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
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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.
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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.