2025 Right of Return Fellowship + Frieze Los Angeles Impact Prize
The Center for Art & Advocacy
DEADLINE: October 11, 2024 at 11:59pm EST
INFO: The Center for Art & Advocacy will accept applications from U.S.-based creatives working in visual art, film, music, creative writing, performance, design, and multidisciplinary practices for the 2025 Right of Return Fellowship from September 1, 2024, through October 11, 2024.
For the second year in a row, Right of Return is partnering with Frieze and Endeavor Impact to present the Frieze Los Angeles 2025 Impact Prize, which will recognize a visual artist who contributes their talents towards issues of social justice and mass incarceration.
Only one application must be completed to be considered for both the Right of Return Fellowship and the Frieze Impact Prize.
I - THE RIGHT OF RETURN FELLOWSHIP:
The Right of Return Fellowship is open to directly impacted creatives from every discipline. For the 7th annual cohort, a panel of external reviewers will select six new 2025 Right of Return Fellows from our open-call applicant pool to receive a $20,000 grant, mentorship, and community building.
The Center for Art & Advocacy’s Right of Return Fellowship invites directly impacted artists to propose art projects aimed at transforming our criminal legal and immigration systems, to reduce their scale and reach.
Artists have always played a critical role in social movements as culture-makers and catalysts for change. Right of Return Fellows exist and work at the forefront of social movements and have the unique power to translate complex and nuanced ideas into powerful experiences. The goal of the Right of Return Fellowship is to support the creation of new bodies of work that uplift the voices of people directly impacted by the criminal justice system, reflect the humanity of criminalized and incarcerated people, and build public will for ambitious and visionary change.
ARTIST RETREAT: If selected, Right of Return Fellows will be asked to commit to participating in a group retreat in spring 2025 and be invited to a multi-cohort retreat in following years. The Right of Return retreats are meant to foster community, develop political advocacy skills, and support practice sustainability. If COVID-19 or other circumstances makes in-person convenings impossible, abbreviated versions of the retreat will be held online.
THERAPY INITIATIVE: During the course of this fellowship, all fellows are encouraged to engage in at least 6 hours of a trauma healing modality of their choice. The Center will be responsible for coordinating the logistics and ensuring services are financially covered. Fellows are welcome to try multiple modalities including but not limited to: talk therapy, EMDR, somatic coaching, group therapy, art therapy, and more.
FELLOWSHIP GRANT: The Right of Return Grant is $20,000 total: $10,000 artist award, $10,000 for project materials and production. Selected fellows will be asked to provide a proposed overall budget for the project and a project summary upon completion. A project budget is not required for the application.
II - FRIEZE LOS ANGELES 2025 IMPACT PRIZE
The 2025 Frieze Impact Prize will be awarded to a visual artist or experimental filmmaker who is either a Right of Return alumnus or one of the six new fellows. One artist will be selected to receive the Prize, which will award them $25,000 and the opportunity to showcase their work at Frieze Los Angeles, which takes place February 20 – 23, 2025, at Santa Monica Airport.
The Center is the third partner for the Frieze Impact Award since it was established in 2020. The prize draws inspiration from Mark Bradford’s Life Size (2019), a work created on the occasion of the inaugural Frieze Los Angeles in 2019, which exposed the inequitable aspects of the criminal justice system.
For the second year, the Center for Art & Advocacy is partnering with Frieze and Endeavor Impact to present the fourth annual Frieze Los Angeles Impact Prize. The 2025 Impact Prize will be awarded to a visual artist who has benefited from the Right of Return Fellowship and recognizes their contribution to the campaign to end mass incarceration. Furthering the mission of both The Center and Frieze, this partnership intends to leverage art as a powerful tool to expose the inequities within our criminal justice system.
AWARD NOTIFICATION: The Frieze Impact Prize winner will be notified via email in mid-December. Applicants may be contacted during the review process by a Frieze representative if additional information about their work is necessary for consideration.
PREVIOUS AWARDEES: You can read more about 2024 Right of Return Fellow, Gary Tyler’s successful experience as the 2024 Frieze Impact Prize winner HERE.
ELIGIBILITY:
For All Applicants to the 2025 Right of Return Fellowship
The Right of Return Fellowship seeks to support directly impacted artists with a demonstrated capacity to advance social change and a clear vision for utilizing their creative practice to end mass incarceration.
More specifically:
Directly impacted artists of all creative disciplines, age 18 or older at the time of the application. We do not fund organizations or non-profits, only individual artists.
We define the word “artist” in broad terms to include creatives who work in visual art, film, music, creative writing, performance, design, and multidisciplinary practices.
In the context of this Fellowship, “directly impacted” includes those who have themselves been incarcerated, charged, or convicted, including felony convictions; people who were detained in migrant detention centers but who have now attained U.S. citizenship by the time of this application’s open.
Artists must collaborate with an advocacy organization during the development and/or execution of their proposed project (collaborating organizations do not need to be secured at the time of application and The Center for Art & Advocacy can help connect fellows to advocates).
Artists may be at any stage of their career, with or without formal training.
Projects and applicants must be U.S. based. This includes all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.
The Center for Art & Advocacy seeks a diverse cohort of fellows with regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and experience.
For Applicants Who Want to be Considered for the 2025 Frieze Impact Prize
Only artists working in the visual arts or experimental film will be considered for the Frieze Impact Prize.
Creatives working in disciplines other than the visual arts and experimental film–including non-experimental film, music, creative writing, performance, design, and multidisciplinary practices, are eligible for the Right of Return Fellowship, but will not be considered the Frieze Impact Prize.
TIMELINE:
Fellows Notified: Mid-December 2024
Frieze Impact Awardee Notified:
Cohort 7 Fellowship Year: January 2025—December 2025
Frieze Los Angeles: February 20, 2025—February 23, 2025
Cohort 7 Fellowship Retreat: May 2025
centerforartandadvocacy.org/fellowships/
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MOONSHOT FEATURE ACCELERATOR
Moonshot Initiative
DEADLINES / FEES:
Regular: October 11, 2024 ($80)
Late: October 25, 2024 ($95)
Final: November 15, 2024 ($110)
INFO: Are you an emerging screenwriter with a powerful voice and a unique story that increases the representation of women and non-binary people on screen?
Moonshot is thrilled to announce our brand-new Feature Accelerator, designed to elevate and spotlight talented writers like you! Eight fellows will be selected to receive 3 weeks of virtual training before pitching one-on-one to major studios, production companies, reps and more.
We're expanding our support to the world of feature films as a way of building on the success of our acclaimed Moonshot Pilot Accelerator. Over the past three years, we’ve helped 24 emerging TV writers craft and polish their pitches and learn about the industry from experts in their fields. We then set them up on one-on-one meetings with major players like HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Starz, Showtime, and many more. Now, we’re bringing that same opportunity to feature film writers!
WHY APPLY?
Amplify Your Voice: We’re on the lookout for distinctive stories from diverse voices that increase the representation of women and non-binary people on screen.
Perfect Your Pitch: Fellows will receive expert guidance on crafting and polishing their pitches, so they’re ready not just for today’s opportunities but for future ones as well.
One-on-One Meetings: Fellows receive exclusive pitch meetings with production companies, agents, managers, producers, financiers, studios, and streamers. Your script could catch the eye of those who can take it to the next level.
Achieve Your Goals: Our accelerator is geared toward helping our fellows reach significant milestones in their careers, such as securing representation, attracting financiers, landing general meetings, and gaining industry connections.
Build Lasting Connections: Fellows will forge relationships with industry executives and other writers that will support their careers for years to come.
Gain Industry Knowledge: Fellows will learn from in-depth workshops with experts such as an entertainment lawyer, agent, manager, and coach to master both the creative and business aspects of screenwriting.
Ready to get your work in front of industry leaders? Don’t miss this chance to take your feature film writing career to new heights. Apply now and join a community dedicated to helping emerging writers like you succeed!
BENEFITS:
Fellows receive a range of benefits designed to propel your career and enhance your craft — and even at the semi-finalist level, you'll gain visibility for your work and build your community. Here’s what you can gain from participating:
Elevated Exposure
Each semi-finalist will have their script read by two industry judges, including major screenwriters, producers, and development executives.
Expert Guidance
Pitch Perfection: Each fellow receives personalized feedback on crafting and refining their pitch to ensure it stands out and resonates with decision-makers.
Career Advancement
Opportunities for Development: Increase the chances of your script being bought or optioned, attract interest from financiers or producers, or secure representation from an agent or manager.
Future Projects: Open doors to potential writing assignments or IP projects with companies interested in your work.
Networking and Community
Build Relationships: Join a community of emerging writers who are dedicated to uplifting each other and sharing valuable insights. Forge long-term connections with industry execs and fellow writers, creating a supportive network that can lead to future opportunities. This community-building starts even before the program begins: All semi-finalists are invited to a virtual networking event, and past semi-finalists have shared that they're still in touch with the writers they met!
Comprehensive Education
Industry Insights: Fellows learn from seasoned professionals about industry trends, pitching strategies, and career management, ensuring you’re well-equipped for both creative and business challenges.
Long-Lasting Impact
Career Momentum: Benefit from ongoing support and relationships that could lead to continued opportunities and collaborations in the future.
Placing in our accelerator is not just about getting your script noticed—it's about building a foundation for a successful and sustainable career in the film industry.
writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/moonshot-feature-accelerator#prices-deadlines
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QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab
The Queer Muslim Project
DEADLINE: October 11, 2024 at 11:55pm IST
INFO: The QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab is a one-of-its-kind creative incubator for emerging and early career queer storytellers in South Asia.
Launched by The Queer Muslim Project in 2023 with support from the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, the Lab celebrates and nurtures underrepresented queer talent behind the camera and provides them with the tools, resources, and networks to tell stories that can drive positive social change.
In its second year, the QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab will foster community, collaboration and world-building to advance greater representation in the film and TV industry. The Lab will develop intersectional South Asian queer narratives that centre joy and offer to audiences the complexities, nuance, and splendour of queer life – positioning queer characters outside the tired and tested tropes of victimhood and villainy. QueerFrames 2024 will amplify voices and perspectives that are fresh, compelling and have the potential to reach wider audiences.
WHAT THE LAB OFFERS:
The Lab will bring together 6 diverse queer writers and writer-directors from South Asia developing their first or second fiction feature film. Between November 2024 to February 2025, Fellows will receive creative and technical support to develop their projects virtually through a tailored screenwriting curriculum, peer-to-peer group work, and one-on-one project development consultations with leading industry mentors. The lab will also include hands-on workshops and masterclasses on pitching, producing, and visualisation techniques, among other topics. The Lab will culminate with career development and networking opportunities at Berlinale 2025.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
The Lab will run between November 2024 to February 2025 with mandatory attendance needed for weekly online instructional sessions, 1-0-1 script consultations with industry mentors, masterclasses, writing assignments, and potential in person engagements at Berlinale 2025. Please apply to the lab only if you have the time and capacity to take on the required workload both for yourself and your peers.
The Lab will support six emerging queer and trans writers and writer-directors from communities underrepresented in the film and TV industry in South Asia.
Writers must currently be developing their first or second fiction feature film, and have a completed screenplay draft. Adaptations as well as documentary, short film or television projects are not eligible for this iteration of QueerFrames.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application, and be a citizen of a South Asian country with a valid passport.
Due to the nature of the Lab, applicants need to be able to communicate in English. Regardless of the final language of the film, the logline, synopsis and script must be translated into English before you submit it.
All submissions will be reviewed by the QueerFrames team and a panel of external advisors, following which shortlisted candidates will be invited to video interviews with the selection committee in October 2024. Applications will be assessed for their fit in three areas: robust and engaging storytelling, a strong creative vision, and technical skills.
The Lab is a fully funded opportunity for selected Fellows. Fellows whose screenplays are subsequently produced upon the completion of the Lab are required to include the The Queer Muslim Project, Goethe-Institut and the QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab in a credit line and logo placement in the film’s end credits.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants will be required to submit the following:
Basic contact and demographic information
Artist statement, including motivation, relevant bio and experience (400 words max)
A note of intention (200 words max)
Logline (75 words max)
Synopsis (750 words max)
Full draft of a narrative feature screenplay
Samples of previous work
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Call for applications: The Hayti Heritage Film Festival Works-in-Progress Lab
Working Films
DEADLINE: October 14, 2024
INFO: The Hayti Heritage Film Festival Works-in-Progress (WiP) Lab supports social justice documentaries with a focus on Black storytelling. Co-designed and coordinated by Working Films, participating artists receive feedback on their work-in-progress and explore audience engagement strategies through workshops, consultations, and community screenings during the festival in Durham, NC. The 2025 HHFF Lab takes place from March 6-8, 2025. We will be accepting applications from Aug 15 through Oct 14, 2024!
RESIDENCY: Working Films and Hayti Heritage Film Festival are teaming up again for the 2025 Works In Progress Lab. Selected filmmakers will come to Durham, NC for a 3 day residency which includes trainings, workshops and community engagement screenings. Participants should plan for arrival on Wednesday March 5th and return home on March 9th, 2025. The lab begins on Thursday March 6th and runs through Saturday March 8th.
Filmmakers will spend time participating in workshops with the Working Films and Hayti Heritage Film Festival teams. They will be joined by experienced documentary filmmaker mentors. Previous mentors include Resita Cox, Randall Dottin, Lana Garland, Byron Hurt, Natalie Bullock Brown. 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’ 25 years of experience in creating impact campaigns for documentary films, we also spend time workshopping the impact strategies for participating films.
And finally, during the residency, 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 screenings where attendees are invited to watch and discuss the film. 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, relax, explore Durham and attend the other festival screenings and events. Previous cohorts have found the downtime creates the perfect opportunity to build lasting relationships and share experiences & learnings with their peers.
ELIGIBILITY: The Hayti Heritage Film Festival WiP lab serves the needs of 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 community engagement 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 Hayti Heritage Film Festival cover the following expenses for each selected director:
Round trip transportation to Durham, NC for the lab.
Accommodations.
Most meals during the residency.
Airport transfer and most local transportation during the residency.
All-access passes to Hayti Heritage Film Festival.
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.
workingfilms.submittable.com/submit
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Diverse Voice Screenwriting Lab
WeScreenplay
DEADLINE: October 15, 2024
INFO: Diverse Voices is a dynamic virtual screenwriting lab focused on helping writers deepen their skills and connecting them with Hollywood insiders. Whether you’re a writer of color, have a disability, are over 40, part of the LGBTQ+ community, or any other voice often unheard, this is your opportunity to shine.
6 writers will be selected to participate in this career-changing experience! Diverse Voices gives writers the opportunity to network with agents, managers and producers, plus you’ll learn how to effectively pitch your project, get live feedback about your script, and more. Past finalists and winners have even signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more.
Diverse Voices isn’t just a lab; it’s a springboard to success, providing the guidance and mentorship you need to bring your screenwriting career to life.
wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/
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2025 RESIDENCIES
Vermont Studio Center
DEADLINE: October 15, 2024
APPLICATION FEE: $25
INFO: Vermont Studio Center invites applications for 2025. Nestled in the Green Mountains, VSC hosts an inclusive, global community of artists and writers. Enjoy private studios and lodging, fresh - local meals, and a vibrant Visiting Artists & Writers Program.
VSC’s residency program welcomes artists and writers working across all mediums and genres for two, three, and four week sessions.
Residents enjoy well-lit, private studios within a short walk to residency housing, dining hall, and local amenities. Studio spaces range from 170 - 300 square feet. Accommodations include a private room and shared common areas. The campus features include a print shop, digital lab, and metal, wood, ceramic facility. Studios are open 24 hours a day.
A VSC residency provides artists and writers the time and space to focus on their creative practice in an inclusive, international community within a small Vermont village. Residents can explore swimming holes, hiking and biking trails, as well as the rural charm of neighboring towns, while expanding their creative potential and building a solid network of friends and mentors.
PROGRAMMING
During each session, Visiting Artists and Visiting Writers are invited to join us for presentations, craft talks, one-on-one manuscript consultations, and individual studio visits. Residents can also enjoy open studio nights, resident presentations, and exhibition openings. All scheduled activities are optional. Residents are encouraged to unplug, completely immerse themselves in their work, and work at their own pace.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
VSC is committed to community building both locally and on campus. Every resident has the opportunity to participate in our Community Contribution Program for 3 hours per week, by assisting in one of these areas: Kitchen, School Arts Program, Visual Arts, and the Writing Program. No prior experience is necessary.
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ART OMI: WRITERS RESIDENCY
Art Omi
DEADLINE: October 15, 2024 at 11:59pm EST
INFO: Art Omi, a not-for-profit arts center with a 120-acre sculpture and architecture park and gallery, offers residency programs for international artists, writers, translators, musicians, architects and dancers. Art Omi believes that exposure to internationally diverse creative voices fosters acceptance and respect, raises awareness, inspires innovation, and ignites change. By forming community with creative expression as its common denominator, Art Omi creates a sanctuary for the artistic community and the public to affirm the transformative quality of art.
Art Omi: Writers hosts authors and translators for two weeks to one month 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.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Each applicant is required to provide 4 (four) separate items in total:
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 27 - May 28) and Fall (September 4 - November 5). 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.
A brief (2 pages, maximum) statement about your work history, referencing publications, performances and writing credits. This can be submitted in CV format.
A writing sample, no more than 25 pages. The work sample does not have to be published or related to your current project and can be a combination of multiple samples.
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 after 5 years.
RESIDENCY DATES:
Spring:
Thursday, March 27–Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Thursday, May 8–Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Autumn:
Thursday, September 4–Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Thursday, October 9–Wednesday, November 5, 2025
DECISION NOTIFICATION: January, 2025
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Moondancer Fellowship For Environmental + Nature Writers
The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow
DEADLINE: October 21, 2024
APPLICATION FEE: $35
INFO: The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow (WCDH) is pleased to offer the 2024 Moondancer Fellowship for authors who express their passion for the natural world and concern for the environment through their writing. This fellowship is open to poets, fiction writers, playwrights, screenwriters, essayists, memoirists, and columnists. Prior publication is not a requirement. The successful applicant will demonstrate insight, honesty, literary merit, and the likelihood of publication or production.
The fellowship winner will receive a two-week residency at WCDH to focus completely on their writing. 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 desired, 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. Only one writing project may be proposed per application. Writers proposing more than one project must submit a separate application and fee for each one.
The winner will be announced no later than November 20, 2024. Residency must be completed by December 31, 2025.
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2024 Diverse Voices In Docs Fellowship
Kartemquin Films
DEADLINE: October 25, 2024 by 11:59pm CST
INFO: The Diverse Voices in Docs Fellowship supports emerging filmmakers who identify as Black, Indigenous, or another person of color in the Midwest. The program is rooted in ideals of a collaborative community and welcomes filmmakers who are committed to unflinching documentary filmmaking rooted in social justice.
Founded by Gordon Quinn of Kartemquin Films and Margaret Caples of Community Film Workshop of Chicago, this twelve month cohort based program supports non-fiction filmmakers telling stories that are intimate, grounded in community, and provoke audiences to question the world around them.
ELIGIBILITY:
Living and/or working on a project based in the Midwest (for the purposes of this fellowship, KTQ defines the Midwest as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin)
Identify as Black, Indigenous, Latina/e/o/x, Middle Eastern or North African, Asian, Asian American or Pacific Islander, or other person of color
Creatives of historically/traditionally excluded communities, such as the LGBTQIA+ or disability community
Emerging filmmakers are defined as:
With 2 or fewer feature or short film credits in a lead position (Producer, Director)
Filmmakers looking for structured filmmaking support
Are not enrolled in a degree seeking program for the duration of the fellowship.
Please email dvid@kartemquin.com if you have any questions.
kartemquin.org/program/diverse-voices-in-docs/
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2025 WBD Access Writers Program
Warner Bros. Discovery
DEADLINE: October 27, 2024 at 11:59pm PT
INFO: The 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery Access Writers Program provides a pathway for writers who face inherent barriers entering the episodic television writing space. Such barriers can be due to, but not limited to, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veterans status, socio-economic status or any other unintended barriers. Selected writers will undergo an extensive creative and business curriculum before being put up for staffing opportunities across WBD.
Applicants are eligible to apply if they've staffed on one or zero seasons of US network or streaming television shows.
All applicants must submit 2 original scripts. These two samples must be in the same genre (e.g. two drama scripts, two comedy scripts) and must be between 30 and 65 pages in length. The program is open to all those who are 18 years or older, live in the United States and have the right to work in the United States. Finalists will interview in February/March. All applicants will receive a status update by the end of March 2025.
Selected participants will need to be available to come to Los Angeles for in-person bootcamp weeks in March, April and June 2025, as well as attend virtual curriculum throughout the program, which will run throughout the spring/early summer of 2025. Dates are subject to change and travel costs for those located outside of Los Angeles will be covered by the program. Please note: this program is primarily virtual, but those who get staffed on television shows may need to relocate to undergo these WGA jobs in person.
Please note: all submitted samples must be live action, original scripts, not spec scripts and not animation scripts.
Any questions can be directed to: accessprograms@warnermedia.com
https://wbdaccess.submittable.com/submit
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Rising Voices PROGRAM
Indeed / Hillman Grad / 271 Films
DEADLINE: October 27, 2024 by 11:59pm EST
INFO: Indeed, Hillman Grad and 271 Films are thrilled to announce the fifth 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. This program awards 10 filmmakers up to a $100K production budget to make a short film, which will premiere at a major US film festival.
How it works: Our advisory team will identify 10 filmmakers who will be selected to participate in Rising Voices. A production budget up to $100,000 will be allocated to produce their stories, and each filmmaker will have access to mentorship and support from the advisory panel through creative mentors from Hillman Grad and from 271 Films. The films will be produced by Hillman Grad in partnership with 271 Films.
Rising Voices is a career accelerator and filmmaking mentorship program and we’re looking for candidates who are interested in advancing their career opportunities through mentorship and education. Candidates should demonstrate a strong passion for filmmaking, strong desire to learn and ability to collaborate, take instruction and accept feedback. Candidates must portray sustainable and ethical working practices.
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 a major US film festival.
Theme: The Future of Work. When you read “the future of work,” what does that mean to you? Do you think of an egalitarian ideal, a dystopian nightmare, or something in between? What direction is our world headed towards when it comes to work? Who gets to decide what the future is going to be? As time passes, how does “work” play a role in your life? In our lives? Explore how work is a mirror to the human experience. Explore your personal connection with work and show us what “the future of work” means to you. How would the future of work impact your relationships with your family, friends, co-workers, community, or yourself?
Timeline: Filmmakers must be available December 2024 - June 2025 to participate in the program.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, and the age of majority in Applicant’s jurisdiction to participate in Rising Voices throughout the full term of the program (through the end of June 2025), including any high profile event or film festival used to promote the film.
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
Commitment to the program from December 2024 - June 2025
All Participants are required to review and sign a Submission Agreement, which will govern your participation in the Rising Voices 2025 Program. Terms and conditions apply.
Note: As this program is intended to identify emerging talent, we are unable to consider applicants who are already members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) or Writers Guild of America (WGA)
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Rising Voices is subject to the following application materials:
Short answer questions
A resume
Past work samples (maximum of 2; credited as sole director)
Original short script written by the director or writer/director collaboration (10 pages max)
Note: The screenplay does not have to be written by the applicant. If the script has been co-written or written by someone other than the applicant, the writer must sign a release, which is submitted upon acceptance into the program.
PROGRAM RULES:
Final projects must be no longer than 15 minutes, including credits
Participants are not allowed to act in, shoot or edit their films
Shooting on film is not allowed, digital only
Distribution is at the discretion of Indeed. The films will live on Indeed’s website with a premiere at a major US film festival
Participants must participate in any high profile event or film festival used to promote the film
Each project will be assigned a production shoot date
Original music only. Licensing music is not allowed
Stock footage or images will only be allowed from an approved stock footage site with licensing that has no restrictions on the footage or images, in perpetuity.
Participants and their crews are expected to create and sustain a working environment that is welcoming, inclusive, considerate, and respectful in order to create a clean space free of discrimination, sexism, harassment, bullying or disrespectful behavior.
Indeed owns the copyright to the projects produced within the program, but not to the underlying rights/intellectual property of the project. The participants can develop the projects into other formats including but not limited to feature films, television series or digital projects.
hillmangrad.com/foundation/rising-voices
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2025 Frameline Completion Fund
Frameline
DEADLINE: November 1, 2024
INFO: The Frameline Completion Fund provides grants to emerging and established filmmakers. This program seeks to provide a much-needed source of financial contributions to artists who often struggle to secure funding to complete their works. Grants up to $5,000 are available for the completion of films that represent and reflect LGBTQ+ life in all its complexity and richness.
For over a quarter century, Frameline has awarded $667,500 to 190 projects (see all past recipients here) to help ensure that LGBTQ+ film/video projects are completed and viewed by wider audiences. Projects finished with assistance from the Frameline Completion Fund include Pariah, Go Fish, No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics, Lingua Franca, North by Current, The Watermelon Woman, By Hook or By Crook, Call Her Ganda, Chavela, Appropriate Behavior, To Be Takei, Last Call at Maud’s, The New Black, 1985, It Came from Kuchar, Brother to Brother, Kumu Hina, Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen, The Cockettes, Vito, Freeheld, We Were Here, The Happy Sad, Signature Move, In the Summers, and The Brandon Teena Story.
Submissions are accepted for documentary, narrative, experimental, animated, or episodic projects about LGBTQ+ people and their communities. The Fund also seeks to bring new work to under-served audiences; with this in mind, we especially encourage applications by women, people of color, transgender people, intersex people, asexual people, non-binary people, disabled people, and other underrepresented people and communities.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
New for the 2025 Season: Please note that a few things have changed this year regarding applicant eligibility. Beginning this season, we can only consider applications that provide a full working cut of the film. It’s perfectly acceptable if the cut has temporary sound, color, visual effects, music, etc. If the film is missing a scene or two, or animated sequences, feel free to let us know specifics in the application. We require that the applicant provide a cut that features at least 90% of the completed film. With the number of applications increasing dramatically each year, we can no longer consider a project that provides a clip, sample, or demo. Thanks for understanding.
Grants are given ONLY for completion; therefore, projects must have 90% of production finished and be in the post-production phase or ready to begin post as soon as funding is in place.
Projects in development, script development, pre-production, or production will NOT be considered.
Grants will ONLY be given to projects about LGBTQ+ people and their communities.
Grants are given to individuals with creative and financial control of the project. In the case of collaboration, a sole project director must be designated as the applicant.
Grants will be given to projects in any film/video format, of any length, genre, or nationality.
Student projects are eligible as long as the student maintains artistic and financial control of the project.
International productions are accepted.
Members of the staff and Board of Directors of Frameline are ineligible.
Frameline reserves the right to deem ineligible, or alter a project’s award status at any point prior to the disbursement of funds.
Projects may be deemed ineligible for perceived violations of Frameline’s code of conduct and or projects that could harm the organization.
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Mesa Refuge Residency
DEADLINE: November 1, 2024
APPLICATION FEE: $50
INFO: Mesa Refuge welcomes a diverse community 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 whose ideas are “on the edge,” taking on the pressing issues of our time including (but not limited to): nature, environment and climate crisis; economic, racial and gender equity; social justice and restorative justice; immigration; health care access; housing; and more.
We especially want writers of nonfiction books, long-form journalism, audio and documentary film. Occasionally we accept poetry, fiction (Young Adult/Adult Literary), screenwriting and playwriting, photojournalism, personal memoirs (as a vehicle to tell a larger story) and graphic narrative. We tend not to accept academic writing. The potential impact and distribution of your project is also important.
We aim to support a diverse community of writers and welcome applicants that represent a broad spectrum of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, immigration status, religion or ability. Please see our DEI statement for more information about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
As a small nonprofit, our application fee of $50 helps underwrite the cost of application review. However, we do not want the application fee to be a barrier to apply. To request a fee waiver, please email us directly here.
GUIDELINES: The questions on our application are mostly short answer. We require one writing sample (max 2,000 words or 10 pages), a current resume, headshot photo and two references (we do not require letters of recommendation). Applicants will be contacted approximately 10 weeks after the application deadline.
Our residencies are two weeks long and there is no residency fee. Additional residency expenses like travel, transportation and food are your responsibility. Our facility accommodates three residents at a time.
When you click the button, below, you will be transferred to our application on Submittable. Our residency application will be available on June 1, 2024.
For more information, read our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us at info@mesarefuge.org.