projects. This may include working with Elders, language speakers, knowledge keepers and/or community members to develop their project idea or to support their personal growth and development in their career as a screen-based storyteller. Indigenous owned production companies may apply for this funding to bring cultural mentor(s) on set for cultural learning, knowledge sharing, and to implement cultural and traditional practices related to the completion of a production.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Please note the spirit and intent of ISO funding is to support Indigenous creators and companies that are controlled by Indigenous people, who have decision-making authority and creative control.

For the purposes of ISO programs, “Indigenous” is defined as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada. All applicants must be residents of Canada.

Please consult the ‘Building Trust and Accountability: Report on Eligibility in the Indigenous Screen Sector’ which informs the ISO in regards to Indigenous identity, relationality, and access to funding programs.

Individuals (including sole proprietors):

  • Are a First Nations, Inuit or Métis person residing in Canada and who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who has resided in Canada for at least eight months over the last one-year period;

  • Working in screen-based content, including TV, film, web, gaming, apps, and XR (VR, AR);

  • The project is under the financial and creative control of the applicant; and two of the three key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner, producer) are Indigenous.

  • Can deposit a cheque in the name of the applicant;

  • Is not in a state of bankruptcy within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).

Individual Applicants: Please be advised the Canada Revenue Agency considers this funding as taxable income. Please keep all expense receipts related to these funds to offset your tax obligations. If you are incorporated as a sole proprietor, you must apply under your business name for the funding to be deposited to your business bank account. The funding will not be deposited to an account in any name other than the applicant name.

Companies:

  • Indigenous-controlled (minimum 51% ownership by person/s who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis);

  • The project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons, two of the three key members of the creative team must be Indigenous;

  • Registered as a corporation with its head office in Canada, complete incorporation documents must be uploaded to ISO Apply;

  • Bios for each owner of the company must be provided, as well as their individual percentage of ownership.

  • Main activity of the organization is the production or support of screen-based content, including TV, film, web, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR).

  • Is not insolvent or bankrupt, or in the course of the reorganization of its business within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada);

  • Can deposit cheque in the name of the applicant/the name of the company listed on the application.

Program Goals:

  • To create new training, career development and job opportunities for Indigenous screen-based creatives, with a focus on those who have gained experience in the sector and want to expand their skill set;

  • To build capacity within the sector, at all stages of production;

  • To support Indigenous producers, directors and writers to engage in cultural mentorship learning, and protocols work during the development and production phases of their screen-based project;

  • To recognize and support Indigenous ways of working, which often requires extensive engagement, consultation and learning at the community level.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

Applications must be completed in ISO Apply and be submitted by 5pm EST on the first deadline (September 20th, 2022) or the second deadline (December 7th, 2022). The portal will close at the deadline and applications will not be accepted after that time.

Funding notifications can be expected 3-4 months following the deadline.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Please note the spirit and intent of ISO funding is to support Indigenous creators and companies that are controlled by Indigenous people, who have decision-making authority and creative control.

For the purposes of ISO programs, “Indigenous” is defined as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada.  All applicants must be residents of Canada.  

Please consult the ‘Building Trust and Accountability: Report on Eligibility in the Indigenous Screen Sector’ which informs the ISO in regards to Indigenous identity, relationality, and access to funding programs.

Individuals (including sole proprietors): 

  • Are a First Nations, Inuit or Métis person residing in Canada and who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who has resided in Canada for at least eight months over the last one-year period;

  • Working in screen-based content, including TV, film, web, gaming, apps, and XR (VR, AR);

  • The project is under the financial and creative control of the applicant; and two of the three key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner, producer) are Indigenous.

  • Can deposit a cheque in the name of the applicant;

  • Is not in a state of bankruptcy within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada).

Individual Applicants: Please be advised the Canada Revenue Agency considers this funding as taxable income.  Please keep all expense receipts related to these funds to offset your tax obligations. If you are incorporated as a sole proprietor, you must apply under your business name for the funding to be deposited to your business bank account. The funding will not be deposited to an account in any name other than the applicant name. 

Companies : 

  • Indigenous-controlled (minimum 51% ownership by person/s who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis);

  • The project is under the financial and creative control of Indigenous persons, two of the three key members of the creative team must be Indigenous;

  • Registered as a corporation with its head office in Canada, complete incorporation documents must be uploaded to ISO Apply;

  • Bios for each owner of the company must be provided, as well as their individual percentage of ownership.

  • Main activity of the organization is the production or support of screen-based content, including TV, film, web, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR).

  • Is not insolvent or bankrupt, or in the course of the reorganization of its business within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada);

  • Can deposit cheque in the name of the applicant/the name of the company listed on the application.

PROGRAM CATEGORIES

This program has two streams, which Indigenous-owned Production Companies and Indigenous Individuals may apply to:

  1. Indigenous-owned Production Companies: Indigenous-owned production companies may apply to this program to bring a maximum of four (4) Indigenous apprentices on a production, in studio, or to participate in a cultural mentorship. The production company must be 51% Indigenous owned, with two of the key creative roles (producer, director, writer, showrunner) held by an Indigenous person. The company must be registered in Canada.

  2. Indigenous Individuals: Indigenous individual creatives may apply directly to serve as an apprentice on a production, to apprentice in a studio, or to participate in a cultural mentorship. For apprenticeships, the specialist who will be serving as mentor may be Indigenous or non-Indigenous. Cultural mentors must be Indigenous. The applicant must be a resident of Canada. Indigenous individuals may apply to be apprentices on any type of production but must have a confirmation letter of role and fee.

Screen-based projects in all genres are eligible for apprentices. The following types of productions are eligible: 

  • Feature-length works

  • Television series

  • Web series

  • VR/AR/XR, 360, video games, digital, and interactive works

  • Ongoing studio work

Training and professional development for the following key creative roles are eligible for apprenticeships: 

  • Producer

  • Director

  • Screenwriter

  • Showrunner

  • Editor

  • Director of Photography

  • Costume Designer

  • Sound Designer

  • Production Designer

  • Lighting Designer

  • Animation/Effects

If your position falls outside of this list, please reach out to funding@iso-bea.ca to discuss your specific opportunity.

Apprenticeship Eligibility: 

  • Apprentices may be at any stage in their career (emerging, mid-career, experienced), but the opportunity must provide enhanced experience, training and professional development that will support career progression. They must have demonstrated production experience.

  • For all apprenticeships (in development or production), the applicant must provide letters or contracts of confirmed public or broadcast funding (Telefilm, Canada Media Fund, Canada Council, provincial or territorial funding, Canadian broadcaster funding);

  • They must be working with a more senior professional with a demonstrated track record in their area of practice;They must be learning the skills of a more advanced role through hands-on work, training and shadowing;

  • Apprentices must be compensated at an industry standard for their experience level and hours worked;

  • Apprentices cannot already be hired in a credited role in production.

  • Apprentices must be Indigenous, however, their mentor may be non-Indigenous;

  • Apprentices must be residents of Canada;

  • One production company may submit ONE application with up to four apprentices. However, the maximum total request cannot exceed $60,000.00 for apprenticeships.

Cultural Mentorship Eligibility

  • Cultural Mentors must be compensated a minimum of $500 per single engagement;

  • Cultural Mentors must be confirmed and provide a signed letter of confirmation and short bio;

  • An applicant can engage up to four (3) cultural mentors. The maximum total request cannot exceed $25,000.00 for cultural mentorships;

  • Applicants must provide contextual and project-specific rationale for the selection of the Cultural Mentor(s).

Other Eligibility Criteria

  • Apprentices, mentors, and cultural mentors must be confirmed in order to apply as these are key to the assessment process.

  • Applicants may only apply to either the Apprenticeship Program OR the Cultural Mentorships Program per deadline.

  • You must be in good standing with ISO.

  • Applicants cannot be listed as a mentee in one application and as a mentor in a different application in the funding program.

Production companies cannot receive funding from other ISO programs for the same training program or initiative. Example: If you apply for ISO Production Funding, you cannot have the proposed apprentice listed in the budget or as a key creative. The intent of the program is to create new opportunities for training.

If you have an apprenticeship or training program that will support more than four (4) roles please speak with the Program Manager for the Sector Development Funding. 

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES:

The following expenses may be included in the application budget:

  • Apprentice and mentor fees;

  • Apprentice travel and living expenses;

  • Mentor honorariums;

  • Hospitality, food and gifting expenses;

  • Equipment rentals;

  • Project-specific expenses.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

For Indigenous-owned productions:

  • Complete incorporation documents and bios for all company owners

  • Bio(s) and CV(s) for confirmed apprentice(s) as well as contact information;

  • Bio(s) and CV(s) of mentor(s);

  • Signed letter from apprentice(s) confirming participation;

  • Signed letter from mentor(s) confirming their participation;

  • Budget related to the apprenticeship or cultural mentorship with ISO funding separated;

  • Timeline for training, training plan or workplan with milestones for apprentice learning

Project Information Required:

  • Project logline, series/content bibles, demo reel(s), trailer(s), lookbook(s), links to game play, prototype(s), community engagement plan;

  • Complete Production or Development Budget;

  • Confirmation letter(s) or signed contract(s) for confirmed public development or production funding;

  • Production or development schedule.

For individual applicants:

  • Bio and resume/CV;

  • Description of how this opportunity meets development goals;

  • A signed letter of confirmation from production team, mentor(s) or cultural mentor(s);

  • Bio of mentor(s);

  • Budget, with ISO funding separated;

  • Timeline and/or work plan that clearly articulates the apprenticeship over the course of development, production, or in studio;

  • Training plan with milestones.

The ISO Program Manager will reach out to the confirmed mentees for a maximum of two (2) check-ins.

FUNDING PROCESS AND PRIORITIES

This program will be assessed by a peer review committee made up of Indigenous individuals representing different nations and regions of Canada;

The following priorities may be considered as part of the assessment process:

  • Regional representation;

  • Representation of diverse Indigenous perspectives and intersections including women and 2SLGBQTIAP+;

  • Emerging voices;

  • Representation of Indigenous languages.

The assessment criteria will be based on:

  • The apprentice or mentee has demonstrated commitment to working in the field.

  • The mentor has the expertise required to provide the training.

  • A clearly articulated plan for the apprenticeship training.

  • A viable project with the capacity required to include trainees and to proceed.

  • The Impact, including the opportunity for learning, advanced experiences and career or personal/cultural development.

When a project is unsuccessful in its application, a brief explanation or feedback can be provided, upon request.

Please note, this program is not designed as a placement opportunity for applicants looking for opportunities for training.

ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATION:

The ISO provides up to $500.00 CAD in additional funding to cover accessibility costs incurred during the stages of applying, completing a project, and writing your final report.

If you have barriers to access including but not limited to language, internet or physical barriers, please contact the ISO to discuss accommodations and support at funding@iso-bea.ca.

GENERAL CRITERIA:

All applicants to ISO programs must confirm they have read the General Funding Guidelines prior to submitting an application.

ELIGIBILITY REVIEW:

An initial review for eligibility and missing documentation will be conducted by the Program Manager. The ISO program manager will reach out if any of this information is needed and applicants will be given a short period (maximum 10 days) to submit anything outstanding.

*Ineligible or incomplete applications can be withdrawn at any time in the process. Applicants will be notified by the ISO when the application is withdrawn.

MISREPRESENTATION:

If at any time, an Applicant, as required by the Criteria or as requested by the ISO, provides false information or omits or misrepresents material information in connection with an application, including with respect to Indigenous identity, such provision of false information, omission or misrepresentation will be considered an event of default and the ISO may exercise the following contractual rights:

▪ termination of any contracts, including any remedies thereunder;
▪ denial of eligibility for existing and future funding;
▪ repayment of any funds already advanced; and
▪ civil and potential criminal prosecution, in the case of fraud.

These measures may be imposed not only on the Applicant but also on related, associated and affiliated companies and individuals that are parties to the application. Any Applicant receiving approval for funding will be required to sign a legally enforceable agreement, which includes provisions concerning misrepresentations, defaults, and related matters.

FINAL REPORTING:

A final report will be required within three months following the completion of the project. Applicants with overdue final reports will not be eligible for ISO funding until the report is submitted and approved.

RECOGNITION OF CONTRIBUTION:

Recipients must acknowledge ISO support with textual reference and/or logo in the credit sequence, or appropriate placement in the completed work (where applicable). ISO logos are available for download on the ISO website iso-bea.ca.

Maximum Funding Amounts:

  • $60,000.00 for Apprenticeships

  • $25,000.00 for Cultural Mentorships

iso-bea.ca/program/apprenticeship-and-cultural-mentorship-funding-supported-by-netflix/

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Screenwriting Lab

Film Independent

DEADLINE: September 28, 2022

APPLICATION FEE:

INFO: The Screenwriting Lab is a two-week workshop held in the first quarter of the year, designed to provide individualized story and career development for emerging screenwriters with a fiction feature screenplay.

Each Screenwriting Fellow will be paired with a Creative Advisor, with whom they’ll work one-on-one and in group sessions to further develop their project over the course of the program. The Screenwriting Lab also helps to further the careers of its Fellows by introducing them to film industry veterans who can offer guidance on both the craft and business of screenwriting. A variety of guest speakers may screen and discuss their own films and offer career insights, and a final pitch event offers further opportunity for individualized feedback and discussion with industry executives.

WHO CAN APPLY?

The Screenwriting Lab is open to any writer applying with a completed draft of a feature-length project they wish to workshop during the program, with an eye toward production. More details available in the FAQ section below.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration:

  • A cover letter detailing what drew you to apply to the Screenwriting Lab and why this is the right time for you to participate in the program (500 words max)

  • One complete, feature-length screenplay

  • An artist statement explaining the genesis of the story, your creative vision and intentions for the film (750 words max)

  • A look book (optional)

  • A logline (35 words) and synopsis for the film

  • Bios of attached key cast and crew, if any – Attachments are not required for consideration

  • Project status and history, including any relevant development history, awards received or labs and/or markets attended with the project

  • A narrative directing sample, if you plan on directing the film with which you are applying

FAQ:

  • Screenwriting Lab is for writers only; other collaborators are not invited to participate.

  • Writing partners/teams are welcome to apply and need only submit one application.

  • We are open to filmmakers at any level of experience.

  • International applicants are eligible; the script must be translated into English for consideration.

  • Adaptations are eligible; the applicant must retain rights to the underlying material.

  • At this time, documentary, short film and television projects are not eligible to apply.

  • We will reconsider projects that have previously been submitted, provided the writer(s) can demonstrate progress on the project and/or professional development.

  • Filmmakers may apply to multiple Film Independent Artist Development programs and there is no requirement to have participated in any one program before another.

THE FINE PRINT:

Beyond the application fee, there is no cost or tuition to participate in any of Film Independent’s Artist Development programs.

Film Independent Membership is not required when applying to Artist Development Labs. However, all participants accepted into the Labs are required to join Film Independent at the standard annual General Membership rate of $95.

Applicants will be notified three to four weeks prior to the start of the program.

Applicants who are invited to participate in the program should plan to be in Los Angeles for the duration of the Lab. Film Independent is unable to subsidize any travel, lodging and/or visa expenses for any participants attending from outside of Los Angeles. Participants are expected to attend all sessions in person.

filmindependent.org/programs/artist-development/screenwriting-lab/

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Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab

BlackStar

DEADLINE: September 29, 2022

INFO: BlackStar is proud to present the 2023 Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab, an opportunity designed to uplift emerging and mid-career artists in the Greater Philadelphia area. BlackStar’s Filmmaker Lab will support four projects by Black, Brown and Indigenous filmmakers through making equipment, space, crew, mentorship, funding and critical feedback available over the course of a 12-month program. BlackStar will act as an executive producer on the short films created during the Lab and premiere the films at BlackStar Film Festival in 2023.

This year, four directors and four producers will be selected to receive year-round mentorship as part of the Lab, including feedback on works-in-progress, and advice on working with below-the-line crew. Shortlisted candidates who do not make the fellowship will receive 1-on-1 consultation from industry representatives. The program is open to emerging and mid-career filmmakers seeking to create short narrative, experimental or hybrid projects in any genre.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Candidates must live in the Greater Philadelphia area.

  • Projects must be filmed in the Greater Philadelphia area.

  • The Lab is not open to students currently pursuing an art or film degree, organizations, or corporations.

  • Candidates should identify as Black, Brown, Indigenous or as a Person of Color (BIPOC).

  • The Lab is open to adults at least 18 years of age.

  • Applicants must be available for Orientation Weekend, currently set for November 19-20, 2022.

KEY DATES:

  • November 11, 2022 – Notification Date

  • November 19-20, 2022 – Orientation Weekend (Candidates must be available for in-person programming)

blackstarfest.org/lab/

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Storyknife Writers Retreat

DEADLINE: September 30, 2022

APPLICATION FEE: $40

INFO: Storyknife provides women with the time and space to explore their craft without distraction. Every aspect of a residency at Storyknife is steeped in a profound generosity of spirit so that each writer knows she and her work are valuable. Storyknife residents carry away both this affirmation and a living community of women writers to assist their valuable work wherever they go.

Residencies at Storyknife in Homer, Alaska, are either for two or four weeks. Resident’s food and lodging is covered during the period of their residency, but travel to and from Homer, Alaska, is the responsibility of the resident. Residents stay in individual cabins & dine at the main house. An on-staff chef is responsible for food preparation.

Four week residencies begin on the 1st of each month and end on the 28th. Two week residencies begin on the 1st of each month and end on the 15th OR begin on the 15th and end on the 28th. Residencies are available April through October.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must:

  • Be woman-identified

  • Be 21 years of age or older

  • Apply as an individual artist, not a collaborative group or team

You will provide a work sample and answer four questions (each answer 300 words or fewer).

  • How have you sought to educate yourself as a writer? (Formal education not a prerequisite, but evidence of curiosity and learning in your applicable genre is.)

  • What is your experience with publishing your work? (Publishing is not a prerequisite but is considered a goal for writers who attend Storyknife.)

  • What project will you pursue while in residency? (Please note that you will be free to work on whatever writing you wish during residency. We simply are interested in what you think you’ll be pursuing.)

  • Why would a writing residency benefit you at this time especially?

Work Sample Requirements:

  • Work samples should reflect work completed within the last two years. All work samples must be uploaded through Submittable. Written work samples will be uploaded directly within the application. 

  • Applicants can submit published or unpublished work samples. 

  • All work samples must be combined into one PDF file.

  • A writing sample not to exceed 10 pages (prose: double-spaced 12 point font, poetry: single-spaced 12 point font acceptable). Prose includes screenplays and stage plays which also must conform to the 10 page limit. 

  • Any writing samples with identifying material will be disqualified. Identifying material is your name, address, or publication credits. This only refers to the writing sample, not the answers to the questions. This is an anonymous jurying process.

Diversity

Storyknife is committed to diversity and elevating voices of historically excluded communities. We value all aspects of diversity and seek to make each resident’s time at Storyknife as productive and pleasant as possible.

Please contact executive director, Erin Hollowell, at ehollowell@storyknife.org to ask about accommodation or to speak further about your needs. Storyknife is welcoming to all and will work with you to meet your needs.

storyknife.org/how-to-apply/

FILM — AUGUST 2022

Lynn Shelton “Of A Certain Age” Grant

Northwest Film Forum

DEADLINE: August 2, 2022

INFO: Now in its third year, the Lynn Shelton “Of A Certain Age” grant awards $20,000 to a US-based woman, non-binary, or transgender filmmaker, age 39 or older, who has yet to direct a narrative feature. Similar to the previous iteration, the grant will be a national open call, and seeks to recognize a film director for their distinct vision, storytelling, and singularity.

nwfilmforum.slideroom.com/#/Login

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FEMME FRONTERA FILMMAKER SHOWCASE

DEADLINE: August 5, 2022

INFO: The Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase is an annual film festival held in El Paso, Texas, which celebrates short films made by women and nonbinary filmmakers from around the world, most especially women of color from border communities. Created in 2016, the festival is run by a collective of six women filmmakers from the U.S.-Mexico border region. Femme Frontera has been featured in Variety Magazine, Texas Monthly magazine, and Remezcla. In 2018, the Showcase was listed as one of the top film festivals for female filmmakers.

The Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase, a 1.5 hour program, goes on tour each year and has screened at the following locations:

Echo Park Film Center Los Angeles, CA, Relativity School Los Angeles, CA, Southwestern University Georgetown, TX, Indie Grits Film Festival Columbia, SC, UWM Milwaukee, WI, 516 ARTS Albuquerque, NM, Cine Las Americas Austin, TX, San Diego, CA, Art Theater Champaign, IL and Cine Festival San Antonio, TX.

Though priority will be given to filmmakers who were born, live, and/or created their short films in El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and their surrounding communities, FFFS welcomes short film submissions made by all women and non-binary filmmakers, most especially BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), Migrant, Mexican, Mexican-American, Transfronterizx, and/or LGBTQIA filmmakers from around the world.

RULES:

  • Open to shorts under 20 minutes in length.

  • Projects must be DIRECTED by WOMEN and NON-BINARY filmmakers ONLY. Any genre accepted. Priority will be given to stories told by immigrants, people of color, the LBGTQ community, and most especially films that take place along border regions around the world.

filmfreeway.com/FemmeFronteraFilmmakerShowcase

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PBS/Firelight William Greaves Production Fund

PBS / Firelight Media

DEADLINE: August 8, 2022

INFO: The PBS/Firelight William Greaves Production Fund will resource documentary productions by mid-career filmmakers from diverse communities in the United States that are intended for distribution on PBS through finishing funds or co-production funding.

The Fund is designed to address the persistent structural challenges many filmmakers face after producing their first films, so that they can remain in the field and continue to create vital stories focused on underrepresented people and topics. Within the Greaves Fund, Firelight Media and PBS will hold an open call for filmmakers to submit projects for potential funding by PBS.

ELIGIBILITY: The PBS/Greaves Fund is open to documentary filmmakers who meet the following criteria:

  • Identifies as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color.

  • Mid-Career filmmaker with a minimum of 7 years experience in documentary filmmaking.

  • Producer, Director, and/or Co-Director credit on a minimum of 2 hours of distributed films of any genre via Broadcast, VOD and streaming, and/or an Academy Award qualifying festival.

  • Is a resident of the United States or U.S. territory (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Samoa, Guam/Northern Mariana Islands).

  • Secured a minimum of 20% of the total Production budget.

  • Holds a minimum of 50% of the Copyright to the production.

firelightmedia.submittable.com/submit

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Writer’s Vision Grant

The Black List / Warby Parker

DEADLINE: August 15, 2022

INFO: The Black List and Warby Parker have partnered to create the Writer’s Vision Grant, which will award $20,000 each to three aspiring writers in film, television, and theater. Each writer will receive $20,000 to either film a short proof of concept based on their feature screenplay, develop a new theatrical work for the stage, or develop and write an original television pilot script. 

The Writer’s Vision Grant will foster and celebrate scripts that harness and explore creativity, diversity, inclusion, empathy, and innovation in their storytelling. 

Writers are invited to submit their work for consideration by uploading it directly to the Black List website. Writers can opt-in to the opportunity until midnight on August 15, 2022. Though writers can submit work of any genre, the scripts should avoid violence, illegal activity, drugs/alcohol use, and overly explicit content. 

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

  • Submission Period Closes August 15, 2022

  • Short List Writers Notified August 16, 2022

  • Personal Statements Due August 23, 2022

  • Final Participants Notified September 16, 2022

* In order for new script evaluations to qualify for consideration for the Grant, they must be purchased by midnight on the Evaluations Deadline. Please note, purchase of an evaluation is not required for consideration. However we strongly encourage having your script evaluated.

This partnership marks the sixth year of collaboration between the Black List and Warby Parker. In previous years, Warby Parker presented Black List Live!, a series of live readings of unproduced scripts from up-and-coming creative talent. Previous live readings include: CHARMING by Elliot Owen, featuring Rachel McAdams and Adam Scott; SAVING CHAPLIN by Justin Shady, starring Jon Hamm and Randall Park; and EL FUEGO CALIENTE by Ben Schwartz, starring Schwartz and Don Cheadle. 

ABOUT WARBY PARKER

Warby Parker was founded with a mission: to inspire and impact the world with vision, purpose, and style.

Headquartered in New York City, the co-founder-led lifestyle brand pioneers ideas, designs products, and develops technologies that help people see, from designer-quality prescription glasses (starting at $95) and contacts, to eye exams and vision tests available online and in more than 160 retail stores across the U.S. and Canada.

Warby Parker aims to demonstrate that businesses can scale while doing good in the world. Ultimately, the brand believes in vision for all, which is why for every pair of glasses or sunglasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need through their Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program. To date, Warby Parker has worked alongside its nonprofit partners to distribute more than 10 million glasses to people in need.

Writing has always been an important cultural pillar for Warby Parker—the brand name is made up of two characters from a Jack Kerouac journal, Warby Pepper and Zagg Parker. In the past, Warby Parker has teamed up with writers, written and published books under Warby Parker Press, and partnered with the Black List to support up-and-coming filmmakers. The brand is excited to continue this tradition with the Writer’s Vision Grant.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/116

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Canadian Women Artists’ Award

New York Foundation for the Arts / Canadian Women’s Club

DEADLINE: August 30, 2022

INFO: The Canadian Women Artists’ Award is a $5,000 cash grant open to Canadian women artists ages 25-40 in New York State. The CWAA is an unrestricted cash grant and can be used in any manner the recipient deems necessary to further their artistic goals. 

In 2022, CWC and NYFA will be awarding three (3) $5,000 awards, one in each of the following categories:

  1. Visual Arts: Painting, Photography, Craft/Sculpture, Printmaking/Drawing, or Interdisciplinary Work

  2. Media and Design: Video/Film, Experimental Sound, or Design

  3. Literary Arts: Poetry, Nonfiction, Fiction, or Playwriting/Screenwriting

ELIGIBILITY:

The Canadian Women Artists’ Award is open to Canadian women artists living in New York State who meet the following requirements:

  • Must be a Canadian citizen, and able to provide proof of citizenship with legal documentation upon receipt of the award.

  • Must be between the ages of 25 and 40 before the application deadline.

  • Must be a current resident of New York State.

  • Must apply in only one of the eligible discipline categories.

  • Must be the originators of the work.

  • Must not be a previous recipient of the Canadian Women Artists’ Award.

  • Must not be a NYFA employee, member of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, and/or an immediate family member of any of the previous.

Students in bachelor’s or master’s degree programs are eligible to apply.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT:

NYFA is committed to supporting artists from every background, and at all stages in their creative careers. We strongly encourage artists of color, LGBTQ+ artists, artists with disabilities, and artists living outside of the metropolitan area to apply.

To request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email CWAA@nyfa.org. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible, or by Tuesday, August 9, 2022, to allow adequate time for staff to support you in submitting an application before the deadline.

https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/canadian-women-artists-award/

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Catapult Development Grant

Catapult Film Fund

DEADLINE: August 31, 2022

INFO: Catapult gives early support to propel projects forward that hold the promise of a story that should be uniquely told in film.

We provide development funding, up to $20,000, to documentary filmmakers who have a strong story to tell, have secured access, and are ready to create a fundraising piece to help unlock critical production funding. We enable filmmakers to develop their projects to the next level, at the early stage when funding is hard to find. We support powerful and moving storytelling, by filmmakers with a strong voice across a broad spectrum of subject matter.

Catapult is not tied to any specific social issue agenda. We support and encourage nonfiction filmmakers to tell a full range of stories on film in whatever form fits the film and artist. As a result our Catapult supported films can range widely in style and scope.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Catapult does not fund student films.

  • Documentaries must be 28 minutes or longer in length. We do not fund series.

  • Animation is okay. Documentary/narrative hybrids will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

  • Development funds must specifically be used for the process of completing a fundraising piece, which may include writing, shooting and editing once story and characters are in place.

  • Applicants must own the copyright of their production, and have artistic, budgetary and editorial control over their project.

  • Applicants should preferably have previous film or television production experience in a principal role (director, co-director, producer, co-producer) as demonstrated by submitting previously completed work sample. Applicants who have not yet produced or directed their own feature length documentary should demonstrate that they will be working with an experienced filmmaker in a principal role.

  • Catapult only makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations. In most cases, this will mean getting a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor for the project. A film production company or individual, including applicants from outside the US, may submit an application without a fiscal sponsor in place. Please see the FAQ section for more details.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • Creative, artful, compelling and innovative storytelling techniques

  • Strong story narrative at the core of the film

  • A unique perspective or approach; use of humor a plus

  • Contemporary relevance

  • Feasibility of the project with respect to its budget, financing, schedule and scope

  • Demonstrated ability of the creative team to have implemented previous projects

  • Grant amount should have significant impact on development stage of the project

  • Emphasis on the story not the lesson or agenda of the filmmaker

  • Filmmakers must demonstrate credible access and rapport with the proposed subject(s) of the story.

  • Originality of form, approach or content

  • Potential of the project to generate public discourse and social engagement

GUIDELINES:

  • Catapult Film Fund development grants range from $5000 to $20,000.

  • Catapult accepts applicants who can arrange to have a US 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.

  • Catapult may contact the applicant with questions about the proposal.

  • Grantees must submit two financial reports during the course of the grant period: an interim report, which will accompany a narrative report; and a final financial report to be submitted once the grant is complete.

  • Grantees must submit at the end of the grant period an edited piece that can be used for production fundraising.

  • Catapult Film Fund support must be acknowledged with a tag line and logo–of similar size and stature to other logos in the credits–at the end credits of the film as well as on all publicity and promotional materials relating to the production.

  • Catapult will not return DVDs to applicants.

catapultfilmfund.org/how-to-apply/

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2022 LATINX LIST

The Black List

DEADLINE: September 2, 2022

INFO: For the third year in a row, the Black List has partnered with the Latin Tracking Board, NALIP, and the Untitled Latinx Project to create the Latinx List, highlighting the very best in Latinx storytelling in film and television. 

Filmmakers and content creators are invited to submit a script for consideration by uploading it to The Black List website during Summer 2022. The submission period for this year is June 21, 2022 through September 2, 2022 with an evaluation purchase deadline of August 2, 2022. Feature film, one-hour, and half-hour original pilot submissions will be considered for this opportunity (no webseries, theatrical scripts, or documentaries, please.) The final Latinx List will include 5 feature film scripts and 5 pilot scripts. Scripts from any genre are eligible for this partnership. Selected scripts will be written by at least one Latinx writer and feature a Latinx or Latin American character in a prominent role. 

Writers selected for the Latinx List will be notified of their placement in Fall 2022 with a public announcement to follow. Further, Netflix has committed to offering WGA minimum script deals to two of the ten writers selected for this year’s Latinx List. Writers retain the right to decline a deal if offered. 

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Writers should be Latinx and currently residing currently in the US - any country of origin or other status is fine

  • Any kind of story is eligible and will be considered

  • All scripts must have one Latinx character in a prominent, lead role

  • Scripts can be bilingual as long as they are written primarily in English

  • Original feature films, half-hours and one-hour pilots considered, no webseries or documentaries 

  • All levels of experience considered for submitting writers  

  • Writing teams are eligible as long as one member of the team identifies as Latinx.

  • Scripts submitted should be as free from attachments as possible

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/120

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MACDOWELL FELLOWSHIP

MacDowell

DEADLINE: September 10, 2022 at 11:59pm EST*

PROCESSING FEE: $30

INFO: MacDowell is a fellowship and residency program for writers, visual artists, composers, filmmakers, playwrights, interdisciplinary artists, and architects. About 300 artists are awarded Fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence.

There are no residency fees. Need-based travel grants and stipends are available to open the residency experience to the broadest possible community of artists. Artists with professional standing in their fields, as well as emerging artists, are eligible to apply.

MacDowell encourages artists from all backgrounds and all countries in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. Any applicant whose proposed project does not fall clearly within one of these artistic disciplines should contact the admissions department for guidance. We aim to be inclusive, not exclusive in our admissions process.

MacDowell is currently accepting applications for the Spring Summer 2023 residency season (March - August 2023) and has suspended a longstanding admissions requirement that applicants supply reference letters as part of the application process.

macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship

FILM - JULY 2022

2022 Black Public Media Residency

Black Public Media / Johnny Carson Center

DEADLINE: July 7, 2022

INFO: Black Public Media (BPM) and the Johnny Carson Center are offering a residency for Black filmmakers, creative technologists, and artists who need access to emerging-tech equipment, studio time, or workspace. This is an in-person residency that will take place on the campus of University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the summer of 2022 or January 2023. There is no remote or online option. On-campus lodging will be provided.

Emerging technologies include, but are not limited to, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics and 3D printing. Candidates may also choose to focus on older technologies, such as projection mapping, multichannel video, VFX, or 3D animation.

FAQ - EXPECTATIONS, KEY DATES & THE FINE PRINT:

  1. The residency runs 1 to 3 weeks in summer 2022 or January 2023.

  2. Project teams and individual filmmakers, artists and creative technologists will be accepted on a rolling basis between now and July 7, 2022. Apply as early as possible, to increase the likelihood of receiving your your first-choice residency window on campus.

  3. Black Public Media seeks to develop the talent of producers of color. Thus we seek projects in which a person of African descent is in a key creative position. Key creative positions include writer, director, and producer roles.

  4. Applicants must be at least age 22 when applying for this program.

  5. Applicants based outside the United States are welcome to apply, although they would be expected to pay for their travel to the United States on their own. The residency will cover up to $500 in round-trip flights, per participant, from a U.S. airport to Nebraska.

  6. Participants may receive on-campus housing during their residency, whether they are participating as individuals or as a part of a two-person team.

  7. Participants must apply with a story- or content-driven project that they have in development. Narrative and documentary projects are both acceptable. Your project may be at any stage of development, from concept to post-production.

  8. Up to 2 people from one project team may be accepted at the same time. The second team member does not need to be Black or of African descent. Team members are required to complete the residency at the same time, and both crew members would be designated Black Public Media & Carson Center Artists-in-Resident.

  9. Each project will receive a $5K to $10K USD grant, which will be delivered in 2 payments. If a project has more than one team member applying for the residency, the team must specify in their application which applicant or company will receive the payment.

  10. Each artist-in-resident is required to give a public lecture or teach a workshop during or immediately after their residency. The second and final residency payment is tied to the completion of this deliverable.

  11. Participants of this joint residency program retain full ownership and IP of their projects.

  12. Both the Johnny Carson Center and Black Public Media will receive executive producer credit on your production, project, or idea, as well as public credit whenever your project is screened, exhibited, presented, pitched or distributed.

submissions.blackpublicmedia.org/submit/228812/2022-black-public-media-residency-at-the-johnny-carson-center

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SONY PICTURES ANIMATION + THE BLACK LIST WRITERS PROGRAM

The Black List / Sony Pictures Animation

DEADLINE: July 8, 2022

INFO: The Black List is pleased to announce its very first partnership focused on better identifying and engaging with emerging diverse talent in animation along with Academy Award®-winning studio Sony Pictures Animation (the creative teams behind “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” and the beloved “Hotel Transylvania” franchise). Submissions are now open for the Sony Pictures Animation x The Black List Writers Program!

One writer will be selected to work with Sony Pictures Animation for a six-month period as an in-house writer who will be responsible for crafting dialogue for custom animation pieces, diving into scripts on the development slate, pitching their own ideas, and much more. The selected writer will receive a minimum salary of $50,000, which will be covered under the jurisdiction of I.A.T.S.E..

Submissions will remain open via blcklst.com from April 6, 2022 to July 8, 2022. Eligible writers may submit their scripts any time during that period. For more information about requirements and eligibility, please read the FAQ.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/117

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FEMME FRONTERA FILMMAKER SHOWCASE

DEADLINES:

  • Regular: July 15, 2022

  • Late: August 5, 2022

INFO: The Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase is an annual film festival held in El Paso, Texas, which celebrates short films made by women and nonbinary filmmakers from around the world, most especially women of color from border communities. Created in 2016, the festival is run by a collective of six women filmmakers from the U.S.-Mexico border region. Femme Frontera has been featured in Variety Magazine, Texas Monthly magazine, and Remezcla. In 2018, the Showcase was listed as one of the top film festivals for female filmmakers.

The Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase, a 1.5 hour program, goes on tour each year and has screened at the following locations:

Echo Park Film Center Los Angeles, CA, Relativity School Los Angeles, CA, Southwestern University Georgetown, TX, Indie Grits Film Festival Columbia, SC, UWM Milwaukee, WI, 516 ARTS Albuquerque, NM, Cine Las Americas Austin, TX, San Diego, CA, Art Theater Champaign, IL and Cine Festival San Antonio, TX.

Though priority will be given to filmmakers who were born, live, and/or created their short films in El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and their surrounding communities, FFFS welcomes short film submissions made by all women and non-binary filmmakers, most especially BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), Migrant, Mexican, Mexican-American, Transfronterizx, and/or LGBTQIA filmmakers from around the world.

RULES:

  • Open to shorts under 20 minutes in length.

  • Projects must be DIRECTED by WOMEN and NON-BINARY filmmakers ONLY. Any genre accepted. Priority will be given to stories told by immigrants, people of color, the LBGTQ community, and most especially films that take place along border regions around the world.

filmfreeway.com/FemmeFronteraFilmmakerShowcase

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Loghaven Artist Residency

DEADLINE: July 15, 2022

INFO: Loghaven Artist Residency’s mission is to serve artists by providing them with a transformative residency experience and continued post-residency support. The residency is located on ninety acres of woodland in Knoxville, Tennessee. Artists live in five historic log cabins that have been both rehabilitated and modernized to create an ideal setting for reflection and work, and they have access to new, purpose-built studio space. All Loghaven Fellows are awarded stipends to support the creation of new work during the residency.

ELIGIBILITY: Practicing artists of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are eligible to apply for a Loghaven residency. International artists and artists currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program are not eligible. Artists must be at least twenty-one years old and live more than 120 miles away from Knoxville. This distance requirement is designed to ensure that artists are able to be fully immersed in their residency experience and can take advantage of the retreat-style environment. Please note that all eligibility requirements must be met at the time of application.

We invite applicants in the creation stage of their specified project or work cycle to apply in the following disciplines:

  • Writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and journalism)

  • Visual Arts

  • Dance

  • Theater

  • Music Composition

  • Architecture

  • Interdisciplinary Work

DIVERSITY STATEMENT: Loghaven actively seeks to assemble diverse cohorts. Loghaven does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, religion, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, medical conditions including HIV, or sensory, physical, or mental disability.

RESIDENCY SESSIONS:

  • February 6 – March 3, 2023 (4 weeks)

  • April 10 – May 5, 2023 (4 weeks)

  • May 22 – June 16, 2023 (4 weeks)

  • July 17 – 31, 2023 (2 weeks for teaching artists and faculty artists at the university level)

  • September 25 – November 3, 2023 (6 weeks)

  • January 8 – 22, 2024 (2 weeks, preference given to alumni/ae)

APPLICATION TIMELINE & QUALIFICATIONS:

Applications will be accepted starting Wednesday, June 1, 2022, until Friday, July 15, 2022, at midnight Eastern Time. Late applications will not be accepted. The application panel will meet in September, and applicants will be contacted by November 1, 2022.

A national selection committee composed of artist peers and other arts professionals selects artists. Applicants are judged by the same criteria across disciplines. Panelists are looking for artistic excellence, defined by a depth of conceptual content, sustained impact, and boldness of vision. The panel seeks those with sophisticated technical knowledge, whether the applicant displays a high level of traditional skill or, conversely, subverts that knowledge in new or challenging ways. The panel values potential in emerging artists and evidence of commitment and evolution in more established or mid-career applicants.

REFERENCES:

All applicants are required to submit two professional references. Please provide the name, contact information, and a very brief description of the nature of your professional relationship for each reference. Loghaven contacts references only if the application advances. References would be contacted in the fall by either email or phone and would not submit a formal letter.

WORK SAMPLES:

Determine which discipline best fits your work and follow the instructions below to upload the required work samples.
Name all of your submissions using the following naming structure: last name, first name # (Smith, Jane 1).
If the attached work sample is longer than the limits laid out for your discipline, please indicate the section of video or audio you would like the panel to review. If you do not indicate a section, the panelist will review from the start until the time limit is reached.
Note if any submitted work sample is more than four years old.
Provide all submissions in English or accompanied by a translation.

  • VISUAL ART - Submit eight JPEG images that best represent your work. They can be no more than three MB per image. Each image should contain only one artwork. Two additional optional submissions: Installation documentation (either images or video) or detail shots. If your work is based in video, please submit up to two or three works totaling no more than fifteen minutes of video. Video can be submitted in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link.

  • MUSIC COMPOSITION - Submit two or three audio samples of representative work. Each should be no more than 30MB each and should be in MP3 format or in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link. The work samples should total no more than fifteen minutes of video or audio. If available, please include a score submitted as a PDF.

  • DANCE - Submit two or three works totaling no more than fifteen minutes of video. Each work sample should be submitted in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link.

  • THEATER - Submit either two or three videos or PDFs. If you submit via video, they should total no more than fifteen minutes together in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link. If you submit via PDF, they should total no more than 250MB or two or three PDFs of scripts or librettos, totaling no more than twenty pages.

  • POETRY - Submit eight to ten short poems or excerpts of poems. The total should not exceed 15 pages and should be in PDF format.

  • FICTION, NONFICTION, & SCREENWRITING - Submit two to three work samples in the genre that you wish to work in during your residency. The total should not exceed 20 pages, be double-spaced, and be in PDF format.

  • ARCHITECTURE - Submit two to three examples of previous design-based architecture projects in the form of PDFs, video, or a combination of the two. The applicant may submit work samples including but not limited to models, drawings, and images of completed work. The applicant may submit multiple pages for each project, but the total number of pages submitted should not exceed ten and should be in PDF format. If submitting video, work samples can be in MP4 or MOV format or by Vimeo or YouTube link. The total length should not exceed ten minutes. The applicant should include a brief, 250-word description of each project with the other submitted materials. In this description, please include whether this project was ever constructed. Please review the FAQs before applying in the discipline of Architecture for additional application guidelines.

  • INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK - Submit three to five work samples. The work samples can be in one type of media or a mixture of media including images (jpegs should be no more than three MB each), PDFs, video (MP4/MOV should be no more than 250 MB), Vimeo link, YouTube link, or audio (MP3 should be no more 30MB each).

loghaven.org/residencies/apply/

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Documentary Development Initiative

The Gotham / HBO Documentary Films

DEADLINE: July 26, 2022

INFO: The Documentary Development Initiative is a new partnership between The Gotham and HBO Documentary Films. The program is created for storytellers who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or storytellers with disabilities. The program’s intent is to provide resources to develop thought-provoking, character-driven contemporary ideas for documentary films and limited series. 

Through this initiative, up to 10 selected filmmakers will be given grants of $50,000 for research and creative development at an early stage. HBO and The Gotham will provide resources and mentorship to support the development of documentary projects. Initial funding may be used for creative development and ideation, research, treatment development, securing access, initial shooting and the production of work samples, trailers, etc. 

A grant from the fund would usually be the “first money in” from an outside source, though in some cases it could be a supplement to another initial small grant. The opportunity will exist for select grantees to receive follow-up grants for additional development. Grantees will also be paired with an established documentary filmmaker who will serve as their mentor for the duration of the program.

Ideas generated through the initiative will be offered to HBO on a “first-look” basis, giving HBO the first opportunity to make an offer to develop them further. Funding for this grant is sponsored by: HBO Documentary Films, OneFifty, and WBD Access.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Filmmakers must be 18 years of age or older.

  • Filmmakers must submit two films they’ve directed – either two short films OR one short film and one feature film. Filmmakers who have directed more than one feature film are not eligible.

  • Filmmakers must be allowed to work in the United States.

  • Applicants who advance in the application process may be asked for a letter of recommendation from a TV/film director, producer, writer, or professor.

  • Projects should not have funding in place from any broadcast or digital platforms or any other US distribution entity.

TIMELINE:

  • Program Begins: October 2022

  • Monthly Meetings: October 2022 – March 2023

thegotham.org/documentary-development-initiative/

FILM — JUNE 2022

Documentary Lab

Firelight Media

DEADLINE: June 13, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET

INFO: Firelight Media’s flagship Documentary Lab seeks out and develops emerging filmmakers of color who make artful and innovative nonfiction films. The 18-month Documentary Lab provides filmmakers with customized mentorship from prominent leaders in the documentary world, as well as funding, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities.

Firelight Media uses the Documentary Core Application. Along with your written application, you must submit a work sample (for projects in Production) or a rough cut (for projects in Post-Production). Your work sample or rough cut must be no less than 10 minutes and no longer than 30 minutes in duration.

The deadline for submissions is June 13, 2022 at 11:59PM ET. Under no circumstances will we accept late submissions. The Firelight Documentary Lab supports filmmakers from racially and ethnically under-represented communities in the United States who make artful and innovative documentary films that take risks, and provide new narratives about the most pressing issues of our time. Firelight will consider all types of documentary projects - historical, investigative, personal, vérité, and experimental.

We strongly suggest writing your application in a Word document prior to applying. Please be sure to save your document then copy and paste your responses into the online application.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Only the director of the film is eligible to apply and enter the program. We can accept co-directors if they meet all eligibility requirements. If you’re applying with your co-director, please indicate that in your application. We cannot accept more than 2 directors per project.

  • Filmmaker must be from a racially and ethnically underrepresented community and be residing in the United States, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories.

  • The project must be a long-form/feature-length documentary; the Lab does not accept short documentaries, series, or fiction projects of any kind.

  • Film must be a work-in-progress. We accept films from early production through production or post-production. We do not accept films in pre-production or completed films.

  • Filmmaker must be an emerging documentary filmmaker (working on their first or second feature length documentary).

  • Filmmaker cannot submit a student film to the lab.

Firelight Media accepts applications from filmmakers who identify as people of color based in the United States regardless of their citizenship status. At the moment, we do not accept filmmakers who are based internationally for this program.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact: doclab@firelightmedia.org

firelightmedia.submittable.com/submit

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Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series

Reel Sisters

DEADLINE: June 20, 2022

INFO: Reel Sisters, the first Oscar Qualifying Film Festival for narrative shorts devoted to women filmmakers, is seeking films and web series directed, written or produced by women of color. Shorts, features, animation, works-in-progress, narratives, documentaries and experimental works are eligible.

The festival accepts all genres but is making a special call for films celebrating family and community! Filmmakers will have their original works viewed at the 25th Annual Reel Sisters Film Festival from October 22-23, 2022 at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Brooklyn! Other venues will be announced.

AWARDS: Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series will present cash awards to several category winners in our 2022 season! Winners of our Best Short ($1,000), Best Director ($500), Reel Sisters Best Spirit Award ($300) and Best Animation ($150) will be the recipients of the awards.

There will be more categories announced later in the season — stay tuned!

filmfreeway.com/ReelSistersoftheDiasporaFilmFestival

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Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase

DEADLINES:

  • Earlybird: June 24, 2022

  • Regular: July 15, 2022

  • Late: August 5, 2022

INFO: The Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase is an annual film festival held in El Paso, Texas, which celebrates short films made by women and nonbinary filmmakers from around the world, most especially women of color from border communities. Created in 2016, the festival is run by a collective of six women filmmakers from the U.S.-Mexico border region. Femme Frontera has been featured in Variety Magazine, Texas Monthly magazine, and Remezcla. In 2018, the Showcase was listed as one of the top film festivals for female filmmakers.

The Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase, a 1.5 hour program, goes on tour each year and has screened at the following locations:
Echo Park Film Center Los Angeles, CA, Relativity School Los Angeles, CA, Southwestern University Georgetown, TX, Indie Grits Film Festival Columbia, SC, UWM Milwaukee, WI, 516 ARTS Albuquerque, NM, Cine Las Americas Austin, TX, San Diego, CA, Art Theater Champaign, IL and Cine Festival San Antonio, TX.

Though priority will be given to filmmakers who were born, live, and/or created their short films in El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and their surrounding communities, FFFS welcomes short film submissions made by all women and non-binary filmmakers, most especially BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), Migrant, Mexican, Mexican-American, Transfronterizx, and/or LGBTQIA filmmakers from around the world.

RULES:

  • Open to shorts under 20 minutes in length.

  • Projects must be DIRECTED by WOMEN and NON-BINARY filmmakers ONLY. Any genre accepted. Priority will be given to stories told by immigrants, people of color, the LBGTQ community, and most especially films that take place along border regions around the world.

filmfreeway.com/FemmeFronteraFilmmakerShowcase

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2022 ANNUAL BLACK LIST LAB

The Black List

DEADLINE: July 17, 2022

INFO: The Black List will invite six to eight promising non-professional writers as identified by the Black List to a month-long feature program in September 2022. The program will begin virtually and conclude at an in-person, intensive writers workshop in Los Angeles, CA from September 22-27, 2022 (COVID-permitting). All writers involved in the Lab will workshop one feature screenplay through one-on-one sessions with each screenwriting mentor and in peer workshops. The program will also include attendance at several story-related events with professional screenwriters, executives, producers, lit agents and managers. 

The selection process will work like this: Up to 15 writers will be invited, based on the strength of their scripts as determined by the Black List, to submit a one-page personal statement and professional resume. From those submissions, select writers will be chosen to interview, via Zoom, and 6-8 writers will be selected by the Black List to participate in the Lab.

LAB DEADLINES:

  • Submission Period Opens January 5, 2022

  • Evaluations Deadline (optional)* June 1, 2022

  • Submission Period Closes July 17, 2022

  • Short List Writers Notified July 18, 2022

  • Personal Statements Due July 25, 2022

  • Interviews August 2-3, 2022

  • Final Participants Notified August 5, 2022

  • Lab Begins (Virtually) September 6, 2022

  • In-Person Program on September 22-27, 2022

* In order for new script evaluations to qualify for consideration for the Lab, they must be purchased by midnight on the Evaluations Deadline.  Please note, purchase of an evaluation is not required for consideration to participate in the Feature Lab. We strongly encourage having your script evaluated.

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS:

Air Travel (coach class round trip flights within the continental United States (if available and if used)), ground transport to and from the airport in Los Angeles and all Lab events, and accommodations (room and tax only)* will be provided by the Black List. Meals will also be provided. The Lab is a residential program.

If you are accepted into the Lab, you will be required to board in the provided accommodations for the duration of the program and, if air travel is required, must be available to be flown to Los Angeles from a major airport within the continental United States.

*Participants must be able to provide proof of vaccination (including boosters per current CDC guidelines) and willing to test for COVID-19 infection prior to arriving at the in-person portion of the program. 

SLOAN FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP:

Writers are also available to opt in to the 2022 Sloan Foundation Fellowship.

The Black List’s 2022 Sloan Foundation Fellow at the Annual Black List Feature Lab will be a science- and technology-focused writer with a science-rooted feature screenplay. Mentoring opportunities for the Sloan Fellow will continue throughout the year following the Lab. Writers will have the opportunity to be considered for this fellowship by selecting the “Sloan Foundation Fellow” option during the opt-in process. Writers applying for the Sloan Fellowship are encouraged to have a science advisor for the project. Scripts that are selected for the short list will be asked to submit the name and title of the advisor, a brief description of their scientific area of expertise, and a statement that he/or she has read the script and attests that it is accurate. Writers are encouraged to submit this information in advance of the short list announcement as well.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a New York based, philanthropic, not-for-profit institution that makes grants in three areas: research in science, technology, and economics; quality and diversity of scientific institutions; and public engagement with science. Sloan's program in Public Understanding of Science and Technology supports books, radio, film, television, theater and new media to reach a wide, non-specialized audience and to bridge the two cultures of science and the humanities.  

Sloan’s Film Program encourages filmmakers to create more realistic and compelling stories about science and technology and to challenge existing stereotypes about scientists and engineers in the popular imagination. Over the past two decades, Sloan has partnered with top film schools in the country, supported screenplay development programs, and has helped develop over 30 feature films including Michael Almereyda’s Tesla, Lydia Dean Pilcher and Ginny Mohler’s Radium Girls, Thor Klein’s Adventures of a Mathematician, Jessica Oreck’s One Man Dies a Million Times, Logan Kibens and Sharon Greene’s Operator, Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game, and Matthew Brown‘s The Man Who Knew Infinity. The Foundation’s book program includes support for Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures, which became the highest grossing Oscar-nominated film of 2017 and a social and cultural milestone.  

For more information about the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, please visit www.sloan.org or follow the Foundation at @SloanPublic on Twitter and Facebook.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/108

FILM — MAY 2022

ACADEMY NICHOLL FELLOWSHIPS IN SCREENWRITING

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

DEADLINE / ENTRY FEE: May 2, 2022 by 11:59pm PT / $90

INFO: Each year, the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition awards up to five $35,000 fellowships to amateur screenwriters. To enter, submit a feature length screenplay and entry fee via the online application when the competition is open for submissions. Fellowship winners are invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars, receive individualized Academy member mentorship and are expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during their Fellowship year.

QUALIFICATIONS: Up to five $35,000 fellowships are awarded each year to promising new screenwriters. From the program’s inception in 1986 through 2021, 186 fellowships totaling $4.78 million have been awarded.

FELLOWSHIP OBLIGATIONS:

Up to five fellows in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition will be invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars in November.

Fellowship recipients will be expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during the fellowship year.

Fellowship payments will be made quarterly subject to satisfactory progress of the recipient’s work, as judged by the Academy Nicholl Fellowships Committee.

The Academy reserves the right to grant no awards if, in the opinion of the Academy Nicholl Fellowships Committee, no entry is of sufficient merit.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

  • Original feature film screenplay (no shorter than 70 pages and no longer than 160 pages) in PDF format only

  • Completed online application form

  • Writers must create an account at the Nicholl website to enter the competition. PDF scripts must be uploaded and all other requirements met no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on May 2, 2022.

JUDGING:

The first and quarterfinal rounds are judged by industry professionals who are not members of the Academy. The semifinal round is judged by Academy members drawn from across the spectrum of the motion picture industry. The finalist scripts are judged by the Academy Nicholl Committee.

To further the Academy’s commitment to encouraging and valuing diversity in the industry, the Nicholl Fellowships Program takes measures to ensure that our selection process is as fair as possible and without bias.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

All entrants will receive email notification of whether they've advanced to the Quarterfinals in early August. Semifinalist notifications are emailed in early September.

oscars.org/nicholl/about

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2023 Development Track

Sundance Institute

DEADLINE: May 12, 2022 at 11:59pm PT

APPLICATION FEE: $40

INFO: We accept all application materials electronically ONLY. You will have a chance to save a work-in-progress version of your application before officially submitting.

You must sign in or create an account to access the electronic application. When creating your account, please enter the name of the primary applicant (screenwriter) as the account owner.

The development track has one open application that allows your fiction feature work-in-progress screenplay to be considered for the following programs, fellowships, and grants: 

  • Screenwriters Lab (held annually in January)

  • Screenwriters Intensive (held annually in March online)

  • Sundance Institute Comedy Fellowship

  • Sundance Institute Horror Fellowship

  • Sundance Institute Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and Commissioning Grant

Our application includes questions to determine your eligibility for each program and fellowship, and you will automatically be considered for all programs and fellowships for which you are eligible. (There is no open application for the Directors Lab, which is typically populated by projects that have been supported through a previous development program.) For more information about each program and fellowship, please visit our website

What you need to complete online IN ORDER by MAY 12, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. PT:

CONTACT INFO for the primary applicant and up to two additional members of the creative team. Please note that only the writer(s) and director(s) will attend the Screenwriters Lab.

ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS — a series of questions about you and your project that will determine your eligibility for all of the development track programs and fellowships.

SLOAN FELLOWSHIP AND GRANT QUESTIONS (Sloan applicants only) — if your project is eligible for the Sloan Fellowship and/or Commissioning Grant, you must complete follow-up questions regarding the scientific or technological content of the material. If your project does not contain scientific or technological content, please do not answer these questions — they are optional.

BIOS (150 words max each) for the primary applicant, co-applicant if applicable, and additional creative team member if applicable.

COVER LETTER (500 words max) introducing yourself and your project. There are no strict requirements for this letter, but we’d like to get a brief idea of who you are, what your script is about, where you are in the creative process, and how you think the lab process could be helpful to you.

ARTISTIC STATEMENT (500 words max) describing your creative vision for the project. What themes are you most interested in exploring in your work, and what do you want an audience to take away from your film? How do you envision the realization of this script in terms of story, character, tone, and/or visual style? Is there a budget level you have in mind? Who do you see as the audience for this film? Why are you passionate about telling this story now? If this is a resubmission of material we’ve previously considered, how has the material changed since we last read it?

PERSONAL CONNECTION (500 words max)
What is your personal connection to a) the story you are telling, and b) the specific communities your story is about? How are you working to make sure that the characters and world of your film are authentically represented, and that the community you're writing about has a voice in the creative process?

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/RIGHTS — only required if your project is based on true events or characters.

LOGLINE (75 words max ) — a one- to two-sentence description of your story.

SYNOPSIS (750 words max) — brief summary of the plot of your script. Please include all major characters and story points, including the ending.

FIRST 5 PAGES OF YOUR SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships. Do not upload more than the first five pages.

NEXT STEPS:
Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis as to whether their application has progressed to the next stage of the selection process. Please be prepared to submit the following materials, should you advance to the second round. You will be given approximately 10 days  to two weeks from the date of notification to submit these materials and will be notified sometime in August 2022.

  • UPDATED SYNOPSIS — Since screenplays are often revised between the first and second rounds of our application, we request you submit an updated synopsis with the complete draft of your screenplay.

  • FULL SCREENPLAY OR TREATMENT — Upload a PDF file of the most current draft of your screenplay or treatment. You may submit a treatment for the Sloan Commissioning Grant ONLY. If a treatment is submitted and it is not eligible for the Sloan Commissioning Grant, the project will not be considered for any other development track programs or fellowships.

  • DIRECTING SAMPLE (optional) — If you are a writer/director, or if a director is attached to the project, you will have an opportunity to submit a link to a directing sample or samples. Please include the title and run time for any sample submitted.

  • VISUAL MATERIAL (optional) — If you have visual materials such as a lookbook or project deck, you may upload a PDF of no more than 40 MB.

All applicants will be notified about their status via email no later than August 31, 2022. Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback about individual projects. If you have additional questions, please visit the Development Track FAQ.

If you have further questions, please email featurefilmprogram@sundance.org.

Development Track Selection Process Timeline:

  • April 14, 2022                Application Available Online

  • May 12, 2022                 Application Closes (11:59 p.m. PT)

  • August 31, 2022           Second-round notifications complete

  • December 15, 2022     Final selection notifications complete

Giving Back:

Should you be selected to participate in the January Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, or other Development Track Labs and Fellowships, you will be asked to continue the spirit of giving back. We request that lab alumni whose projects are produced contribute to the Institute’s work to support new generations of emerging filmmakers.

  • If the Project is produced for a gross budget equal to or less than $1,500,000, no contribution is due to the Institute.

  • If the Project is produced for a gross budget between $1,500,01 and $3,000,000, the Owner will make a contribution to the Sundance Institute in an amount of $4,500.

  • If the project is produced for a gross budget between $3,000,001 and $5,000,000, the Owner will make a contribution to the Sundance Institute in an amount of $7,000.

  • If the project is produced for a gross budget that is equal to or exceeds $5,000,001, the Owner will make a contribution to the Sundance Institute in an amount of $9,500.

  • All payments are due within 10 business days of the start of principal photography. Any revenue that is designated to the Sundance Institute is allocated to the Feature Film Program and is used on an annual basis to provide critical support for the labs. Your ability to give back really makes a difference. 

Finally, if selected for the June Directors or Screenwriters Lab, the Sundance Institute will receive a credit line and logo placement in the film’s end titles, “This film was supported by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Film Program.”

apply.sundance.org/prog/2023_development_track/?fbclid=IwAR3DK-JkWOiJ1ZaD5IMEI1htdKnEjvR1hBPBA-fjyNRkgwuCqlIfXBNdHi0

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2023 ARTIST RESIDENCY

Marble House Project

DEADLINE: May 15, 2022

INFO: Marble House Project is a multidisciplinary artist residency program that fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas, by providing an environment for artists across disciplines to live and work together. The residency integrates sustainable practices, including small-scale organic food production and waste conservation. Residents sustain their growth by engaging with the grounds while working on their artistic practice. Marble House Project is founded on the belief that the act of creating, whether in the studio or in nature, is how human potential expands and community thrives.

Marble House Project accepts approximately 60 residents and is open to artists living in the United States and abroad. You must be at least 21 years old.   Residencies run from the end of February  through November, scheduled into six three-week residencies and one two-week family-friendly residency for artists with children. Please note that if you apply to the family friendly residency, it is a specific date within the artist in residency application. Each session accommodates eight artists and is specifically curated to bring together a diverse group of creative workers, to maximize potential for collaboration and dialogue while in residence and beyond. 

RESIDENCY DATES FOR 2023

  • February 28th - March 21

  • March 28th  -  April 18th

  • April 25th  -  May 16th

  • June 6th  -  June 27th

  • July 11th - July 25th   FAMILY FRIENDLY RESIDENCY WITH CHILDREN ONLY

  • October 2 - October 23rd

  • October 30th  -  November 20th

All residents live together in the historic, eight-bedroom Manley-Lefevre house, a communal space organized around responsibilities-sharing systems which highlight sustainability and community. All residents will be paired and asked to cook for shared dinners three times over the course of their residency, Monday-Friday. A substantial amount of the food we provide comes from our organic garden, which also serves as a space for gathering and an educational tool. Residents are invited to help with planting, harvesting, and maintenance. While not required, our hope is that you will spend some time in the garden alongside your studio practice. Each session culminates with ARTSEED, our public open house Saturday event. Artists are invited to share their work with our community through artist talks, readings, performances, and open studios.  

Marble House Project provides private bedrooms, food, private studio space, and artist support. We are not able to cover costs related to travel or materials. There is no fee to attend the residency.

Applications are accepted in all creative fields including but not limited to writing, dance and choreography, performance, music composition and sound, film and video, visual arts, and culinary arts. Applications are reviewed by a jury of alumni, staff, and outside experts, and artists are selected based on quality of work, commitment to practice, and project description. Please choose the application that best describes your work. Two artists may apply together as a collaborative, and should complete one application. Within each application you will be asked to select the session dates best for you. You may choose the family friendly residency only if you will be bringing your children. Family friendly applicants may select additional dates if willing to attend without your children.

Marble House Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. For exact dates, more information or questions about the residency, visit our FAQ page.  If you still have questions you may   contact info@marblehouseproject.org

Personal information is not shared with our jury and will remain confidential. This includes email, home address, phone number and any information regarding your family, anything else you would need to tell us and how you heard about Marble House Project.  Please make sure to remove this information from your resume.  All of our outreach questions also remain confidential and blind to our jury.  

We look forward to viewing your application.

marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit

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New Voices Fellowship 

Humanitas

DEADLINE: May 18, 2022

ENTRY FEE: $45

INFO: New Voices Fellowship is a four-month mentorship program for emerging television and screenwriters. The program is committed to identifying and empowering five writers each year who are currently working on a 30- or 60-minute pilot or feature film screenplay that upholds the mission of Humanitas. 

Through mentorship, workshops, conversations on professional development, and networking opportunities, New Voices equips early career writers with the tools needed to advance their careers. Since 2010, 50 fellows have completed the New Voices program and advanced to become showrunners, producers, directors, and staff writers. 

Former New Voices fellows include Will Pascoe (Absentia), J. Holtham (SupergirlJessica Jones), Jeanine Daniels (Snowfall), Rashaad Ernesto Greene (The ChiSearching for Alaska), Carlito Rodriguez (Empire), Emily Silver (Finding Carter), Martin Zimmerman (Ozark), and more. 

NEW VOICES FELLOWSHIP COMPONENTS: 

  • Mentorship: Fellows are paired with award-winning showrunners for one-on-one mentorship focused on their project. Written notes are provided over a series of meetings. Former mentors include: Alan Ball, Jenny Bicks, Janine Sherman Barrois, Matt Carlson, Carter Covington, Liz Craft, Sarah Fain, Tom Fontana, Gary Glasberg, Gary David Goldberg, Marc Guggenheim, Hart Hanson, Chris Harris, Felicia Henderson, Winnie Holzman, David Hudgins, Jason Katims, Jay Kogen, Bill Lawrence, Ali LeRoi, Melanie Marnich, Nancy Pimental, Rashad Raisani, Robin Schiff, David Shore, Patrick Sean Smith, Robin Swicord, Pam Veasey, Ben Watkins, and David Zuckerman.  

  • Workshops Series: The Humanitas staff and the New Voices Advisor invite fellows to join a series of conversations and workshops focused on the most pressing issues facing emerging television and screenwriters. Topics have included The Art of the Pitch, Navigating Notes, Understanding the Executive Perspective, Working through Writer’s Block, Early Career Do’s and Don’ts, Staffing Meeting Tips, and more. 

  • Professional Development & Networking: In addition to the community cultivated through the New Voices Conversation and Workshops Series, New Voices aims to present fellows with at least one meaningful networking opportunity per year.

  • Once the New Voices Fellowship has concluded, the fellows’ creative materials and contact information are distributed to the Humanitas agents and managers network. 

  • Stipend: Each New Voices fellow receives a $7,500 stipend.

REQUIRED SUBMISSION MATERIALS:

  • Original 30- or 60-minute pilot, or feature film screenplay

  • Logline 

  • Brief synopsis (1 paragraph)

  • Bio, résumé, and short artist statement that speaks to professional aspirations. 

  • Completed release form.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Applicants must be 21 years of age or older at time of application.

  • Applicants do not need to be U.S. permanent residents and/or citizens but must be residing in the U.S. during the fellowship.

  • Applicants must be available to participate actively in all dimensions of fellowship programming, including mandatory workshops, virtual gatherings, and virtual public programs.

  • The New Voices Fellowship is for emerging television and screenwriters who:

    • 1) are unrepresented (writers are unrepresented with no current manager, agent, or attorney acting in this capacity),

    • 2) have not been staffed as a writer, and

    • 3) have not received payment for screen or television writing services prior to the submission period. 

  • Applicants may submit one application and script per year.

  • Former New Voices Fellows are not eligible to reapply.

While the New Voices Fellowship accepts materials from all writers, writers with diverse backgrounds and social identities historically underrepresented in media are highly encouraged to apply. 

humanitasprize.org/new-voices-2022  

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Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

DEADLINE: May 20, 2022 at 5:00 pm PST

INFO: The Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as part of their mission to champion films that explore scientific or technological themes or characters. SFFILM will award fellowships to filmmakers in the screenwriting phase of developing a screenplay that tells a story related to science or technology.

Winners of the Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship will receive a $35,000 cash grant and a two-month residency at FilmHouse, SFFILM’s suite of production offices for local and visiting independent filmmakers. The residency program provides filmmakers with artistic guidance, office space, a vibrant creative community, and mentorship from established filmmakers and members of the independent film industry. To strengthen the film’s portrayal of science or technology, each fellow will be connected to a science advisor with expertise in the subjects at the center of their screenplays, as well as leaders in the Bay Area’s science and technology communities.

APPLICANT CRITERIA:

  • Applicant may not be an SFFILM or Sloan employee or member of any SFFILM or Sloan boards.

  • Applicant must be at least 18 years old

  • All grant recipients and co-applicants must become SFFILM members at the Film Fan level or above prior to SFFILM distributing funds to the project.

  • Primary applicant must be in a key creative role for the film: screenwriter, director, or producer.

PROJECT CRITERIA:

  • Project must be feature length.

  • Project cannot be a work for hire.

  • Project must be consistent with SFFILM’s mission and represent an imaginative contribution to the moving image art form

  • There must be realistic scientific or technological content at the center of the screenplay.

  • Writers must have the intention of working with scientific advisors to ensure the accuracy or their stories.

  • Science-fiction and speculative stories are, in almost every case, ineligible. In some rare cases, a futuristic story might be eligible if it involves science or technology that is truly on the cusp of being introduced to society.

APPLICATION CRITERIA:

  • Filmmaker clearly articulates the intended goals for the grant.

  • Filmmaker demonstrates how the grant will impact short- and long-term professional and artistic goals.

  • Applicant directly answers all questions on the application and does not go over the word count. Applications that go over the word count will be considered ineligible.

GRANTEE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Stipulations:

  • The fellowship winner will receive a grant of $35,000.

  • Funds must be used for living expenses and if not from the Bay Area, travel to and from the Bay Area.

  • Winner must reside in the Bay Area for a minimum of two (non-contiguous) months, for no less than two weeks at a time.
    While fulfilling the two-month Bay Area residency requirement, the filmmaker must agree to live within a 20-mile drive of FilmHouse (644 Broadway San Francisco, CA 94133).

  • The fellow must agree to spend a minimum of three half days at FilmHouse, and to attend a minimum of two FilmHouse events per month.

  • Transportation to and from the residency is the responsibility of the fellow.

Additional Requirements:

  • Applicant will sign an agreement with the SFFILM

  • Fellows are asked to help us in our marketing efforts by filling out a questionnaire and providing links to trailers and/or reviews. Unless otherwise specified for confidentiality reasons, the logline submitted for the original application will be used in our press release.

Additional Notes:

  • Only one application per project will be accepted.

  • While we encourage filmmakers to apply to the San Francisco International Film Festival, winning a fellowship from

  • SFFILM does not guarantee acceptance into any of the aforementioned programs.

HOW TO APPLY:

To begin the application process, navigate to the “Apply Now” page to review the required items for submission. If you have not yet created an account for the SFFILM Grant Platform, please do so (please note: this is separate from your SFFILM member account).

Prepare your answers ahead of time in a separate document before submitting in case there are any problems with your submission. Leave time for technical issues, please do not wait until the last minute to submit your application.

If you are a member of SFFILM, your application fee is waived. If you are not a member of SFFILM, there is an application fee that must be paid in order for your submission to be considered. To pay the application fee, enter your credit card information at the end of the application after you hit “submit.” Email grants@sffilm.org if you have any technical questions.

Here is a sample of a few of the questions you will find in the online application:

  • Bio. (200 words or less)

  • Logline. In a couple of sentences, please describe the crux of your film. (75 words or less)

  • Project synopsis. (300 words or less)

  • Trailer or other work sample. (We will watch no more than 5 minutes of submitted footage)

  • What scientific research have you conducted thus far?

  • To date, what support have you received for this project?

  • List all sources such as awards, residencies, grants, donations, investments, and in-kind.

  • List the names and roles and other key (2-3) individuals involved in the project. Please briefly describe their qualifications.

Additional application materials are required as follows:

  • Current script sample: Ten pages of the script you are applying with. The ten pages do not need to be the first ten pages. Please select what you believe to be the best ten pages.

  • Script sample explanation: This should introduce the script pages from the project for which you are applying and provide context as well as any other pertinent information that would be helpful for the review panel to consider, such as which draft of the film this is and why you selected this passage.

REVIEW PANEL: SFFILM will convene panels to evaluate applications and award fellowships at its sole discretion. The review panel to decide the winners is comprised of panelists that are producers, filmmakers, industry professionals, science advisors, and qualified SFFILM staff amongst others. Winners will be announced in a press release and on the SFFILM website.

https://sffilm.org/sloan-science-in-cinema-filmmaker-fellowship/


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BlackStar Pitch

BlackStar Film Festival

DEADLINE: May 31, 2022

INFO: BlackStar Pitch is back! Pitch your short non-fiction project at the 2022 BlackStar Film Festival to an illustrious panel of funders, distributors, and producers – for the chance to win an artist grant, industry mentorship, and more.

Eight filmmakers will be selected based on their applications to pitch their works-in-progress in front of a virtual audience and panel of judges during this year's festival. The first-place pitch will receive an artist grant from Warner Bros. Discovery’s OneFifty. The grant will assist the filmmaking team in completing their pitch materials and the OneFifty team will provide consultancy and general guidance on moving the film towards completion. This includes giving formal feedback and notes at the rough and fine cut stages and developing a plan to pitch the completed short.

A second-place winner will receive an invitation to be a part of IF/Then Shorts’ FINISH LINE program. IF/Then Shorts will be available to the filmmaking team as consulting producers on distribution and exhibition opportunities, as well as for general guidance on moving the film towards completion. This includes giving formal feedback and notes at the rough and fine cut stages, and developing a distribution plan for the completed short.

The winner of the Pitch will be announced during the virtual awards ceremony on August 8th. ⁠

blackstarfest.org/festival/pitch/

FILM — APRIL 2022

Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

DEADLINES / ENTRY FEES:

  • Regular: April 2, 2022 by 11:59pm PT / $65

  • Late: May 2, 2022 by 11:59pm PT / $90

INFO: Each year, the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition awards up to five $35,000 fellowships to amateur screenwriters. To enter, submit a feature length screenplay and entry fee via the online application when the competition is open for submissions. Fellowship winners are invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars, receive individualized Academy member mentorship and are expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during their Fellowship year.

QUALIFICATIONS: Up to five $35,000 fellowships are awarded each year to promising new screenwriters. From the program’s inception in 1986 through 2021, 186 fellowships totaling $4.78 million have been awarded.

FELLOWSHIP OBLIGATIONS:

Up to five fellows in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition will be invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars in November.

Fellowship recipients will be expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during the fellowship year.

Fellowship payments will be made quarterly subject to satisfactory progress of the recipient’s work, as judged by the Academy Nicholl Fellowships Committee.

The Academy reserves the right to grant no awards if, in the opinion of the Academy Nicholl Fellowships Committee, no entry is of sufficient merit.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

  • Original feature film screenplay (no shorter than 70 pages and no longer than 160 pages) in PDF format only

  • Completed online application form

  • Writers must create an account at the Nicholl website to enter the competition. PDF scripts must be uploaded and all other requirements met no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on May 2, 2022.

JUDGING:

The first and quarterfinal rounds are judged by industry professionals who are not members of the Academy. The semifinal round is judged by Academy members drawn from across the spectrum of the motion picture industry. The finalist scripts are judged by the Academy Nicholl Committee.

To further the Academy’s commitment to encouraging and valuing diversity in the industry, the Nicholl Fellowships Program takes measures to ensure that our selection process is as fair as possible and without bias.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

All entrants will receive email notification of whether they've advanced to the Quarterfinals in early August. Semifinalist notifications are emailed in early September.

oscars.org/nicholl/about

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DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB

WeScreenplay

DEADLINE: April 15, 2022

INFO: Diverse Voices is a dynamic screenwriting lab with a proven track record of helping move the needle for stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in Hollywood today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.

All readers for this competition come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of FREE written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.

Over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned as a direct result of their Diverse Voices Lab meetings. Past finalists and winners have signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more.  

wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/

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2022 BLACK LIST X WIF FEATURE RESIDENCY

The Black List / Women in Film

DEADLINE: April 17, 2022

INFO: The Black List and WIF will invite six promising non-professional screenwriters who are of underrepresented genders (women, NB/GNC, and/or trans, and others) to participate in a one year residency, kicking off with a long weekend intensive in the Los Angeles area on June 23-26, 2022. Over the kickoff, writers participating in the Residency will workshop one feature screenplay through one-on-one sessions with screenwriting mentors and in peer workshops.

Throughout the following 12 months, writers will be supported through additional events as well arranged meetings with representation, production companies, and fellow writers to elevate their projects and career trajectories. Participants should expect these events to be held in person in Los Angeles. Writers will also be invited to exclusive Black List and WIF events through the end of June 2023.

Writers can also submit their script directly through WIF.

The kickoff weekend of the Feature Residency is a residential program and accommodations will be provided for the kick-off. If you are accepted into the Residency, you will be required to board in the provided accommodations for the duration of the weekend. Please see below for details. 

Participants must be able to provide proof of vaccination (including boosters per current CDC guidelines) and willing to test for COVID-19 infection prior to arriving at the in-person portion of the program. 

BLACK LIST DEADLINES:

  • Submission Period Opens January 5, 2022

  • Evaluations Deadline (optional)* March 3, 2022

  • Submission Period Closes April 17, 2022

  • Short List Writers Notified April 18, 2022

  • Personal Statements Due April 25, 2022

  • Zoom Interviews May 16-17, 2022

  • Final Participants Notified May 18, 2022

  • Residency Begins (Virtually) June 14, 2022

  • Kick-off Session (Los Angeles) June 23-26, 2022

* In order for new script evaluations to qualify for consideration for the Residency, they must be purchased by midnight on the Evaluations Deadline. Please note, purchase of an evaluation is not required for consideration to participate in the Residency although we do strongly encourage that you have your script evaluated. 

Applicants can apply through the Black List and/or WIF, however instructions are different for each platform

THE SELECTION PROCESS: From the Black List submissions, up to 15 writers will be invited, based on the strength of their scripts, to submit a one-page personal statement and professional resume. These writers will also be potentially invited to interview. In addition, WIF will generate their own short list of 15 writers who submitted directly to WIF. From the total of those submissions, up to 6 writers will be selected by the Black List and WIF to participate in the Residency.

KICK-OFF ACCOMMODATIONS: For the kickoff weekend, ground transport to and from all Residency events, and accommodations (room and tax only)* will be provided by the Black List and WIF. Meals will also be provided. The kickoff weekend of the Residency is a residential program.

* If you are accepted into the Residency, you will be required to board in the provided accommodations for the duration of the kickoff weekend.

Accommodations will not be provided for Residency events outside of the kickoff weekend. If you are applying to the Residency and do not live in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, you will need to cover your own travel for the kick-off weekend and travel and accommodation expenses for any additional events.

blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/110

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ROUGH CUT RETREAT

Catapult Film Fund + True/False Film Fest

DEADLINE: April 29, 2022

INFO: At the height of summer, when filmmakers are neck-deep in the editing process, Rough Cut Retreat offers a one-of-a-kind mentorship experience. Launched in 2016, RCR unites nonfiction filmmakers and mentors in a creative, supportive, and engaged atmosphere. After months in an edit suite, filmmakers often lose perspective; this is a key moment for fresh eyes in a safe space – a focus group for filmmakers to diagnose what is and isn’t working with their film. When selecting projects, True/False and Catapult prioritize work that displays an ambitious, idiosyncratic approach to nonfiction storytelling. We especially encourage filmmakers and those who do not have established feedback networks to apply. Additionally, preference will be given to projects that have not already received significant institutional support. Chosen mentors are professionals who embody creativity and generosity of spirit.

TIMELINE + SPECIFICS:

  • Rough Cut Retreat will take place during the summer of July 23-28, 2022 at the Carey Institute for Global Good in Rensselaerville, New York.

  • 5 nonfiction feature films will be chosen to participate, and 2 members from each filmmaking team may attend.

  • 5 mentors, in addition to T/F and Catapult hosts, will be present at the event.

  • Domestic travel, lodging and food will be booked and covered for filmmaking teams; a modest travel stipend will be made available to teams traveling internationally.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

  • For consideration, fill out the application form below in full. Submissions should include two paragraphs describing your film and an online screener link of 5-10 minutes that best represents the project. Longer work samples will be considered at the jurors’ discretion. Note that the first 10 minutes of all entries will always be watched.

  • Only projects with a realistic projection of a sub two and a half hour cut by the retreat will be considered.

  • Projects will be notified of decision on or by June 3rd, 2022

  • If selected, a screener link of the film’s rough cut must be submitted by July 16th and a digital file (quicktime .mov, .mp4. or equivalent suitable for projection) must be provided by July 19th.

ACCESSIBILITY: Given the historic campus, some buildings require advanced notice to modify for accessibility. For more information and to request accommodations, please contact lindsey@truefalse.org

catapultfilmfund.org/rough-cut-retreat/

FILM — MARCH 2022

BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL

DEADLINES:

  • Preferred: March 2, 2022

  • Late: April 1, 2022

INFO: The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world.

AWARDS & PRIZES:

  • Best Feature Narrative 

  • Best Feature Documentary 

  • Best Short Narrative (ACADEMY AWARDS® qualifying) 

  • Best Short Documentary (ACADEMY AWARDS® qualifying) 

  • Best Experimental 

  • Audience Awards

ELIGIBILITY:

  • To be eligible for consideration:

  • Films must be directed by a person of African descent or who otherwise identifies as Black, Brown or Indigenous, and feature persons of African descent, or tell a story of Black, Brown or Indigenous experiences.

  • Narrative feature films and documentary films must not exceed a running time of 120 minutes.

  • Shorts must not exceed a running time of 40 minutes.

  • Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted. Dialogue lists will not be accepted.

  • Though not required for eligibility, preference is given to Philadelphia and North American premieres.

  • Note: Submissions may be in work-in-progress form; however, works that are not final cuts must be clearly marked “Work in Progress (WIP)” or “Rough Cut” with an indication of what will change or what is missing (e.g., temp sound, missing animation, etc.). If accepted, final prints/media files must be received by June 15, 2022.

  • Entrants must fully comply with these entry rules and regulations, including all deadlines, film length, entry material and other requirements.

  • Note: Entry fees are in U.S. dollars, are per film and are non-refundable. BlackStar reserves the right to disqualify a submission, without refund of any kind, if eligibility requirements are not met including if eligibility status changes post-submission. Shorts are films 40 minutes or less; features are films greater than 40 minutes, but not exceeding 120 minutes.

  • Students: Entry fees for student submissions for the Official Entry Deadline will be waived upon receipt of a photocopy of a current and valid student ID card or a letter from an accredited school that verifies enrollment. For questions, contact submissions@blackstarfest.org.

  • Films will be automatically entered into juried competition unless the entrant(s) request to be withdrawn. Entrants must make this request at the time of application.

  • Please note that recipients of the Short Narrative and Short Documentary Awards are eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short and Documentary Short categories of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy's rules.

filmfreeway.com/BlackStarFest

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2022 BLACK WRITERS IN FOCUS

DIVERSO

DEADLINE: March 4, 2022

INFO: DIVERSO has partnered with RIDEBACK (Aladdin, It, The LEGO Movies) and THE WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION to create Black Writers in Focus: a paid summer fellowship program for Black student screenwriters.

Vetted by a rigorous committee of all Black readers, four talented students will spend ten weeks over the summer fine-tuning a writing sample with a personalized mentor, attending panels and classes with industry leaders, and learning from the best by shadowing in a writers' room. Students will be paid to develop their craft.

Selected students will receive a $6,000 stipend to support a full-time commitment over 10 weeks. Fellows are expected to make a 40-hour commitment each week. The program will be hosted virtually over the summer (June 6th - August 19th).

dvrso.org/bwifoverview

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DOC PITCH

DocLands Documentary Film Festival

DEADLINE: March 6, 2022

INFO: Filmmakers are invited to submit their unfinished FEATURE (over 70’) documentary projects currently in development.

Presented virtually by the California Film Institute (CFI) as part of DocLands Documentary Film Festival in May, DOCPITCH is an invitation for filmmakers to submit their unfinished FEATURE-length (70 + minutes) documentary projects currently in early to late stages of completion.

With a total of $100,000 to be awarded to five projects in 2022*, viewers will be invited to cast one vote per person for their favored project to win the Audience Choice award and a jury of industry professionals will select the winner of the Jury Award. Additional awards will go to the remaining three projects.

RULES & TERMS

To be eligible, applicants MUST submit the following project elements/information on the DocPitch@DocLands FilmFreeway page:

  • Title of the project

  • Logline

  • Synopsis

  • Trailer or teaser – 3-5 minute duration, please do not include longer samples or rough cuts

  • Production stills that can be used for press and promotional purposes

  • Brief key crew bios (director/producer), to be added under Credits

  • At what stage you expect to be at in April 2022 and your approximate completion date

*If you have unique aspects or access to share or wish to explain in more depth, please include those in a Cover Letter. If you have a website and Facebook page, please also insert those in the appropriate field.

The five (5) shortlisted filmmakers will be notified no later than March 31, 2022 with a deadline of April 18 to submit all final materials, including a final trailer and video pitch.

DocPitch voting will launch on April 29 and conclude at midnight on May 8, 2022 – all awards will be presented virtually on May 11.

If you are unable to make these commitments, you are NOT eligible to enter the DocPitch competition.
Filmmakers will be disqualified if they fail to comply to all deadlines.

* Award recipients receiving cash awards are solely responsible for payment of all applicable local, state, and federal taxes. Void where prohibited.

DocLands is a non-competitive, inclusive festival dedicated to building connections and partnerships and works to invigorate the business and art of nonfiction filmmaking. Through public screenings, engaged conversations, and grassroots networking events, DocLands aims to build an active, involved, and fully supportive community around documentary film. It showcases documentary film in a variety of genres and with a diversity of content, within three main programming strands (Art of Impact, The Great Outdoors, and WonderLands) while highlighting films that transcend the traditional definition of the documentary.

doclands.com/docpitch/

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African Screenwriters Residency

The Realness Institute

DEADLINE: March 7, 2022 at 17:00 Central African Time.

INFO: The Realness African Screenwriters Residency is an incubator for African screenwriters that provides residents with the practical support needed to refine their projects from a creative perspective, as well as to pitch their projects to industry partners for potential financing and production. The residency acts as a year-round support system for alumni, helping them take their scripts from the page to the screen, and fosters a new wave of authentic African cinema in the process.

PROGRAMME:

This year, the programme will run from 3 August- 13 November 2022.

The six selected screenwriters will attend the Locarno Film Festival and their academy’s creative incubation programme “BaseCamp”, set to take place from 3 to 13 August 2022.

This will be followed by 6 weeks at the tranquil and nurturing Nirox and Farmhouse 58 in The Cradle of Humankind, in South Africa, where they will be mentored by Story Consultants Selina Ukwuoma and Mmabatho Kau and Creative Producer Cait Pansegrouw.

Residents are given a further six weeks to finesse their work from their homes, while maintaining contact with mentors.

Screenwriters will then attend the Africa International Film Festival, in Lagos, from 7 to 13 November 2022.

We will submit all final deliveries to our international partners for awards consideration. All participants are eligible for scholarships to attend further labs and workshops, such as the Locarno Filmmakers Academy, Torino Film Lab Meeting Event, EAVE Producer's Workshop, La Fabrique des Cinemas du Monde in Cannes and International Film Festival Rotterdam’s IFFR Pro’s Rotterdam Lab.

ELIGIBILITY:

We look for filmmakers with distinct voices and perspectives, who are devoted to their craft, and have a steadfast passion for cinema.

You are eligible to apply for the residency if:

  • You have a valid African passport.

  • 60 - 100% of your script is filmed on the African continent.

  • Your script is fiction. We do not accept non-fiction work at this time.

  • Adaptations are eligible although you must include proof that rights to the source material have been acquired with your application.

APPLICATIONS:

Applicants must submit the following:

  • A motivation for wanting to participate in the Realness Residency (1/2 page).

  • A log line of the proposed feature project (2 lines)

  • A synopsis of the proposed feature project (1 page).

  • A treatment of the proposed feature project (6 pages).

  • A draft of the screenplay, if available. (Please note that we favour strong treatments over a rushed first draft)

  • A writer's note of intention (1 page).

  • A short biography (300 words max.).

  • Two samples of previous work, uploaded to Vimeo or Youtube. If selected, residents will be required to donate one copy of their previous work to the Nirox film library.

  • A producer's note (if a producer is attached) (1 page).

  • A producer's biography and the production company’s profile (if a producer is attached).

  • Visual reference material (mood board, character reference, casting tapes (if available), location scout pictures and/or sizzle reel for the project).

  • 1 photograph/portrait (.jpg or .png)

  • An Application Fee of 30 Euros is required to apply. The Application Fee is payable via Paypal: paypal.me/realnessinstitute

All submitted material must be in English however, screenplays written in French will also be accepted on a limited basis (with all supporting documents in English).

Selection will be based on artistic merit alone. The Realness Institute will hold no legal claim over the work once the residency is completed.

FUNDING:

Most travel and accommodation expenses are covered by the Realness Institute and its Programme Partners.

Selected screenwriters will need to cover the cost of their visas and travel insurance for Switzerland, South Africa and Nigeria; and the cost of flights to Switzerland. We will assist with seeking funding and offer letters to selected participants to approach funders for their flights.

realness.institute/realness-residency

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BRIClab: Film + TV

BRIC

DEADLINE: March 10, 2022

INFO: BRIClab is a multi-disciplinary residency program created to advance opportunities for visual artists, performers, and media makers and offers emerging and mid-career artists essential resources, mentorships, and opportunities to share their work. The residency aims to build a stronger and more diverse artistic community in Brooklyn, New York by supporting long term growth and fostering relationships across disciplines.

The BRIClab: Film + TV residency track incubates innovative and ambitious documentary filmmakers working on short form, episodic, or feature length non-fiction films. Three residencies will be awarded to create opportunities for emerging and mid-career filmmakers.

RESIDENCY BENEFITS:

  • A stipend of $2500

  • Up to $6000 towards production cost (expenses must be pre-approved and
    documented via invoices and receipts)

  • Access to courses through BRIC's Media Education program at no fee

  • Access to BRIC production studios and post-production resources

  • A mentor with industry experience relevant to your project

  • A collaborative cohort community with group critiques and access to BRIC networking events

  • A public presentation of your work upon completion of the program

  • Access to industry gatekeepers through professional development workshops and collaboration opportunities

WHO SHOULD APPLY

You must be: 

  • A New York City based creative, 18 years of age or older.

  • A documentary filmmaker with a proven degree of competence in production.

  • An individual artist and/or a creative team of two.

  • Either not employed by BRIC full-time, or a non-salaried BRIC staffer who works fewer than 500 hours/year.

We are interested in:

  • Documentary projects of all lengths (short/feature/series).

  • Thoroughly-researched, original concepts.

  • A detailed breakdown of budget and the various ways that the project will
    maximize the use of BRIC facilities and resources.

  • A specific production timeline leading up to project completion by spring 2023.

  • Films can be in any language; if not in English, work must be subtitled.

bricartsmedia.org/briclab-film-tv

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WRITERS IN RESIDENCE

Hedgebrook

DEADLINE: March 14, 2022

INFO: Hedgebrook is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48-acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, with a view of Mount Rainier, the retreat hosts writers from all over the world for fully-funded residencies of two to four weeks (travel is not included and is the responsibility of the writer to arrange and pay for). This residency is open to women-identified writers 18 and older.

Central to what we do, our Writer-in-Residence Program supports fully-funded residencies for selected women-identified writers at the retreat each year. Up to 6 writers can be in residence at a time, each housed in a handcrafted cottage. They spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, “The Gathering” is a social time for residents to connect and share over their freshly prepared meals.

Hedgebrook’s mission is to support visionary women writers whose stories and ideas shape our culture now and for generations to come. Residents must be willing to adhere to a specific set of health and safety protocols we have implemented to keep writers, staff, and surrounding communities safer. We will be following CDC and local government guidelines and recommendations for travel and in-person gathering restrictions.

Residencies for this application cycle, Cycle 1, will take place February - June 2023.

2023 WiR Genres for Cycle One:

  • Fiction

  • Non-Fiction

  • Playwriting

  • Poetry

  • Screenwriting/TV Writing

  • Songwriting

hedgebrook.org/writers-in-residence

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DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB

WeScreenplay

DEADLINES:

  • Regular: March 15, 2022

  • Final: April 15, 2022

INFO: Diverse Voices is a dynamic screenwriting lab with a proven track record of helping move the needle for stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in Hollywood today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.

All readers for this competition come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of FREE written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.

Over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned as a direct result of their Diverse Voices Lab meetings. Past finalists and winners have signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more.  

wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/

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BLACK MUSLIM FILMMAKER GRANT

Muslim Public Affairs Council

DEADLINE: Extended to March 31, 2022

INFO: The $10,000 grant is open to filmmakers who identify as Black Muslims; are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents; and have an episodic, narrative or animated project in development, production or post-production.

mpachollywoodbureau.org/fullstory

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The Thousand Miles Project

Coverfly

DEADLINE: March 31, 2022

ENTRY FEE: $0

INFO: The Thousand Miles Project is open to writers who are passionate about telling Asian and Pacific Islander stories. They’re accepting Features, TV Pilots, Shorts, Web Series, Short Stories, Book/Manuscripts, Stage Plays, Graphic Novels, and Articles

We at The Thousand Miles Project are committed to h elping emerging writers tell their stories and jumpstart lasting writing careers in the entertainment industry. In partnership with Universal Content Productions (UCP) and writer/producer Soo Hugh (The Terror, Pachinko), the program will provide up to 20 writers/writing teams the opportunity to learn about television writing and the industry through panels and lectures with writers, development execs, managers, and agents in a two-day intensive virtual workshop.

After the workshop, participants will be invited to apply for a 24-week development lab by submitting a series idea for further development. Television project proposals in any genre are welcome. We are interested in narratives told through the lenses of any Asian and Pacific Islander community (all Asian or Pacific Islander countries or cultures). From those proposals, up to 3 writers/writing teams will be selected to join the development lab with Soo Hugh, her team and UCP to write a pilot script and potentially develop their project further with UCP. The lab writers will meet on a bi-weekly basis, with additional monthly meetings with Soo and her team.

BENEFITS:

Workshop Participants - Up to 20 writers/writing teams will be invited to free virtual workshops to learn about television development and career strategies from writers, showrunners, managers, agents, and studio execs. 

Virtual Workshop dates will be June 11, 2022 and June 18, 2022. 

Development Lab Writers - Workshop participants will be invited to apply for the development lab by submitting additional materials by August 1, 2022, which are currently contemplated to include:

  • Short answers to a series of questions regarding their series concept

  • An artistic statement of intent about themselves (750 words or less)

Up to 3 writers/writing teams who participated in the workshops and submitted series development ideas will be selected to participate in a 24-week paid development lab. With guidance from Soo and her team, plus peer-to-peer feedback, writers will write a pilot. Selected writers are expected to fully participate by giving support and feedback to each other in the lab.

Writers/writing teams from the lab may be invited to further develop their project with UCP after the development lab is completed.

If UCP chooses not to further develop a project from the lab, UCP will give the rights to the applicable script back to the writer/writing team (and UCP will no longer continue to own it). Further details, and an agreement, will be provided to writers/writing teams selected to participate in the lab.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of their application.

  • Applicants can be from any country or background.

  • Applicants must have a strong proficiency in English.

  • Applicant’s participation in the 2-day workshop (and lab, if applicable) must not violate any other obligations applicant may have at law, pursuant to contract, or otherwise.

  • To participate in the development lab, applicants must be legally authorized to live, work and participate in the lab in the United States.

  • Applicants must be available to participate in the 2-day workshop and lab (if applicable): Workshop is currently scheduled for June 11, 2022 and June 18, 2022, for approximately 8 hours each day with hours based on the Pacific Time Zone. Confirmed dates and time will be provided.

  • If selected for the development lab, applicant must execute a standard writer agreement, and other required documentation, in order to participate.

  • Writing teams can be no more than 2 writers. Each writer must submit a separate application.

writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/thousandmilesproject?fbclid=IwAR1Q-gSJSv5NkLrLB-61oXPVPF8-_ZcRUKUiicayFpdg6CjcrQf21MGYES0

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ROLLING SUBMISSIONS

ISO/NETFLIX INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION APPRENTICESHIPS AND CULTURAL MENTORSHIPS GRANT

Indigenous Screen Office / Netflix

DEADLINE: Rolling

INFO: ISO has partnered with Netflix to provide funding to support training, professional development and culturally specific approaches for Indigenous on-screen content creators. There are two funding streams available:

  1. Production Apprenticeships: the goal of these grants are to support new opportunities for hands-on training and career progression for Indigenous creatives who want to take their careers to the next level. You are required to demonstrate that apprentices have a record of production experience and demonstrate that this opportunity will support their skills building and career development.

  2. Cultural Mentorships: this program was created to offer the opportunity for Indigenous producers, directors and writers to engage in cultural mentorship, community engagement, cultural learning, and protocols work during the development and pre-development phases of their projects. This may include working with Elders, language speakers, knowledge keepers and/or community members to develop their project idea or to support their personal growth and development in their career as a screen-based storyteller.

Program Goals:

  • To create new training, career development and job opportunities for Indigenous on-screen creatives, with a focus on those who have gained experience in the sector and want to expand their skill set;

  • To build capacity within the sector, at all levels of production;

  • To support Indigenous producers, directors and writers to engage in cultural engagement, learning and protocols work during the development phases of their project;

  • To recognize Indigenous ways of working, which often requires extensive engagement, consultation and learning at the community level.

SUBMISSION PROCESS AND NOTIFICATION:

Applications must be completed in the ISO Apply portal. Projects will be assessed on a continual basis until funding for the program is depleted for that fiscal year.

Grant notifications can be expected 3-4 months following the deadline.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Please note the spirit and intent of ISO funding is to support Indigenous creators and companies that are controlled by Indigenous people, who have decision-making authority and creative control.

For the purposes of ISO programs, “Indigenous” is defined as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada. All applicants must be residents of Canada.

Individuals (including sole proprietors): 

  • Are a First Nations, Inuit or Métis person residing in Canada and who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who has resided in Canada for at least eight months over the last one-year period;

  • Working in screen-based content, including TV, film, web, gaming, apps, and XR (VR, AR);

  • The project is under the financial and creative control of the applicant; and two of the three key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner, producer) are Indigenous.

  • Can deposit a cheque in the name of the applicant;

  • Is not insolvent or bankrupt, or in the course of the reorganization of its business within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)

Individual Applicants: Please be advised the Canada Revenue Agency considers grants as taxable income. Please keep all expense receipts related to this grant to offset your tax obligations. If you are incorporated as a sole proprietor, you must apply under your business name for the grant to be deposited to your business bank account. Grants will not be deposited to an account in any name other than the applicant name.

Companies : 

  • Indigenous-controlled (minimum 51% ownership by person/s who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis);

  • Registered as a corporation with its head office in Canada;

  • Bios for each owner of the company must be provided as well as their individual percentage of ownership.

  • Main activity of the organization is the production or support of screen-based content, including TV, film, web, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR).

  • Is not insolvent or bankrupt, or in the course of the reorganization of its business within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada);

  • Can deposit cheque in the name of the applicant.

PROGRAM CATEGORIES

This program is open to Indigenous Production Apprenticeships and Cultural Mentorships for the following applicants:

  1. Indigenous Productions: Indigenous Productions may apply to this program to hire and train a maximum of three (3) Indigenous apprentices on a production, or to participate in a cultural mentorship. The production company must be 51% Indigenous owned, with two of the key creative roles (producer, director, writer, showrunner) held by an Indigenous person. The company must be registered in Canada.

  1. Indigenous Individuals: Indigenous individual creatives may apply directly to serve as an apprentice on a production or to participate in a cultural mentorship. For apprenticeships, the specialist who will be serving as mentor may be Indigenous or non-Indigenous. Cultural mentors must be Indigenous. The applicant must be a resident of Canada. Indigenous individuals may apply to be apprentices on any type of production but must have a confirmation letter of role and fee.

Apprenticeships can be supported for fiction, non-fiction, or documentary screen-based projects in all genres. The following types of productions are eligible: 

  • Feature-length works

  • Television series

  • Web series

  • VR, 360, digital and interactive works

  • Ongoing studio work

Training and professional development for the following key creative roles are eligible for apprenticeships: 

  • Producer

  • Director

  • Screenwriter

  • Showrunner

  • Editor

  • Director of Photography

  • Costume Designer

  • Sound Designer

  • Production Designer

  • Lighting Designer

  • Animation/Effects

Apprenticeship Definition and Eligibility: 

  • Apprentices may be at any stage in their career, but the opportunity must be to provide enhanced experience, training and professional development that will support career progression. They must have demonstrated production experience.

  • They must be working with a more senior professional with a demonstrated track record in their area of practice.

  • They must be learning the skills of a more advanced role through hands-on work, training and shadowing.

  • Apprentices must be compensated at an industry standard for their experience level and hours worked.

  • Apprentices must be Indigenous, however, their mentor may be non-Indigenous;

  • Apprentices must be residents of Canada.

iso-bea.ca/program/iso-netflix-apprenticeship-cultural-mentorship-funding-program-2021/


FILM — FEBRUARY 2022

2021/2022 INDIGENOUS LIST

The Black List / IllumiNative / Sundance Institute

DEADLINE: February 4, 2022

INFO: For the second year in a row, The Black List has partnered with IllumiNative and Sundance Institute for the Indigenous List. The Indigenous List will feature film and television scripts authored by Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaskan Native Film artists working in the U.S. 

Filmmakers and content creators are invited to submit a script for consideration by uploading it to The Black List website during the winter of 2021/2022. Feature film, one-hour, and half-hour original pilot submissions will be considered for this opportunity (no webseries or documentaries, please.) Scripts from any genre are eligible for this partnership. 

blcklst.com/help/article/634

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MACDOWELL FELLOWSHIP

MacDowell

DEADLINE: February 10, 2022 at 11:59pm EST*

INFO: MacDowell is a fellowship and residency program for writers, visual artists, composers, filmmakers, playwrights, interdisciplinary artists, and architects. About 300 artists are awarded Fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence.

There are no residency fees. Need-based travel grants and stipends are available to open the residency experience to the broadest possible community of artists. Artists with professional standing in their fields, as well as emerging artists, are eligible to apply.

MacDowell encourages artists from all backgrounds and all countries in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. Any applicant whose proposed project does not fall clearly within one of these artistic disciplines should contact the admissions department for guidance. We aim to be inclusive, not exclusive in our admissions process.

*MacDowell has announced it will go from three annual application deadlines and corresponding seasons to two. That means the next application deadline will be February 10, 2022 for residencies during the period September of 2022 through February of 2023. To go along with that change, the admissions department has decided to temporarily suspend a longstanding requirement that applicants supply reference letters as part of the application process.

https://www.macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-fellowship

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DOCLANDS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL

DOCLANDS

DEADLINE: February 11, 2022

INFO: Presented by the California Film Institute, DOCLANDS Documentary Film Festival brings compelling stories and the provocative insight behind them to Marin County, CA.

With extended dates in early May, the 2022 Festival will reflect and build upon the structure and innovations we introduced during the outbreak of COVID while being responsive and respectful of the public health situation. This flexibility means planning for an accessible, inclusive hybrid Festival, with the hope we're able to maintain access to those unable or unwilling to attend. We will continue to deliver a festival that engages our members and patrons, supports filmmakers and our valued partners, and bolsters the documentary film community.

No matter what form screenings and conversations take moving forward, DocLands encourages the exchange of ideas and inspiration through public screenings, engaged conversations, pitching, and grassroots networking events with an aim to build an active, inclusive, fully supportive community around documentary film dedicated to initiating connections and partnerships that will illuminate and invigorate the business and art of non-fiction filmmaking.

filmfreeway.com/DocLandsDocumentaryFilmFestival

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BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship

BAVC Media

DEADLINE: February 14, 2022

INFO: The BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for early-career documentary directors to grow in a nurturing community as they set forth to shape their films and their careers. BAVC Media is looking for nonfiction filmmakers with bold vision and a deep, authentic relationship to the stories they are telling, especially those traditionally underrepresented in the industry, to join in this immersive and participatory fellowship experience. ⁠

Over the course of a year, eight first-and-second-time feature documentary directors from across the U.S will work through the stumbling blocks of their projects with support from mentors and experts from across the industry. Developing skills, building relationships, and gaining insights that will continue to nourish their career and their craft long into the future—all while building strong bonds with fellow filmmakers. Along with tailored workshops, intimate conversations with established filmmakers, and in-depth feedback sessions throughout the year, fellows receive $10,000, paid festival attendance, and future opportunities from BAVC Media as a program alum.⁠

bavcmedia.smapply.io/prog/mediamaker_fellowship/

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SHIFTING LANDSCAPES - EMERGENCE MAGAZINE X IF/THEN SHORTS LAB

IF/Then Shorts / Emergence Magazine

DEADLINE: February 14, 2022 by 11:59pm EST

INFO: IF/Then Shorts, in a new partnership with Emergence Magazine, calls for short documentary filmmakers to take part in SHIFTING LANDSCAPES - Emergence Magazine x IF/Then Shorts Lab. 

In an age of climate crisis and deep uncertainty for what the future holds, we are seeing rapid shifts in seasonal patterns and the availability of resources. Patterns of movement across lands and waters are shifting dramatically. These impacts are being felt the world over and there is a growing need to share these stories from perspectives, places, and experiences that not only bring place-specific stories to bear from diverse, international perspectives, but that also illustrate the ways in which these stories are deeply interwoven on a global scale as our shared home undergoes this transformation.

Marking the first partnership between IF/Then Shorts and Emergence Magazine, this lab celebrates storytellers and stories that explore these widespread shifts in movement from both human and nonhuman perspectives, and on both human and nonhuman timescales. 

Three projects by global storytellers will be selected for participation in a collaborative lab, including grant support, project mentorship, and career advancing public activations to assist in the completion and distribution of high profile projects. 

LAB DETAILS:

This lab calls for original stand-alone short documentaries in production (no more than 30 minutes) that explore the theme of migration from both human and non-human perspectives. We welcome films that explore a range of socially, politically, culturally, and ecologically relevant topics that are rooted in the theme of migration.

Three projects will be selected to participate in a one-year lab focused on short-documentary production, cohort collaboration and mentorship, working toward the completion of their films by the end of the term.

Filmmakers will benefit from not only the resources of their esteemed mentors, but also work to build strong creative relationships while providing feedback and support to their fellow filmmakers.

After the lab, the films will be shown at a work-in-progress screening as a part of an international film festival. Following the lab, filmmakers will receive distribution consultation and festival strategy to help get their film out into the world. 

Each project will receive:

  • $25,000 production grant

  • One year of mentorship focusing on story development, production, creative editorial feedback, editing, and community building

  • Office hours for project consultation and migration-centered masterclasses

  • Work-in-progress screening at an international festival (travel included)

  • Multi-platform distribution and festival strategy consultations

  • Guaranteed non-exclusive online broadcast with Emergence Magazine

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY:

This opportunity will be open to individuals with genuine connection to and credibility within the communities they depict on-screen telling place-specific, community conscious stories of migration. 

The application is open globally, with an emphasis on Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ folks, recent immigrants, undocumented persons, persons with a disability, and/or women.

We welcome applicants regardless of immigration status, including applicants who are born abroad and are not U.S. citizens or U.S. legal permanent residents.

In addition to being on theme, eligible projects must meet the following criteria:

  • Be an original short documentary with a final duration of 10-30 minutes

  • Be factually accurate, follow best practices in documentary ethics, and be designed for an international audience

  • Be accountable to and authentically represent the people and places featured in the film

  • Be driven by (a) compelling character(s), with access to the character(s) secured

  • Be presented in English or subtitled in English

  • Have no prior distribution attached and be able to participate in the IF/Then Shorts distribution initiative, with the option of a secondary window of non-exclusive distribution via Emergence Magazine’s online presence.

KEY DATES:

  • February 15, 2022 - Submissions Deadline (11:59 PM PT)

  • Early April 2022 - Selections Finalized, Selected Projects Announced.

  • April 4, 2022 - Program Kickoff

fieldofvision.org/emergence2022

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DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB

WeScreenplay

DEADLINES:

  • Early: February 15, 2022

  • Regular: March 15, 2022

  • Final: April 15, 2022

INFO: Diverse Voices is a dynamic screenwriting lab with a proven track record of helping move the needle for stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in Hollywood today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.

All readers for this competition come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of FREE written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.

Over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned as a direct result of their Diverse Voices Lab meetings. Past finalists and winners have signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more.  

wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/

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2022 Stowe Story Labs & RETREAT

DEADLINE: February 15, 2022

INFO: Stowe Story Labs is a nonprofit dedicated to helping emerging screenwriters, filmmakers, and creative producers get work made and seen. We look for people demonstrating talent and a good story worth developing, whether or not they have experience in film or television. This application is for our 2022 labs and retreats. Details about our programs, schedule of program, and template agendas can be found here under the programs tab for "narrative labs" and "writers' retreats." Although we do charge for our programming, we work to keep the cost of programming as low as possible. If our program changes during application season, we will write to you to tell you about the changes. If there are new labs or retreats, we will include your application in review for those programs.

Please take a minute and review this note before filling out your application.

APPLICATION PROCESS: We have one application for our labs and retreats. On the application, you may rank the programs you are most interested in, but we will review your application for all slots and, if you are admitted, we will discuss with you which program might be best. You can choose "no preference" when applying. As we review material, we may reach out to ask follow up questions.

FELLOWSHIPS & SCHOLARSHIPS: Although we rely on fees to operate, we do offer as much support to our participants as possible. We offer several fellowships. Each fellowship has its own criteria and goals. At a minimum, the fellowships cover the fees for one participant to attend a program, as well as other benefits. Please check the website for information about each fellowship. We also offer dozens of partial scholarships to help ensure deserving applicants can attend our programs. There is not a separate application process for these opportunities. If interested in financial support, you will be steered to questions about these programs.

FEES & OTHER NOTES: The fee to attend an in-person four-day Narrative Lab in 2022 will be $2,500. The fee to attend an in-person five-day writers' retreat will be $2,750. Fees include all content and most meals. Travel and lodging are separate, and lodging is offered through our lodging partners, who offer deep and meaningful discounts to participants (and most include breakfast ....).

Given the uncertainty about the novel coronavirus, all programs could end up running remotely. An online Lab will cost $1,750. An online retreat will cost $1,950.

Please note we do not provide feedback on projects through our submission process.

Please familiarize yourself with our programs and fellowships before applying. You can of course reach out to us at info@stowestorylabs.org.

As noted above, we look for talented people - regardless of experience or background - bringing us interesting stories, and we look especially for underrepresented voices. Our mission includes breaking down barriers to this complicated industry. 

stowestorylabs.submittable.com/submit/204218/stowe-story-labs-2022-labs-retreats-and-financial-support-application

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Interdisciplinary Artist Residency Program

Peter Bullough Foundation

DEADLINE: February 22, 2022

INFO: The Peter Bullough Foundation in downtown historic Winchester, Virginia provides residencies to emerging artists and scholars, including those elevating voices and topics relevant to the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Applications are now being accepted for fall 2022 residencies to work in the private studios and enjoy the garden and former homes of Dr. Peter Bullough. The ideal applicant will be self-directed and able to work independently. Each awarded residency period is roughly four weeks and is shared with one to two other artists in residence. Artistic collaborators in groups of two to three may apply in one application. Hosting a community workshop virtually or in-person during the residency is encouraged, but not required.

Disciplines Accepted:
Architecture, literature, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, music, music composition, playwriting, screenwriting, poetry, scholars, theatre, and the visual arts.

Fall 2022 Residency Dates:

August 18 - September 13
September 15 - October 11
October 13 - November 8
November 10 - December 6

Selection:
Selection is a multi-step process involving the PBF staff, residency committee, residency alumni, and board. We may request an interview with you to learn more about you and your work. Selections will be announced 30-45 days after the application deadline. The PBF does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, religion, creed, national origin, age, and/or disability.

Accommodations & Support:
The Peter Bullough Foundation is delighted to offer free accommodations for two to three artists at a time in Dr. Bullough’s former home, a renovated 1840’s house with private bedrooms and bathrooms and shared common spaces. Private studios and workspaces are located in an adjacent building that also houses the majority of the late Dr. Bullough’s book and art collections. Private gardens connect the properties and are also available as open-air workspaces.

A $550 stipend is provided to aid in covering supplies, necessities, and food for the month. 

Accessibility:
The PBF is not ADA accessible at this time. For more information on accessibility, please check out our FAQ's

Location: 
Winchester, Virginia is a quintessential American small town, with four locally-owned breweries, many small shops, 10 different historic house museums, a kids science museum, and a large regional art museum. 

Application Requirements:

  • Application Form

  • Resume, CV, or Statement of Qualifications

  • Two Personal References

  • Personal Statement and Proposal

  • Portfolio

peterbulloughfoundation.org/residency?fbclid=IwAR1MRyNsx3HGw1Vimr66ld9RkMwoyFRYvIA6qHHNlUaE8hw2rarYFoUF2wE

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The 2021/2022 Muslim List

The Black List / Muslim Public Affairs Council

DEADLINE: February 28, 2022

INFO: The Black List has partnered with the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and Pillars Fund to create The Muslim List, highlighting the very best unproduced scripts written by at least one Muslim writer.

Filmmakers and content creators are invited to submit a script for consideration by uploading it to The Black List website. Feature film, one-hour, and half-hour original pilot submissions will be considered for this opportunity (no web series or documentaries, please.) Scripts from any genre are eligible for this partnership. 

Writers of selected scripts will be notified in Spring 2022 with a public announcement to follow.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Writers should identify as Muslim. While writers can be from any country of origin, they must currently reside in the U.S.

  • Writing teams are eligible as long as one member of the team identifies as Muslim.

  • Scripts can be multilingual as long as they are written primarily in English.

  • Feature films and original television pilots will be accepted, no web series or documentaries please.

mpachollywoodbureau.org/screenwriters

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MY TIME: A FELLOWSHIP FOR PARENT WRITERS

The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow

DEADLINE: February 28, 2022

APPLICATION FEE: $35

INFO: The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow is pleased to announce the 2022 My Time fellowship funded by the Sustainable Arts Foundation. Writers who are also parents of dependent children under the age of 18 are invited to apply. Work may be any literary genre: fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, script or screenplay.  The successful application will demonstrate literary merit and the likelihood of publication. Prior publication is not a requirement.

Two fellowship winners will receive a one-week residency to allow the recipient to focus completely on their work. A $400 stipend will be provided to cover childcare and/or travel costs. Each writer’s suite has a bedroom, private bathroom, separate writing space, and wireless internet. We provide uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week, and served in our community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when you want it, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for other meals.

The winner will be announced no later than March 21, 2022. Residencies may be completed at any time during 2022. This may be extended up to twelve months for extenuating circumstances including COVID-19 concerns.

writerscolony.org/fellowships

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2022 WarnerMedia x ABFF Writers Competition

WarnerMedia / American Black Film Festiva

DEADLINE: February 28, 2022 at 11:59pm PT

INFO: Please see the guidelines below for the 2022 WarnerMedia x ABFF Writers Competition.  We look forward to reviewing your application.

  • All applicants must have the right to work in the United States.

  • All applicants must be 21 years of age or older

  • All applicants may submit only once. Submitting more than once will result in disqualification.

  • All comedy and dramedy scripts submitted must be between 30 and 35 pages in length.

  • All drama scripts submitted must be between 55 and 60 pages in length.

  • Only the first 250 applications will be accepted. The submission portal will close after that number is hit or on Friday, February 28th, 2022 at 11:59p PT, whichever happens first.

  • All applicants must be individual writers or a writing team of only two writers.

  • Those submitting as a writing team must consolidate their resumes and bios into one file, and submit essays jointly as a team.

  • All applicants must remove their names or any identifying information from their cover pages to ensure blind scoring.

  • Those who have staffed on one or fewer episodic seasons of television are eligible to apply. Those who have been staffed on two or more episodic seasons of television are not eligible to apply.

AWARD: Each selected winner will receive $5,000, 1 round-trip flight to Miami, ground transport to/from the airport, hotel accommodations (1 room) for the duration of the festival and 2 passes to the 2022 American Black Film Festival.

warnermediaaccess.submittable.com/submit/0cad183e-564c-4724-b2a5-d377876bc132/2022-warnermedia-x-abff-writers-competition

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New Voices Filmmaker Grant

NewFest

DEADLINE: February 28, 2022

INFO: NewFest’s New Voices Filmmaker Grant, in partnership with Netflix, supports emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers by providing funding to make new work, assisting in getting their work shared, and propelling their careers forward, through mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities.

The New Voices Filmmaker Grant will provide $25,000 grants to four emerging LGBTQ+ directors who are telling stories inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community. To apply, please use the form below. Submissions are limited to one application per filmmaker. Submissions are accepted for documentary, narrative, animated, or episodic projects by and about the LGBTQ+ community. Applicants will be evaluated on the quality of their previous work, the submitted artist’s statement, and the unique perspective and point of view they bring to the LGBTQ+ community and the world at large. Only directors who have not yet made a feature film or received distribution for their previous work are eligible.

Before applying we highly encourage you to read our Eligibility Requirements: http://newfest.org/new-voices-grant

newfest.org/new-voices-grant/

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BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL

DEADLINES:

  • Preferred: March 2, 2022

  • Late: April 1, 2022

INFO: The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world.

AWARDS & PRIZES:

  • Best Feature Narrative 

  • Best Feature Documentary 

  • Best Short Narrative (ACADEMY AWARDS® qualifying) 

  • Best Short Documentary (ACADEMY AWARDS® qualifying) 

  • Best Experimental 

  • Audience Awards

ELIGIBILITY:

  • To be eligible for consideration:

  • Films must be directed by a person of African descent or who otherwise identifies as Black, Brown or Indigenous, and feature persons of African descent, or tell a story of Black, Brown or Indigenous experiences.

  • Narrative feature films and documentary films must not exceed a running time of 120 minutes.

  • Shorts must not exceed a running time of 40 minutes.

  • Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted. Dialogue lists will not be accepted.

  • Though not required for eligibility, preference is given to Philadelphia and North American premieres.

  • Note: Submissions may be in work-in-progress form; however, works that are not final cuts must be clearly marked “Work in Progress (WIP)” or “Rough Cut” with an indication of what will change or what is missing (e.g., temp sound, missing animation, etc.). If accepted, final prints/media files must be received by June 15, 2022.

  • Entrants must fully comply with these entry rules and regulations, including all deadlines, film length, entry material and other requirements.

  • Note: Entry fees are in U.S. dollars, are per film and are non-refundable. BlackStar reserves the right to disqualify a submission, without refund of any kind, if eligibility requirements are not met including if eligibility status changes post-submission. Shorts are films 40 minutes or less; features are films greater than 40 minutes, but not exceeding 120 minutes.

  • Students: Entry fees for student submissions for the Official Entry Deadline will be waived upon receipt of a photocopy of a current and valid student ID card or a letter from an accredited school that verifies enrollment. For questions, contact submissions@blackstarfest.org.

  • Films will be automatically entered into juried competition unless the entrant(s) request to be withdrawn. Entrants must make this request at the time of application.

  • Please note that recipients of the Short Narrative and Short Documentary Awards are eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short and Documentary Short categories of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy's rules.

filmfreeway.com/BlackStarFest

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2022 Black Writers in Focus

DIVERSO

DEADLINE: March 4, 2022

INFO: DIVERSO has partnered with RIDEBACK (Aladdin, It, The LEGO Movies) and THE WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION to create Black Writers in Focus: a paid summer fellowship program for Black student screenwriters.

Vetted by a rigorous committee of all Black readers, four talented students will spend ten weeks over the summer fine-tuning a writing sample with a personalized mentor, attending panels and classes with industry leaders, and learning from the best by shadowing in a writers' room. Students will be paid to develop their craft.

Selected students will receive a $6,000 stipend to support a full-time commitment over 10 weeks. Fellows are expected to make a 40-hour commitment each week. The program will be hosted virtually over the summer (June 6th - August 19th).

dvrso.org/bwifoverview

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ROLLING SUBMISSIONS

ISO/Netflix Indigenous Production Apprenticeships and Cultural Mentorships Grant

Indigenous Screen Office / Netflix

DEADLINE: Rolling

INFO: ISO has partnered with Netflix to provide funding to support training, professional development and culturally specific approaches for Indigenous on-screen content creators. There are two funding streams available:

  1. Production Apprenticeships: the goal of these grants are to support new opportunities for hands-on training and career progression for Indigenous creatives who want to take their careers to the next level. You are required to demonstrate that apprentices have a record of production experience and demonstrate that this opportunity will support their skills building and career development.

  2. Cultural Mentorships: this program was created to offer the opportunity for Indigenous producers, directors and writers to engage in cultural mentorship, community engagement, cultural learning, and protocols work during the development and pre-development phases of their projects. This may include working with Elders, language speakers, knowledge keepers and/or community members to develop their project idea or to support their personal growth and development in their career as a screen-based storyteller.

Program Goals:

  • To create new training, career development and job opportunities for Indigenous on-screen creatives, with a focus on those who have gained experience in the sector and want to expand their skill set;

  • To build capacity within the sector, at all levels of production;

  • To support Indigenous producers, directors and writers to engage in cultural engagement, learning and protocols work during the development phases of their project;

  • To recognize Indigenous ways of working, which often requires extensive engagement, consultation and learning at the community level.

SUBMISSION PROCESS AND NOTIFICATION:

Applications must be completed in the ISO Apply portal. Projects will be assessed on a continual basis until funding for the program is depleted for that fiscal year.

Grant notifications can be expected 3-4 months following the deadline.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Please note the spirit and intent of ISO funding is to support Indigenous creators and companies that are controlled by Indigenous people, who have decision-making authority and creative control.

For the purposes of ISO programs, “Indigenous” is defined as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada. All applicants must be residents of Canada.

Individuals (including sole proprietors): 

  • Are a First Nations, Inuit or Métis person residing in Canada and who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who has resided in Canada for at least eight months over the last one-year period;

  • Working in screen-based content, including TV, film, web, gaming, apps, and XR (VR, AR);

  • The project is under the financial and creative control of the applicant; and two of the three key members of the creative team (director, screenwriter, showrunner, producer) are Indigenous.

  • Can deposit a cheque in the name of the applicant;

  • Is not insolvent or bankrupt, or in the course of the reorganization of its business within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)

Individual Applicants: Please be advised the Canada Revenue Agency considers grants as taxable income. Please keep all expense receipts related to this grant to offset your tax obligations. If you are incorporated as a sole proprietor, you must apply under your business name for the grant to be deposited to your business bank account. Grants will not be deposited to an account in any name other than the applicant name.

Companies : 

  • Indigenous-controlled (minimum 51% ownership by person/s who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis);

  • Registered as a corporation with its head office in Canada;

  • Bios for each owner of the company must be provided as well as their individual percentage of ownership.

  • Main activity of the organization is the production or support of screen-based content, including TV, film, web, digital narrative content, and XR (VR, AR).

  • Is not insolvent or bankrupt, or in the course of the reorganization of its business within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada);

  • Can deposit cheque in the name of the applicant.

PROGRAM CATEGORIES

This program is open to Indigenous Production Apprenticeships and Cultural Mentorships for the following applicants:

  1. Indigenous Productions: Indigenous Productions may apply to this program to hire and train a maximum of three (3) Indigenous apprentices on a production, or to participate in a cultural mentorship. The production company must be 51% Indigenous owned, with two of the key creative roles (producer, director, writer, showrunner) held by an Indigenous person. The company must be registered in Canada.

  1. Indigenous Individuals: Indigenous individual creatives may apply directly to serve as an apprentice on a production or to participate in a cultural mentorship. For apprenticeships, the specialist who will be serving as mentor may be Indigenous or non-Indigenous. Cultural mentors must be Indigenous. The applicant must be a resident of Canada. Indigenous individuals may apply to be apprentices on any type of production but must have a confirmation letter of role and fee.

Apprenticeships can be supported for fiction, non-fiction, or documentary screen-based projects in all genres. The following types of productions are eligible: 

  • Feature-length works

  • Television series

  • Web series

  • VR, 360, digital and interactive works

  • Ongoing studio work

Training and professional development for the following key creative roles are eligible for apprenticeships: 

  • Producer

  • Director

  • Screenwriter

  • Showrunner

  • Editor

  • Director of Photography

  • Costume Designer

  • Sound Designer

  • Production Designer

  • Lighting Designer

  • Animation/Effects

Apprenticeship Definition and Eligibility: 

  • Apprentices may be at any stage in their career, but the opportunity must be to provide enhanced experience, training and professional development that will support career progression. They must have demonstrated production experience.

  • They must be working with a more senior professional with a demonstrated track record in their area of practice.

  • They must be learning the skills of a more advanced role through hands-on work, training and shadowing.

  • Apprentices must be compensated at an industry standard for their experience level and hours worked.

  • Apprentices must be Indigenous, however, their mentor may be non-Indigenous;

  • Apprentices must be residents of Canada.

iso-bea.ca/program/iso-netflix-apprenticeship-cultural-mentorship-funding-program-2021/

FILM — JANUARY 2022

RISING VOICES

Hillman Grad / Indeed

DEADLINE: January 4, 2022

INFO: Hillman Grad and Indeed are thrilled to announce the second season of the Rising Voices program. The initiative aims to discover, invest in and share stories created by BIPOC filmmakers & storytellers around the power and meaning of work. Last year’s program awarded a $100K production budget for 10 short films which premiered at The Tribeca Festival in New York and created over 600 jobs, and we’re excited to keep the opportunity going for another season this year.

‍HOW IT WORKS: Our advisory team will identify 10 filmmakers who will be selected to participate in Rising Voices. A $100,000 production budget will be allocated to produce their stories, and each filmmaker will have access to mentorship and support from the advisory panel through members from Hillman Grad and Ventureland. The films will be produced by Hillman Grad in partnership with 271 Films. An additional COVID-19 safety fund will also be made available to the filmmakers.

FILMMAKER SUPPORT: Following the conclusion of the program, Indeed will invest in marketing and distribution support for the finished films, along with a debut at The Tribeca Festival. Additionally, one or more filmmakers will be offered a filmmaker-in-residency position at Indeed to continue producing content with the brand.

REQUIREMENTS:

You must submit a complete and accurate application through the Hillman Grad website prior to the application deadline. The application will include:

  • Short answers to a series of questions

  • A resume and biography

  • Past work samples

  • An original short or pilot script written by the director or writer/director collaboration. (10 pages max)

  • You must be at least 18 years of age and not a minor in the state or country of your residence at time of submission.

  • All Participants are required to review and sign a Submission Agreement, which will govern your participation in the Rising Voices 2022 Program. Terms and conditions apply.

TIMELINE:

  • Jan. 4th: Application closes

  • Jan 24th-28th: Top 20 interviews

  • Feb 3rd: Final 10 candidates notified

  • Week of 2/7: Program Begins

hillmangrad.com/indeed-rising-voices

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YADDO ARTIST RESIDENCY

Yaddo

DEADLINE: January 5, 2022

APPLICATION FEE: $30

INFO: Yaddo is a retreat for artists located on a 400-acre estate in Saratoga Springs, New York. Its mission is to nurture the creative process by providing an opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment.

Yaddo offers residencies to professional creative artists from all nations and backgrounds working in one or more of the following disciplines: choreography, film, literature, musical composition, painting, performance art, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and video. Artists may apply individually or as members of collaborative teams of two or three persons. They are selected by panels of other professional artists without regard to financial means. Residencies last from two weeks to two months and include room, board, and a studio.

ELIGIBILITY: Artists in all disciplines who are enrolled in graduate or undergraduate programs, or are engaged in completing work toward an academic degree at the time of application, are not eligible to apply to Yaddo.

Artists may apply once every other calendar year. For example, if you applied in 2019 (January or August deadline), you will be eligible to apply again in either January or August of 2021.

RAPPLICATION: All artists seeking residency at Yaddo must submit a complete application, including recent work samples. The criterion for repeat visit requests is the same as for first visits – the quality of the artist’s work. However, preference is normally given to persons who have not recently visited Yaddo.

FEES: Yaddo’s nonrefundable application fee is $30, to which is added a fee for media uploads ranging from $5 to $10, depending on the discipline. Application fees must be paid by credit card. Applicants who might experience difficulty in paying the application fee are encouraged to contact our Program Department. Artists are responsible for the means to travel to and from Yaddo. However, we have access grants available to offset the costs of accepting an invitation to Yaddo.

LENGTH OF STAY: Residencies vary in length – the average stay is five weeks. The minimum stay is two weeks; the maximum is eight weeks.

FINANCIAL AID: Funds exist to provide limited financial aid to artists, based on need. Only individuals who have already been invited for visits may apply for financial assistance. Specific instructions and an application form are included with each letter of invitation.

ADMISSIONS PANEL: Applications are considered by five independent admissions committees in the artistic disciplines represented at Yaddo: Literature, Visual Art, Music Composition, Performance, and Film & Video. Membership in these committees rotates frequently and the members are artists whose work is recognized and esteemed by their peers. Collaborative applications are considered by appropriate cross-disciplinary panelists.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES:

Five admissions panels consider applications to Yaddo in the following disciplines:

  1. Literature, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, translation, librettos, and graphic novels.

  2. Visual Art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, mixed media, and installation art

  3. Music Composition, including instrumental forms, vocal forms, electronic music, music for film, and sound art

  4. Performance, including choreography, performance art, multi-media and/or collaborative works incorporating live performance

  5. Film & Video, including narrative, documentary and experimental films, animation, and screenplays

Applicants should apply to the Admissions Panel that best represents the project they wish to undertake should they be invited for a residency. Applicants may apply to only one admissions panel, and in one genre, at a time. Artists working in new disciplines or on projects that do not fit easily into the above disciplinary categories are encouraged to contact the Program Manager about which category is most appropriate for their project.

COLLABORATIONS: Small groups (2 to 3 individuals) of artists wishing to work collaboratively are encouraged to apply. Each member of the group will need to submit an individual application under “Collaborative Teams.” Work samples should give a clear and precise representation of the nature of the collaboration, preferably via previous work the applicants have undertaken together as a collaborative team. Support personnel or interpretative artists, such as computer programmers, instrumentalists, set and lighting designers, and dancers, cannot be included in a residency as part of a collaborative team.

Artists who do not have a collaborative history but who wish to be in residence at the same time should apply to the admissions panel most closely connected to their individual artistic discipline, rather than Collaborative Teams. Concurrent dates of residence may be requested.

Specific questions should be directed to the Program Manager before submitting an application.

REFERENCES: Artists are required to have one current reference on file for each application. Rather than a standard letter of recommendation, applicants must provide the name of a colleague who can answer two brief questions regarding artistic work and character. Jurors evaluating your application give more consideration to references from peers in your field. Your reference must be completed no later than January 19, 2022. Yaddo does not accept letters of reference on paper or from Interfolio or other reference services. All references must come through SlideRoom.

SENDING A REFERENCE REQUEST: Provide an accurate e-mail address for your reference provider within your SlideRoom application. Reference requests must be made before submitting your application. There is space to request up to two references – only one is required. Once you have sent the request, SlideRoom sends an e-mail message directly to your reference provider with a link to your application. Alert your reference provider to look for an e-mail from SlideRoom, not Yaddo. They should check junk or spam folders if the email does not appear in their inbox. Please follow this detailed support guide if your reference provider is not receiving SlideRoom’s email requests.

PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED REFERENCES: References are considered current for a five-year cycle, starting from the application deadline for which the references were initially submitted. Please confirm with the Yaddo admissions staff by sending an email to admissions@yaddo.org before you submit your application to ensure that your reference is current.

Artists who have been in residence at Yaddo within the past five years (including the year of residency) need not submit new references.

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS: Yaddo has a strong tradition of internationalism, and welcomes artists working in all disciplines from around the world. Writers who work in languages other than English should supply samples of work in translation as well as in the original. A working knowledge of English is helpful for international artists. Yaddo does not provide an interpreter for artists who speak little or no English.

yaddo.org/apply/guidelines/

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Hyde Park Entertainment / Warner Music Group Asian Women Screenwriting Lab Fellowship 2022

Film Independent

DEADLINE: January 15, 2022

INFO: Thank you for your interest in the 2022 Hyde Park Entertainment / Warner Music Group Asian Women Screenwriting Lab Fellowship. The selected Fellow will be awarded $12,500.00 and must agree to attach Hyde Park Entertainment as Producer for 18 months. Terms are outlined in the eligibility form. Please read carefully.

The Screenwriting Lab is a full-time, two-week program that will take place in March of 2022. The program is designed to provide individualized story and career development for emerging screenwriters with a fiction feature screenplay.

filmindependent1.submittable.com/submit/210724/hyde-park-entertainment-warner-music-group-asian-women-screenwriting-lab-fellow

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2022 Jerome Emerging Artist Residency

The Anderson Center

DEADLINE: January 15, 2022 at 11:59pm CST

APPLICATION FEE: $0

INFO: The Anderson Center’s Jerome Emerging Artist Residency Program offers month-long residency-fellowships at Tower View to a cohort of early-career artists from Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City for concentrated, uninterrupted creative time to advance their personal artistic goals and projects.

The program aims to meet the specific needs of emerging artists while welcoming them into a supportive and inspiring residency environment that empowers them to take risks, embrace challenges, and utilize unconventional approaches to problem-solving.

Thanks to support from the Jerome Foundation, selected emerging artists receive a $625/week artist stipend, documentation support, art-making resources, facilitation of community connections, lodging & studio space, a travel honorarium, groceries, and chef-prepared communal dinners.

Located at the historic Tower View estate, a venerable research-and-development lab for the arts rooted in an expansive natural setting, the program is an ideal fit for early-career artists whose work reveals a significant potential for cultural and community impact, is technically accomplished, engages diverse communities.

The Anderson Center’s goal is for connections participating artists make with one another, as well as connections made with other creatives and community members, to outlast the duration of their residency visit. The organization believes that the environment and resources of Tower View, along with an exchange of ideas across disciplines, can serve as a catalyst for new inspiration and innovative directions for the work emerging artists create while in residence.

Jury review will take place in late January and early February. Applicants will be notified by Feb. 3 as to the status of their application. A phone interview process with finalists will take place in late February following a second round of jury review. Selected artist residents, wait-list and runners-up will be notified by March 2, 2022.

ABOUT THE ANDERSON CENTER

The Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, founded in 1995 on the Tower View estate in rural Red Wing, Minn., has renovated and restored historic buildings to support working artists and the creative process, including developing twenty-two active studio spaces and three galleries. A renovated barn serves as a performance and event venue, the historic main residence houses artists-in-residence, and fifteen acres support a sculpture garden.

The Anderson Center provides residencies of two- or four-weeks’ duration from May through October each year to enable artists, writers, musicians, and performers of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment to create, advance, or complete work. In addition to community engagement activities through the artist residency program, the organization has a strong history of helping integrate the arts into community life through local partnerships, hosting annual arts events and participating in other community-based initiatives.

ABOUT THE JEROME FOUNDATION

The Jerome Foundation, created by artist and philanthropist Jerome Hill (1905-1972), seeks to contribute to a dynamic and evolving culture by supporting the creation, development, and production of new works by emerging artists. The Foundation makes grants to not-for-profit arts organizations and artists in Minnesota and New York City. The Jerome Foundation is generously providing support for the Anderson Center’s Jerome Emerging Artist Residency Program in August of 2022.

LOCATION

The Anderson Center campus is located on the 350-acre historic Tower View Estate, built by scientist & farmer Dr. Alexander Pierce Anderson between 1915 and 1921, on the western edge of Red Wing, Minnesota, and its buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Center features a large sculpture garden, and is adjacent to the Cannon Valley Trail, a 20-mile biking and walking trail that runs from Cannon Falls to Red Wing.

The Center is approximately 45 minutes southeast of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Transportation is provided between the Center and the Twin Cities airport on the first and last day of residencies only. Artist Residents that choose to drive will have access to private parking on the property.

The community of Red Wing, Minn., (pop. 16,000) is nestled amidst the scenic bluffs of the upper Mississippi River. The town is settled on the ancestral homelands of the Mdewakanton & Wapakute bands of the Dakota people. The City of Red Wing is named after Tatanka Mani (Walking Buffalo), a leader of the Mdewakanton Dakota in the upper Mississippi Valley who wore a ceremonial swan’s wing dyed in brilliant red. In 1815, Tatanka Mani and his people moved their village south to a place they called Khemnichan (Hill, Wood, & Water) in present-day downtown Red Wing. Euro-American immigrants who met him as they advanced into the region in the early nineteenth century came to know him and his village as “Red Wing.”

Since its settlement and eventual incorporation in 1857, Red Wing established itself as a center for agriculture, industry, tourism, medical care, technology, and the arts. The Red Wing Shoe Company and its iconic brands, in particular, continue to have a significant impact on the community’s economic, business, and community development climates. Natural resources abound with Red Wing's riverfront, winding paths through the majestic bluffs, bike trails, and 35 city parks. The Prairie Island Indian Community is located northwest of the city. Frontenac State Park is to the southeast on Lake Pepin. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical’s Red Wing campus is known for its string and brass instrument repair programs. The MN Dept. of Corrections also operates a large juvenile residential facility in Red Wing.

Other amenities include a destination bakery, a chocolate shop, coffee shops, restaurants, the flagship Red Wing Shoe Company store, Goodhue County Historical Society Museum, the Red Wing Stoneware & Pottery store, the Pottery Museum of Red Wing, a Duluth Trading store, the Red Wing Marine Museum, a Target, several pharmacies, a plant nursery & garden center, a Mayo Health System Hospital, a small independent bookstore, and a public library (the Center has arranged for residents to have access to a library card for their month at the Center)

Other key community stakeholders include the historic Sheldon Theatre, the Red Wing Arts Association, Red Wing YMCA, Red Wing Youth Outreach, Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County, Red Wing Area Friends of Immigrants, Red Wing Area Women’s Art History Club, Live Healthy Red Wing, Artreach, Red Wing Artisan Collective, the Artist Sanctuary, Pier 55 Red Wing Area Seniors, Big Turn Music Festival, Red Wing AAUW, Red Wing Environmental Learning Center, Red Wing Girl Scouts, Red Wing Public Schools, Tower View Alternative School, and Universal Music Center, as well as several City boards, commissions, and departments.

ELIGIBILITY AND DEFINITION OF “EMERGING ARTIST” While the Anderson Center’s general Artist Residency Program hosts artists with a wide range of talent and experience, the Jerome Emerging Artist Residency Program exclusively focuses on meeting the specific needs of artists who are in the early stages of their artistic development and career.

The Anderson Center defines an emerging artist as someone who has some evidence of professional achievement but has not yet a substantial record of accomplishment. These are the applicants who are practicing vocational artists but are not yet recognized as "established" by the artistic community (other artists, curators, producers, critics, and arts administrators).

The organization looks for artists whose work reveals a significant potential for cultural and community impact. These are artists who are uncompromising in their approach to creation and production, people who are not afraid to take risks, embrace challenges, and utilize unconventional approaches to problem-solving.

Degree-seeking students at the time of application, or during the grant period, are not eligible for a residency (including K-12, college, graduate or post graduate studies). Age is not a factor in determining emerging artist status.

Artists that are part of an artistic collective, partnership, or collaborative are welcome to apply, but collaborative residencies are also rare. The program is extremely competitive and space is simply limited. Each artist must also complete their own application form.

Artists of all disciplines are eligible and are encouraged to apply. Artists must currently be legal residents of Minnesota or one of the five boroughs of New York City and have been residents for at least one year prior to the submission of an application. Applications must be submitted through the Anderson Center’s online webform via Submittable. The primary goal of eligible artists must be to generate new works, as opposed to remounting or re-interpreting existing works.

Further details from the Jerome Foundation on emerging artist eligibility requirements can be found here: https://www.jeromefdn.org/defining-early-career-emerging-artists

APPLICATION
A completed application form includes a brief artist statement, a work plan, an emerging artist statement, a community engagement statement, work samples, and a resume or CV. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the panel. You may begin your application, leave and return as many times as necessary to complete the form PRIOR to clicking the submit button at the bottom of the completed form. Important: do not submit your application form until you are completely finished editing as your application will be finalized at that time. If you are a prior resident of the Anderson Center, you must wait one year from the time of your residency to apply again.

The Artist Statement, provides an opportunity for you to share, in 100 words or less, a brief statement or summary about your current and future work.

The Resume, CV, or Biographical Statement is a Word or PDF document that shows education, work experience, publications, awards, and previous residency experience. 3 pages maximum.

The Work Plan is a one page Word or PDF document that clearly and concisely describes what you are working on and what you’d like to accomplish at the Anderson Center. Successful applicants address how the timing, location, and cohort-based model of the residency would benefit their practice. Artists may also mention how specific amenities or resources at the Anderson Center (such as the surrounding natural environment, specific studio spaces or equipment) would advance their work. The statement can be single-spaced.

An Emerging Artist Statement addresses, in 250 words or less, your status as an emerging artist or early-career artist. How would participating in this program impact or advance your practice as an emerging artist? In what ways would this program meet your needs as an emerging artist? Why is this residency important to this stage of your career path? How do you identify as an emerging artist? 

Work Samples should be of recent work and should include:

  • For composers and musicians: 3 to 5 recordings

  • For visual artists: At least 5 images of work (300 dpi or larger)

  • For nonfiction and fiction writers: 10 pages of double-spaced prose

  • For playwrights & screenwriters: 20-page excerpt (does not need to be from the beginning)

  • For poets: 10 pages of poetry

  • For translators: 10 pages of translation and original text

  • For performance artists: 3 short videos excerpts of performances (no videos longer than 5 minutes)

  • For filmmakers: at least 3 short film clips (no videos longer than 5 minutes)

  • For Scholars: 10 pages of work, including research abstracts and relevant diagrams

DURATION OF RESIDENCY

The Anderson Center’s Jerome Emerging Artist Residency Program offers residency-fellowships of two weeks or one month in August. Strong preference is given to those applying for month-long stays. August is the only month the Jerome Emerging Artist Residency Program takes place.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Each artist-in-residence receives:

  • $625/week artist stipend

  • Travel honorarium ($550 for New Yorkers and $150 for Minnesotans)

  • $450 documentation budget (services for photography, video, audio, etc.)

Evening dinners are prepared and presented by the Anderson Center chef Monday through Friday. The chef also shops for meal items for artist residents, and residents are responsible for preparing their own breakfasts and lunches, and meals over the weekends.

There is also a housekeeper who cleans and maintains the historic facilities. Additional cleaning and sanitization measures are being taken during the pandemic to help ensure the health and safety of artists, staff, and the community.


ACCOMMODATIONS
Each resident is provided room, board, and workspace for the length of the residency period in the historic Tower View residence. Visual artists are provided a 15' x 26' studio and are responsible for supplying their own materials.  Other workspaces on site include a cone 10 gas kiln and electric kilns, an open-air metalsmith facility, a dark room, and a print studio (with a Vandercook 219 letterpress and a Charles Brand-like etching press). Practice space is also available for dancers, choreographers, and musicians. Composers are provided with access to a 1904 Steinway piano and a Royale grand piano. 

Dinners are prepared and presented by Anderson Center chef Phoebe Nyen Monday through Friday. Chef Phoebe also shops for groceries for artists-in-residence. Residents are responsible for preparing their own breakfasts and lunches, and meals over the weekends. There is also a housekeeper who cleans and maintains the historic facilities. Additional cleaning and sanitization measures are being taken during the pandemic to help ensure the health and safety of artists, staff, and the community.

Residents have access to the many walking trails on campus and to the Cannon Valley Trail, which goes through the Anderson Center’s property. Bicycles are also provided. Residents have responded to many different aspects of the gorgeous Tower View campus through their work, including composers sampling natural sounds and visual artists harvesting plant materials to create site-specific natural inks.


COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 
The program is set-up to minimize distractions and other obligations so that artists have every opportunity to fully focus on their work. However, the Anderson Center was one of the first artist residency programs in the country to require that residents give back to the local community and connect with area residents & organizations through community engagement activities.

Staff work with artists to facilitate and customize at least one hour of mutually beneficial exchange with the Red Wing community that helps foster connection and greater a sense of place.

Within the last few years, Anderson Center residents have connected with 12 schools in five area communities (ranging from elementary through college), 5 senior centers, 2 correctional or detention facilities, 7 community organizations serving children and families, and 8 community organizations serving adults. Residents have also engaged individuals from all walks of life through public workshops, events, discussions, and artful interventions -- both at the Anderson Center or in the community of Red Wing.

During the pandemic, community engagement activities have safely and creatively continued in small group, outdoor, online or distance settings. Examples from the later half of 2020 include a writing exercise letter exchange with residents of a correctional facility, a poetry walk along a park trail, an outdoor natural dye workshop, a distanced reading/discussion with students of Tower View Alternative High School, and various public & private online interviews/discussions with community stakeholders. A majority of the 2021 engagement activities took place in-person, either outdoors or in a small group setting indoors.

PROGRAM MISSION & VALUES
The mission of the Anderson Center is to, in the unique and historic setting of Tower View, offer residencies in the arts, sciences, and humanities; provide a dynamic environment for the exchange of ideas; encourage the pursuit of creative and scholarly endeavors; and serve as a forum for significant contributions to society.

The Anderson Center Residency Program was set-up by a working poet to support other artists and continues to function by those with hands-on experience in the creative process. The organization seeks out feedback from residents each month in order to implement necessary changes as it works toward continual improvement of the program. Most importantly, staff trust artists to know what they need most to advance their individual practices. The Center does not dictate specific outcomes. Instead, the expectation is that the gift of time and space will generate significant advancements in residents' work. The Anderson Center trusts the artists to best use their time to benefit their own work and reach their own goals.

Since 2014 the Anderson Center has offered such month-long residencies in alternating years to small groups of Deaf artists, including poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers, whose native or adoptive language is American Sign Language (ASL). Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Anderson Center's Deaf Artist  Residency is the only program in the country that is Deaf-centric. It was developed with the goal of contributing to the creation of a local and national network of Deaf culture-creators.

The Center also engages in artist exchange programs with the city of Salzburg, Austria, and with Red Wing's Sister City, Quzhou, China. The Center participates in annual scholarship programs with the MFA  programs at The University of Minnesota and Pacific Lutheran University in Washington.

As an interdisciplinary arts organization, the Anderson Center embraces artists who are diverse in every way. Since its inception, the organization has intentionally worked with artists representing a wide range of disciplines, with the belief that the exchange of ideas is generative. The residency program supports artists from around the world, representing a wide range of cultures, races, sexual identities and genders. The Center strives to bring people and ideas together and operates with a spirit of welcome for all.

PANDEMIC POLICIES
Prior to arrival, all artists are sent a revised Residency Handbook outline many items related to daily life for artists-in-residence, including the most current safety policies and protocols. The organization's goal is to balance standard pandemic policies and clear expectations while also highlighting areas where communication or flexibility within each cohort might be beneficial or needed.

Again, the Anderson Center Residency Program trusts that artists know what they need most to advance their individual practices and how best use their time to benefit their own work and reach their own goals. Likewise, artists are empowered to collective make changes where appropriate and ultimately build the artist community they'd like to see. 

At the same time, and as is outlined in the Residency Handbook, the Anderson Center is committed to supporting artists by creating a safe space for their residency experience. As such, for the 2022 season, the organization requires all participating artists to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to arrival.
Of course even with all of these precautions, by simply participating in an artist residency program, there is an inherent risk of exposure, even for vaccinated persons, that is beyond the ability of the Anderson Center to control entirely. By applying to this program you are communicating that you are comfortable with that amount of risk and that you are also fully vaccinated (or will be prior to arrival).

SELECTION TIMELINE
January 15, 2022 (11:59 p.m. CST) – application deadline
February 3, 2022 – Jury has selected Round 2 applications. All artists are notified of the status of their application  
February 21, 2022 – Jury has determined finalists. Phone interviews with finalists begin.  
March 2, 2022 – Final notification to selected artists, wait-list and runners-up

SELECTION CRITERIA Selection criteria include (in order of importance):
1) Artistic excellence as demonstrated by work samples, resume and artist statement
2) Potential benefit and impact on career as demonstrated by work plan and emerging artist statement 
3) Balance of artistic disciplines, identity, geography, etc within selected cohort

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Anderson Center provides equal opportunity for all people to participate in and benefit from the activities of the Center, regardless of race, national origin, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, in admission, access, or employment. The Anderson Center staff is willing to do what they can to accommodate residents with disabilities. Please call before applying to discuss special needs.

https://theandersoncenter.submittable.com/submit/204499/2022-jerome-emerging-artist-residency-for-mn-nyc-artists

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Artist Research Fellowship

Folger Institute

DEADLINE: January 18, 2022

INFO: The Folger Institute Artist Research Fellowship is open to artists working in all media whose work would benefit from significant primary research. This includes, but is not limited to, visual artists, writers, dramaturgs, playwrights, performers, filmmakers, and composers.

While a terminal degree is not required for the Artist Research Fellowship, applicants should describe their training and level of industry-specific experience in their CV. All applicants must apply as individuals, including artists working as collaborators. See additional Rules and Requirements and Application Instructions.

Please note that in 2022–2023, all Artist Research Fellowships will be non-residential. Awards are $3,500 for four weeks of work away from the Folger. Fellowships may be undertaken between July 2022 and June 2023.
 

RESOURCES & BENEFITS:

  • Access to Folger electronic resources and Researcher Services consultation.

  • Opportunities to meet virtually with Folger Theatre, Consort, and Poetry professionals, as well as Folger curators, librarians, and conservators, as relevant.

  • Participation in scholarly and community-building programs with other Folger Fellows.

  • Exposure on the Folger website, social media, and newsletters.

  • J1 Visa sponsorship, if needed.

folger.edu/institute/artist-research-fellowship

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WURLITZER FOUNDATION RESIDENCY

Helene Wurlitzer Foundation

DEADLINE: January 18, 2022

APPLICATION FEE: $25

INFO: The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico (HWF) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational and charitable organization committed to supporting the arts. Founded in 1954, the HWF manages one of the oldest artist residency programs in the USA and is located on fifteen acres in the heart of Taos, New Mexico, a multicultural community renowned for its popularity with artists.

The Foundation offers three months of rent-free and utility-paid housing to people who specialize in the creative arts. Our eleven artist casitas, or guest houses, are fully furnished and provide residents with a peaceful setting in which to pursue their creative endeavors.

The Foundation accepts applications from painters, poets, sculptors, writers, playwrights, screenwriters, composers, photographers, and filmmakers of national and international origin.

Applications are reviewed by a selection committee consisting of professionals who specialize in the artistic discipline of the applicant. Numerous jurors serve on committees for each: visual arts, music composers, writers, poets, playwrights, and filmmakers. Jurors, who know nothing about the artist's demographics, score in five categories based purely on the merit of the applicant's creative work samples.

Artists in residence have no imposed expectations, quotas, or requirements during their stay on the HWF campus. The HWF’s residency program provides artists with the time and space to create, which in turn enriches the artistic community and culture locally and abroad.

GUIDELINES:

Literary artists may upload writing samples in .pdf format using the application form above. Alternatively, literary artists may choose to mail hard-copies. Include a cover sheet containing your contact info and table of contents, but please omit names and contact info on the writing samples themselves.

  • Writers: samples should not exceed 35 double-spaced pages

  • Poets: a maximum of six poems.

  • Playwrights: include one complete play.

  • Screenwriters: include one complete screenplay.

Digital work samples are accepted and encouraged for applications from visual artists and composers. Applicants should prepare to submit five work sample files when filling out the online application form. Acceptable file types for images include jpg, gif and png. Accepted types for audio files are mp3 and m4a.

Filmmakers must mail a DVD or USB-drive containing up to 30 minutes of video which represents no more than five different samples of your work.

wurlitzerfoundation.org/apply

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Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge

CAPE

DEADLINE: January 26, 2022

INFO: CAPE is joining forces with Janet Yang Productions to provide short film production grants of $15,000 each to four AAPI women or non-binary filmmakers, funded by Julia S. Gouw!

The four awardees in the inaugural Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge will be offered unparalleled networking opportunities with Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning Hollywood producer Janet Yang and the CAPE network, along with the chance to submit films to potential buyers and platforms with access to industry professionals including agents, managers, producers and studio executives.

Submissions are open now for narrative live-action or animated short film scripts featuring an AAPI woman or non-binary protagonist. We welcome all AAPI woman or non-binary directors and writers to apply!

2022 Challenge Ambassadors:

GEMMA CHAN
ETERNALS, CRAZY RICH ASIANS

RICHA MOORJANI
NEVER HAVE I EVER

KELLY MARIE TRAN
LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD,
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON

capeusa.org/short-film-challenge

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NYSCA / NYFA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP

DEADLINE: January 26, 2022

INFO: The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is a $7,000 unrestricted cash grant available to artists living in New York State and/or one of the Indian Nations located therein.

The Playwriting/Screenwriting category accepts work in the writing of stageplays, screenplays, teleplays, libretti, radioplays, and audiodramas. While librettists may apply in this category, no audiotapes are accepted in this category. Composers of music theater works are advised to apply separately in the Music/Sound category.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

When Submitting an application to the Playwriting/Screenwriting category you will need to complete:

Required:

  • Artist Statement – up to 100 words

  • Work Statement – up to 100 words

  • Excerpt Explanation – up to 400 words

  • Work Samples – up to 20 pages of manuscript, 12 point font, double spaced or in script format, and a one page title page (21 pages total)

Optional written statements:

  • Technical Statement – up to 200 words

  • Cultural Statement – up to 400 words

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT:

NYFA is committed to supporting artists from every background, and at all stages in their creative careers. We strongly encourage artists of color, LGBTQ+ artists, artists with disabilities, and artists living outside of the metropolitan area to apply.

To request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email fellowships@nyfa.org. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible or by January 12, 2022 to allow adequate time for staff to support you in submitting an application before the deadline.

WORK SAMPLES:

Manuscript of your Literary work

Work samples are a representation of your artistic work created within the last five years. This is the most important part of your application, as it will be the primary point of review. 

Work Sample Inventory: 

Applicants can submit up to 20 pages from a manuscript that best represents their practice. Please also include a one page title page in your PDF in addition to the 20 page manuscript (21 pages in total). The title page should include the title of the piece and the date of completion, but not the name of the author. If your work sample includes a combination of excerpts from larger works, you are strongly advised to include substantial portions from each larger work, rather than small fragments.

Do not include publication and/or production information anywhere on your manuscript. Do not include your artistic résumé in your .pdf. Materials can be previously published or not. If published, scanned excerpts from books or periodicals, in published form, will be ineligible. Manuscripts must be in English, but can be translated into English by someone other than the artist.

Work Sample Descriptions:

Before you upload the .pdf file to your application, you will need to name your file. Do not label your work sample with your name. Instead, label it with the title of your work.

After your work sample has been uploaded, you will be able to provide a description (metadata) including title, date the work was completed, and additional information. Do not include production or publication history.

File Format:

  • File name: label your manuscript with the title of the work, ex. The Big Story.pdf or Work Sample 2021. Do not include your name.

  • Length: Up to 20 pages. Must be 12 point font and double spaced or in script format.

  • Title Page: One page title page with the title of the work(s), and year of completion, but not the name of the author/applicant.

  • Language: English

  • File format: .pdf

SUPPORT STATEMENTS:

Written statements about your artistic practice 

Support statements are available to the panelists in the later rounds of review.

Artist Statement: A short concise statement giving an overview of your artistic practice. This statement should give a brief introduction to ideas, themes and methods in your practice. This is not an Artist’s Bio. Up to 100 words. 

Work Statement: A statement explaining your artistic vision as directly related to your submitted work samples. This is not an artist statement, but should instead reflect only the ideas and inspiration relevant ONLY to the work submitted. Up to 100 words. The work statement is available to panelists in the first round of review.

Questions to consider for your Work Statement: Referencing only the submitted Work Samples

  1. What is your submitted work about?

  2. How does this work represent the primary concerns and intentions of your artistic practice as described in your artist statement?

Excerpt Explanation: A supplemental statement further explains the context, concept, and execution of your work sample(s). This statement should explain how the excerpted work sample relates to the entire original piece. Within the Excerpt Explanation you can itemize each submitted work sample(s) and discuss them individually. Up to 400 words. 

Questions to consider for your Excerpt Explanation: Referencing only the submitted Work Samples

  1. How does your work sample(s) relate to the full work?

  2. What information is needed to give context to your work samples?

Technical Statement (Optional): A supplemental statement describing the key technical aspects of the work. Use this statement to highlight your role in creating/executing the work. Be sure to note whether your work samples represent documentation of a performance, installation, experience, etc. You can also describe the circumstances in which the viewer/audience should experience the work. Please include instructions on how to navigate your work if it’s interactive. Up to 200 words.

Questions to consider for your Technical Explanation: Referencing only the submitted Work Samples

  1. How was the work created/executed?

  2. What specific techniques are integral to creating the work?

  3. What is the original context for this work, i.e. book, performance, etc?

Cultural Statement (Optional): A supplemental statement describing how your work is rooted in a specific cultural technique, tradition or community. Up to 400 words. 


Write a Cultural Statement if: Referencing only the submitted Work Samples

  1. our practice stems from a specific and/or unique cultural tradition.

  2. The understanding of your work is dependent on the context of a cultural community.

REVIEW PROCESS:

How are applications reviewed? Playwriting/Screenwriting applications are reviewed online over the course of 3 elimination rounds. All applications will be reviewed anonymously in the first round of review.

  • In Round 1, the panel will have access to all applicants’ Work Samples (up to 20 pages of manuscript) and the Work Statement. Applications are assigned a number and reviewed anonymously. In these rounds panelists are directed to review and score applications independently.

  • In Round 2, panelists will have access to all supplemental written statements (i.e: Artist Statement, Excerpt Explanation, Cultural Statement, and/or Technical Statement). Similar to the first round, the panel will continue to review and score applications independently.

  • In the following round, the panel will meet online and collectively discuss the applications that have made it into this round before selecting the Fellowship Recipients.

nyfa.org/awards-grants/artist-fellowships/2022-playwritingscreenwriting-guidelines/?mc_cid=90b5b2dcf2&mc_eid=b2828bf2ea

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BLACK MUSLIM FILMMAKER GRANT

Muslim Public Affairs Council

DEADLINE: January 28, 2022 at 11:59 PST

INFO: The $10,000 grant is open to filmmakers who identify as Black Muslims; are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents; and have an episodic, narrative or animated project in development, production or post-production.

mpachollywoodbureau.org/fullstory

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DOCLANDS Documentary Film Festival

DOCLANDS

DEADLINES:

  • Early: January 31, 2022

  • Final: February 11, 2022

INFO: Presented by the California Film Institute, DOCLANDS Documentary Film Festival brings compelling stories and the provocative insight behind them to Marin County, CA.

With extended dates in early May, the 2022 Festival will reflect and build upon the structure and innovations we introduced during the outbreak of COVID while being responsive and respectful of the public health situation. This flexibility means planning for an accessible, inclusive hybrid Festival, with the hope we're able to maintain access to those unable or unwilling to attend. We will continue to deliver a festival that engages our members and patrons, supports filmmakers and our valued partners, and bolsters the documentary film community.

No matter what form screenings and conversations take moving forward, DocLands encourages the exchange of ideas and inspiration through public screenings, engaged conversations, pitching, and grassroots networking events with an aim to build an active, inclusive, fully supportive community around documentary film dedicated to initiating connections and partnerships that will illuminate and invigorate the business and art of non-fiction filmmaking.

filmfreeway.com/DocLandsDocumentaryFilmFestival

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2021/2022 INDIGENOUS LIST

The Black List / IllumiNative / Sundance Institute

DEADLINE: February 4, 2022

INFO: For the second year in a row, The Black List has partnered with IllumiNative and Sundance Institute for the Indigenous List. The Indigenous List will feature film and television scripts authored by Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaskan Native Film artists working in the U.S. 

Filmmakers and content creators are invited to submit a script for consideration by uploading it to The Black List website during the winter of 2021/2022. Feature film, one-hour, and half-hour original pilot submissions will be considered for this opportunity (no webseries or documentaries, please.) Scripts from any genre are eligible for this partnership. 

blcklst.com/help/article/634

FILM — DECEMBER 2021

WAVE GRANT

Wavelength Productions

DEADLINE: December 1, 2021

INFO: Wavelength’s WAVE Grant is devoted to helping first-time female and non-binary filmmakers of color tell their own story. Five recipients will be selected to receive a $5,000 seed grant for the production of their short film. Recipients will also receive mentorship from our award-winning team with development, production, and distribution strategies.

wavelengthproductions.com/grants/

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PROJECT GREENLIGHT

Issa Rae / HBO Max

DEADLINE: N/A

INFO: Issa Rae, creator and star of the HBO Original Insecure and Executive Producer of the Max Original Sweet Life: Los Angeles, has teamed up with Alfred Street Industries and Miramax to bring Project Greenlight to HBO Max. For the first time, this documentary series will focus on a next generation, woman filmmaker who will be given the opportunity to participate in the series and direct a studio feature film. The chosen director will be mentored by Issa and other prominent figures of the industry as they take a Hollywood script through pre-production, casting, principal photography, and post production. The entire journey will be documented and shared in the new series on HBO Max, and the feature film will be released in 2023.

TO BE CONSIDERED:

  • You must be a woman over 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your state of residence, if different)

  • You must be legally authorized to live and work in the US, or in the process of attempting to obtain lawful authorization so that you will be able to legally live and work in the United States on the Program by the time pre-production begins on or around January 1, 2022

  • You must not have previously directed a studio film with a budget in excess of $1M

  • You must not currently (and during your participation be) under contract with any third party (including any studio, network, production company, etc.) in connection with your directing services

hbomax.com/projectgreenlight

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LOGAN NONFICTION PROGRAM

DEADLINE: December 15, 2021

INFO: The Logan Nonfiction Program is a hybrid fellowship for nonfiction writers, documentary filmmakers, photojournalists, podcasters and multimedia creators. The fellowship combines virtual and in-person programming in two classes per year of 10-12 fellows per class.

Fellowships are 10 weeks in length and occur in New York’s spring and late summer. The program includes:

  • Two nonconsecutive weeks in person at the Carey Institute for Global Good’s historic 100-acre campus in upstate New York. Lodging, meals, workspace, professional guidance and community are provided during these periods.

  • Eight weeks of virtual residency programming to take place in the fellow’s own home.

  • One-on-one formal mentoring sessions with experts in the fellow’s medium, both in person and online.

  • Capacity-building panels from award-winning journalists and filmmakers.

  • Film screenings.

  • Peer-to-peer workshopping with other fellows.

  • Access to virtual coworking spaces to encourage productivity and focus.

  • Informal virtual social spaces and social hours plus sessions focused on professional and personal well-being.

  • Stipends to be used for travel to and from the Carey Institute in upstate New York.

  • Membership in an alumni group of more than 240 exceptional nonfiction creators.

2022 DATES:

Below are tentative program dates for 2022. Dates are subject to change until finalized.

Class 1: April 2 – June 11 

(Tentative residential dates are April 2-9 and June 4-11.) 

Class 2: July 16 – September 24 

(Tentative residential dates are July 16-23 and September 17-24.) 

Eligibility

The Logan Nonfiction Program accepts deeply reported nonfiction projects from: 

  • Nonfiction writers and journalists.

  • Photojournalists.

  • Documentary filmmakers.

  • Podcasters and radio reporters.

  • Multimedia creators.

Applicants must be at work on a long-form project in order to apply (e.g.: an article, book, film, podcast, etc.). The project must be wholly nonfiction and rely on in-depth interviews and original research for sourcing. 

We are particularly interested in supporting projects that examine the most pressing issues of the day, including but not limited to: conflict and security; democracy and governance; education; environment and climate change; food security; gender, race, sexual orientation, disability and intersectionality; globalization; health; inequality and exclusion; media and journalism; social justice; and sustainability and resilience. 

We encourage and accept applications from creators at all stages of work — from preparing an outline to completing a final draft or from storyboarding a narrative to wrapping up a final cut. Whatever stage of completion, we ask that fellows commit to a plan of action for what they hope to achieve during the program (with the understanding that the work plan may be revised following the commencement of the fellowship and first expert mentoring session.) 

Fellows are selected for the program based on the quality, relevance, professional experience and promise of the applicant’s work. 

To view the type of projects we’ve supported in the past, please see our alumni page and works created during the Logan Nonfiction Program.  

Academics, Memoirists & Non-Professional Journalists: 

We accept applications from academics and non-professional journalists with the requirement that the intended audience of the project is the general public. Memoirists are welcome to apply with projects that address wider themes and include significant reporting outside of the first-person narrative. 

International Applicants: 

The Logan Nonfiction Program has a long tradition of internationalism and welcomes applicants from around the world. Professionals who work in languages other than English are welcome to apply if they can supply samples of work in translation as well as in the original language. A working knowledge of English is necessary for international applicants. The Logan Nonfiction Program does not provide an interpreter for residents.  

Collaborations:  

Small groups of two to three individuals wishing to work collaboratively are encouraged to apply. Each member of the group will need to submit an individual application. 

Diversity: 

The Logan Nonfiction Program is committed to building a diverse and inclusive class of fellows. The Carey Institute does not discriminate in its programs and activities against anyone on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, physical ability or disability, HIV status or veteran status. 

Accessibility: 

The building that houses our fellows for in-person residential sessions is wheelchair accessible. Handrails are in all resident bathrooms. The terrain is hilly and many of our buildings were built in the 1800s; we encourage applicants to reach out to program staff with any questions or concerns. 

logannonfiction.org

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Emerging Voices DIRECTORS LAB

New Orleans Film Society

DEADLINE: December 22, 2021

INFO: The Emerging Voices Directors Lab, an initiative of the New Orleans Film Society, was created in 2014 for filmmakers of color in Louisiana to gain greater access to gatekeepers and to promote the unique perspectives and cultures of Louisiana to the rest of the country, and the world.

The program has expanded over the years from a mentorship program taking place primarily during the annual New Orleans Film Festival to a full-year program that begins with a four-day lab in the spring followed by ongoing one-on-one mentorship and periodic convenings of the cohort for workshops and peer support. 

All filmmakers will be assigned a mentor based on their interests and needs. The program will kick-off with a  four-day lab centered around feedback sessions in which each filmmaker will have time to share their project, workshop materials such as story ideas, work samples, rough cuts or script excerpts. These sessions will be centered around the specific needs of the filmmaker. Fellow cohort members, assigned mentors and other industry advisors will provide thought partnership and feedback.

  • This year’s four-day lab will all be virtual and will take place over Zoom.

  • Mentors will continue to provide one-on-one support, 3-6 months following the lab.

  • Participating filmmakers will receive a $2,000 grant to support their project.

  • Between 6-8 filmmakers will be selected for this year’s program.

  • The current cohort and program alumni are offered optional professional development opportunities and other ongoing support throughout the year.

KEY DATES:

  • October 18, 2021: Call for Submissions opens 

  • December 22, 2021: Submissions deadline (11:59pm CT)

  • February 28, 2021: Notification of selected filmmakers 

  • April 5-8, 2022: Emerging Voices Directors Lab 

ELIGIBILITY:

  • The Emerging Voices Directors Lab is open to Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color (BIPOC) directors currently residing in Louisiana only. Proof of residence is required. 

  • The lab is open to filmmakers who are directing a project that is actively in development, pre-production, production or post-production. 

  • Applicants must be the director or co-director of their project. They may also additionally identify as producers, writers, editors, DPs, etc. 

  • Co-directors may apply and should submit one application. Please note that each co-directing team will receive $2,000 total for their project. Additionally, only one mentor will be assigned to the directing team.   Projects will be allotted the same amount of time to workshop their project during the lab.

  • Applicants must have a narrative or documentary project (shorts, features, or web-based), or a new media project (VR/360, Installation, etc.) in the development, pre-production, production, or post-production stage.  

  • Projects must not be picture-locked by the time of the lab and may not premiere before June 2022.  

  • Applicants must be available to participate in the Emerging Voices Lab April 5-8, 2022 which will take place during daytime and possibly evening hours.  

  • Applicants must be the sole rights holder of this project and have full editorial control of their project. 

If a prospective applicant does not meet the targeted demographic criteria defined for any of our filmmaker programs, NOFS will accept an application and evaluate the applicant based on merit/strength of the proposed project with which they are applying. 

neworleansfilmsociety.org/emerging-voices/

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Spark Fund 

Firelight Media

DEADLINE: December 29, 2021 (3pm ET)

INFO: Firelight Media is the premier destination for non-fiction cinema by and about communities of color. Firelight Media produces documentary films, supports filmmakers of color, and cultivates audiences for their work.

The Spark Fund offers support to established independent documentary filmmakers who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color, and whose work on humanities-themed projects was disrupted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. This one-time opportunity, which is underwritten by the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (#SHARP) Grantmaking initiative, will provide 36 stipends of $50,000 to selected filmmakers over the period of one year, for their use in alleviating financial hardship and work disruptions endured from the COVID-19 pandemic.

firelightmedia.submittable.com/submit

FILM — NOVEMBER 2021

Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship

The Black List

DEADLINE: November 15, 2021

INFO: The Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship is an annual program designed to encourage and identify new talent in the field of independent cinema by awarding one screenwriter each year with an all-expenses paid trip to the Sundance Film Festival and an opportunity to meet with producer Cassian Elwes (MUDBOUND, Lee Daniels’ THE BUTLER, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB).

Unrepresented feature writers with an independent sensibility who have made less than $5,000 in aggregate in their film or television writing careers will be able to opt into consideration via the Black List website until November 15, 2021. At that time, the Black List will choose ten screenplays imbued with an independent spirit by unrepresented screenwriters, which will be sent on to Mr. Elwes for his consideration. Up to two fellowship recipients will be selected by Mr. Elwes by calendar year's end.

Evaluations purchased before midnight on October 1, 2021 will be guaranteed consideration. The Black List recommends—but does not require—that writers obtain at least one script evaluation for their hosted scripts, as the data from script evaluations inform the process by which the short list of writers is determined for this opportunity.

Though the Sundance 2022 Film Festival will take place both in person and online January 20-30, 2022, whether this year’s Fellowship recipient(s) can travel to Park City, UT will depend on current CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. If COVID-19 continues to disrupt general travel and Festival schedules, then the Fellowship recipient(s) will receive a pass to the modified 2022 Sundance Film Festival (including satellite events in New York and Los Angeles) and a stipend of $2,500. Fellows that do not live in the Los Angeles or New York metropolitan areas will be traveled to either Los Angeles or New York for Sundance events, depending on the current COVID-19 travel restrictions and the 2022 Sundance Film Festival schedule. Additional events and meetings will be hosted with Mr. Elwes via Zoom. Fellowship finalists will be informed about the viability of traveling to Park City once they are selected.

Check out our FAQ for more information on how to obtain hosting and evaluations at no cost, and for more details on the 2022 Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriting Fellowship.

https://blcklst.com/partnerships/opportunities/103

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30 BELOW CONTEST—2021

Narrative

DEADLINE: November 19, 2021 at midnight PST

ENTRY FEE: $26 (includes three months of complimentary access to Narrative Backstage).

INFO: Narrative invites all writers, poets, visual artists, photographers, performers, and filmmakers between eighteen and thirty years old to send us their best work. We’re looking for the traditional and the innovative, the true and the imaginary. We’re looking to encourage and promote the best young authors and artists working today.

AWARDS:

  • First Prize - $1,500

  • Second Prize - $750

  • Third Prize - $300

  • Ten finalists will receive $100 each.

The prizewinners and finalists will be announced in Narrative.

All N30B entries are eligible for the $4,000 Narrative Prize for 2021 and for acceptance as a Story of the Week or Poem of the Week.

GUIDELINES:

  • Written: Works of prose and of poetry, including short stories, all poetic forms, novel excerpts, essays, memoirs, and excerpts from book-length nonfiction. Prose submissions must not exceed 15,000 words. Each poetry submission may contain up to five poems. The poems should all be contained in a single file. All submissions should be double-spaced (excluding poetry, which should be single-spaced), with 12-point type, at least one-inch margins, and sequentially numbered pages. Please provide your name, address, telephone number, and email address at the top of the first page. Submit your document as a .doc, .docx, .pdf, or .rtf file. You may enter as many times as you wish, but we encourage you to be selective and to send your best work. All entries will be considered for publication.

  • Drawn: Graphic stories, graphic-novel excerpts, and comics of no more than thirty pages, in .pdf format.

  • Photographed: Photo essays of between five and twenty images, previously unpublished (including on sites like Instagram, your personal website, stock photography sites, etc.). Images should be submitted together in low-resolution .pdf format; however, upon acceptance, images will need to be provided that have a resolution of at least 300 dpi, in a .tif, .jpg, or raw format that can be reproduced at 2,048 pixels wide. Captions or text should be included, either with the file containing the images or as a separate document in a .doc or .pdf format, with numbered captions corresponding to the similarly numbered photographs. Please provide your name, address, telephone number, and email address on the first page.

  • Spoken: Original works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in audio theater, including performance, radio journalism, and stories and poems read aloud. Submissions may run up to ten minutes, in .mp3 format, with a bit rate of at least 128 kbit/s.

  • Filmed: Short films and documentaries of up to fifteen minutes. Submissions must be in .mp4 or .mov format.

JUDGING: The contest will be judged by the editors of the magazine. Winners and finalists will be announced to the public by December 18, 2021. All entrants will be notified by email of the judges’ decisions, which will be final. The judges reserve the option to declare ties and to designate and award only as many winners and/or finalists as are appropriate to the quality of contest entries and of work represented in the magazine.

Entries must be previously unpublished, though we do accept works that have appeared in college publications. Entries cannot have been the winner, finalist, or honorable mention in another contest. We accept online entries only. We do accept simultaneous submissions, but if your entry is accepted elsewhere, please let us know as soon as possible (and accept our congratulations!).

www.narrativemagazine.com/30-below-2021