MARBLE HOUSE PROJECT
DEADLINE: May 6, 2024 by 11:59pm EST
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. 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.
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.
RESIDENCY DATES FOR 2025
March 11th - April 1st
April 6th - April 29th
May 6th - May 27th
June 3rd - June 24th
July 8th - July 22nd. Parent / Artist Residency
Parent artist residency. This residency is only for parent artists who will be attending with their children. Children must be four years old by the start of the residency. Please note that if you only apply for this residency it is very competitive. If you choose other dates you will also be considered for those as well. To find out more about the family friendly residency please visit http://www.marblehouseproject.org/residencyprograms/
October 7th - October 28th
November 3 - November 24th
marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit
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2024 Grants Program Open Call
The Redford Center
DEADLINE: May 10, 2024
INFO: Our 2024 open call for grants applications will take place April 4 – May 10, 2024. Environmental nonfiction feature films or docuseries at any stage of development, production, or postproduction are eligible to apply. Each film awarded will receive a first-year (2024) $25,000 grant to support production and impact campaign expenses, an opportunity to present at an intimate, invitational virtual film showcase with funders and industry leaders, and a trip to an in-person Grantee Summit for project development and advisement. In year two (2025), grantees will have the opportunity to be considered for a second grant to support the production’s completion, and impact. In addition to financial support, we work in a grantee cohort model and provide learning sessions and opportunities, networking and promotional support, and community building to all grantees.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY:
Must be 18+ years of age
Application must come from Director or Producer
Applications from anywhere in the world are eligible
Previous filmmaking experience highly recommended
Awardees will be expected to be available to participate in our professional development programming.
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY:
New and ongoing nonfiction feature films or docu-series at any stage of development or production. Projects that are picture locked are ineligible to apply.
Must be a documentary feature film or episodic docu-series
Must have a clear impact goal and developed idea for an impact campaign
Must be about, or intersect with, an environmental issue and a proposed or activated solution
WE ENCOURAGE STORIES ABOUT:
Intersectional environmental issues and solutions for people and the planet.
Leadership, progress, solutions, possibility, hope, and innovation that transform defeatist narratives around the environmental crises.
Fresh viewpoints or filmmaking artistry that challenge the conventional boundaries of what an environmental story is expected to be.
An equitable, inclusive, and diverse environmental movement that centers underrepresented and historically excluded communities and voices.
Systemic bias, discrimination, and injustice in environmental policy and their impacts on communities, individuals, and the earth.
Pathways to direct action, groundbreaking achievements, or measurable impact.
Protecting and restoring land, water, biodiversity, and natural resources.
Cultural practices that honor traditional and ancestral knowledge and wisdom.
Community power and civic engagement initiatives at the intersection of environmental justice and planetary health.
In addition to providing financial support, The Redford Center’s support involves helping build community around these projects, advising on the design of intentional impact strategies and campaigns, and connecting filmmakers with additional opportunities, partnerships, funding, and advice that will lead them toward their ultimate impact goals.
Reflecting the core values of our organization, we seek to ensure accountability to and representation of the intersectionality of environmental advocates and artists, which includes Black, Indigenous, People of Color; Women; people with disabilities; immigrant and refugee communities; and LGBTQ+ communities, and all people whose lives are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices.
GRANTEES RECEIVE:
A $25,000 gift of financial support in the first year of the grants cycle.
An invitation to apply for second-year funding, which includes a more substantial financial investment to support ongoing production, post-production, or an impact campaign.
An all expenses paid trip to Redford Center Grants Summit in Spring 2025 (US-based) with exclusive participation in learning sessions and networking events with experts, industry leaders, and fellow artists. Each team is offered support in refining their project narratives and impact goals.
An opportunity to present at an intimate, invitational virtual film showcase with funders and industry leaders in Fall 2024.
Promotional support and strategic advice, from development to distribution, from The Redford Center.
Invitation to join The Redford Center’s fiscal sponsorship program at a discounted rate, which makes it easier to attract and accept philanthropic support.
redfordcenter.org/grantapplication/
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CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2024 TWIN CITIES ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
Mizna
DEADLINE: May 11, 2024
INFO: Mizna’s 2024 Twin Cities Arab Film Festival seeks films for our upcoming festival scheduled for September 25–29, 2024. They accept narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated films of feature and short lengths. They seek films made by filmmakers from the SWANA region and beyond, as well as films relevant to the social realities of the SWANA region.
This year, all accepted submissions will be considered for Audience and Jury Awards.
Submissions are due May 11, 2024. Late submissions are due May 31, 2024.
Mizna strives to make our film festival accessible to filmmakers of all financial backgrounds. Filmmakers in need of a submission fee waiver can email mizna@mizna.org.
mizna.org/event/call-for-subs-aff2024/
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2024-2025 KAREN SCHMEER FILM EDITING FELLOWSHIP
DEADLINE: May 12, 2024
INFO: The 2024-2025 Karen Schemer Film Editing Fellowship is a year-long group professional development program for assistant, associate and emerging documentary film editors from historically underrepresented backgrounds and experiences - including those facing discrimination or barriers due to race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomics, immigration, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity. The fellowship runs from September 2024 to September 2025 and consists of monthly small group meetings with seasoned documentary editor mentors. The program is hybrid, both online and in-person, allowing for fellows from across the United States.
While there are many talented editors who are also pursuing directing and producing careers, this is a program for people who are committed to documentary editing. Ideal applicants are currently working as documentary assistant, associate or early career editors who are looking to grow and work towards building a sustainable career. Growing from early-career roles such as assistant or associate editors into a full editor role can be a challenging and elusive process, and at any early stage in your career building a network and being recognized for your skills can be equally challenging. Applicants should be curious, open-minded, collaborative, and self-motivated people who are eager to get together with other documentary creatives to talk about the art, craft, ethics and business of editing documentaries.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be committed to careers as documentary film editors (as opposed to fiction film editors or directors/producers who edit).
Applicants must come from historically underrepresented backgrounds and experiences - including those facing discrimination or barriers due to race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomics, immigration, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity.
Applicants must have at least two credits as an assistant, associate, additional, co-editor or editor on completed documentary films or documentary series, but no more than three credits as a co-editor or editor. These qualifying works must have running times of 45 minutes or more each (per film or episode). Your qualifying credits must be on two different projects. Your eligible editing credits may not be on works that you directed or produced.
Applicants must be based in the United States and reside here during the fellowship year from September 2024 to September 2025.
Applicants must be able to attend monthly meetings in-person if they reside in NYC or Los Angeles and monthly virtual meetings if they reside in other areas of the United States.
Applicants cannot be enrolled as students in undergraduate or graduate programs during the fellowship year.
Please reach out to us at info@karenschmeer.com with any questions about your eligibility.
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Documentary Lab
Firelight Media
DEADLINE: May 13, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST
INFO: The Documentary Lab is Firelight Media’s longest-running artist program. This 18-month fellowship is designed to nurture underrepresented nonfiction storytellers working on their first or second feature film. The Documentary Lab provides holistic support for fellows’ projects and careers through professional development retreats, customized mentorship, and a $25K project grant. Throughout the Lab, filmmakers build a network within the documentary ecosystem, connecting with the fellows and alumni, as well as forging industry relationships across the field.
More than just a workshop, the Documentary Lab is unrivaled in its representation of diverse filmmakers, creating a network of talented, unique storytellers that receive ongoing support from a project’s conception to its completion. Over the last decade, the Documentary Lab grew from a mentorship program to a robust artist development initiative that has supported over 100 emerging filmmakers and granted over $600k toward productions and distribution.
We’re looking for ambitious applicants making artful and innovative documentary films that focus on underrepresented communities and provide new narratives about the most pressing issues of our time. Firelight Media will consider all types of long-form documentary projects – historical, investigative, personal, vérité, and experimental.
The timeline for application review, finalist notifications, and the upcoming Fellowship is below.
GUIDELINES:
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 an underrepresented community and reside in the United States or U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Samoa, Guam/Northern Mariana Islands).
The project must be a long-form/feature-length documentary; the Lab does not accept short documentaries, series, or fiction projects of any kind.
The film must be a work in progress. We accept films from early production through production or post-production. We do not accept films in development or pre-production, or completed films.
Filmmaker must be an emerging documentary filmmaker (working on their first or second feature-length documentary).
Filmmakers are not eligible to receive support through one or any of Firelight Media’s artist programs if:
The filmmaker is applying with a project that is a student film or related to ongoing coursework.
The filmmaker is re-applying to a program they previously received support from.
The filmmaker is contracted with another Firelight Media artist program and has not completed the final deliverables by the time they are selected for this program.
The filmmaker is employed by Firelight Media, Firelight Films, or PBS as an officer, full-time employee, or is a member of the board of directors.
The filmmaker does not hold the majority of the intellectual property of the film.
APPLICATION TIMELINE:
Monday, May 13, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST - Application Open Call Ends
May-August 2024 - Application Review Period
August 2024 - Panel Review
September 2024 - Finalist Interviews
October 2024 - Final Notifications
FELLOWSHIP TIMELINE:
Mid-November 2024 - Orientation
Spring 2025 - Retreat #1 (in-person, location TBD)
Summer/Fall 2025 - Retreat #2 (virtual)
Winter 2026 - Retreat #3 (in-person, location TBD)
APPLY NOW!
Firelight Media utilizes the Core Documentary Application. As part of your submission, you will need to share a work sample or rough cut no less than 10 minutes and no longer than 30 minutes.
We strongly suggest that you first write your application in a Word document or create your own separate copy as a back-up prior to applying via the Submittable portal. Please be sure to save your document then copy & paste your responses into the online application via Submittable. Uploading files into your application via Submittable might take some time; do not wait until the last hour to submit as we do not accept any late submissions.
RESOURCES:
We will be hosting a 2024 Documentary Lab Open Call webinar on Friday, May 3, 2024 from 4-5pm EST. RSVP HERE.
firelightmedia.tv/programs/documentary-lab
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DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION WRITING PROGRAM
SUBMISSION PERIOD: May 13 - June 7, 2024
INFO: The primary goal of the Disney Entertainment Television (“DET”) Writing Program (the “Program”) is to staff Program Writers on DET series as staff writers during the Program year. Staffing is not guaranteed. The twelve-month Program is tentatively set to begin January 2025 and end in January of the following year. Please note, time frames are subject to change. For the first few months of the Program, writers participate in a professional development curriculum designed to better prepare them for staffing consideration, including developing, writing, and polishing at least one (1) original pilot script to be used as a staffing sample. The Program also provides engagement with executives, producers and credentialed writers, designed to facilitate relationships that can prove invaluable in developing a television writing career. Additional past activities have included: workshops led by veteran television writers, producers and Program alumni, and networking mixers with executives, producers, and showrunners.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be able to legally work in the United States and be at least twenty-one (21) years of age by December 1, 2024. Entertainment industry experience is not required but is strongly recommended. Those applying must fully complete an online application and submissions package, including uploading the following seven (7) items (eight (8) if you are opting in to be considered for the Boone Scholarship OR the FX John Singleton Scholars Initiative) (applicants may not apply for both Scholarships):
SCRIPT ONE: ORIGINAL PILOT SCRIPT capturing the writer’s unique tone, style and point of view. This sample must be live-action content; animation samples of any form are not accepted. This sample should tonally translate to the type of programming broadcast, airing or streaming on DET. This will be the primary script for consideration of your application. It cannot be changed or replaced after submission. This sample must not have been submitted in a previous application.
EXHIBIT “A”: SCRIPT ONE SUMMARY FORM
SCRIPT TWO: SECONDARY ORIGINAL PILOT SCRIPT capturing the writer’s unique tone, style and point of view. This sample must be live-action content; animation samples of any form are not accepted. This sample should tonally translate to the type of programming broadcast, airing or streaming on DET. This sample may have been submitted in a previous application and will receive the same score as before.
EXHIBIT “B”: SCRIPT TWO SUMMARY FORM
RESUME (two pages or less) outlining chronological salaried employment (which may include entertainment and non-entertainment positions). Only list jobs or positions where compensation was received, with the exception of entertainment industry internships and full-time volunteer work at non-profits. Please also list any courses or training you have taken to develop your craft as a writer. Please do not list undergraduate coursework.
STAFFING PITCH (no more than 1500 characters): “Pitch” yourself as a potential staff writer on a current DET series (broadcast, cable, or streaming). Before completing this section, please make sure you have a solid command of the breadth of programming across DET, as well as the particular show you are pitching yourself for; accepted series includes those confirmed to return for the 2024-25 season. In your pitch, please specify: 1) why you think you would be a good fit for the particular show you selected, 2) how you identify with that show (whether it’s through a character, series theme, series storyline, series location, premise, etc.), and 3) what you think you could add to this particular writers’ room. The pitch should address why you’re a fit, and not why you like the show or its impact.
PERSONAL ESSAY (no more than 3000 characters): a story from your life experience that conveys your unique perspective and/or multi-cultural sensibility.
DISNEY BRANDED TELEVISION (“DBT”) EUNETTA T. BOONE SCHOLARSHIP PITCH (if applicable): If you opt in to be considered for the Eunetta T. Boone Comedy Writers Scholarship, please answer the following prompt in 1500 characters or less: Please share why you are applying for the Boone Scholarship. Specifically, share how familiar you are with Eunetta T. Boone’s life and work, your connection to the shows she ran, and, if selected for the scholarship, how you plan to honor Ms. Boone’s legacy in a Disney Channel writers’ room.
FX JOHN SINGLETON SCHOLARS INTITIATIVE PITCH (if applicable): If you opt in to be considered for the FX John Singleton Scholarship, please answer the following prompt in 1500 characters or less: Please share why you are applying for the Singleton Scholars Initiative. Specifically, share how familiar you are with John Singleton’s life and work, and your connection to the shows he created/produced/directed. Please also share how and why you think you’re a great fit for an FX Networks writers’ room.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Complete only one online application per individual applicant or writing team (application will provide fields to list your writing partner’s information). Incomplete applications will not be opened or reviewed and will be disqualified without notification.
Review all application materials carefully.
Instructions
FAQ
Assemble required documents (download required forms here)
Internet connection/browser (no faxed, mailed or emailed apps allowed)
Two original writing samples (fully completed pilot scripts)
Two completed script summary forms (one for each script)
A resume
Personal essay
Staffing pitch
Your writing partner’s designated email address (if applicable)
Boone Scholarship Pitch (if applicable)
FX John Singleton Scholars Initiative Pitch (if applicable)
Select the two scripts you plan to submit. Both scripts must be original pilots.
Assess your writing samples for quality and excellence
Check for story and structure elements
Does the main character behave in a clear, consistent manner?
Does the pilot stand alone as an episode (as opposed to a script that has set up all characters, places, etc., at the expense of an actual story arc)?
For comedy scripts, are there multiple laughs throughout each script?
Is it crystal clear what the underlying conflict, setting, and circumstances of the next 99 episodes would be?
Did the script get high marks in professional coverage from an established analyst, competition, or coverage service? Note: We cannot provide recommendations.
Determine which script will be your primary script (Script 1, the main script for consideration) and your secondary script (Script 2, the back-up script for consideration)
Check to ensure your samples are completed pilot scripts (no treatments, beat sheets, etc.)
Page count
Format
Spell check
Save/Print as PDF using the required naming conventions
Launch the online application form. Once you have assembled all of the above materials, open the online application. It will take you approximately 30 minutes to complete, including uploading your required documents. Once you have electronically signed and submitted your application, it cannot be edited. You will receive a confirmation email following the successful submission of the online application.
Answer each question directly
Do not type in all caps in any field
If you do not have an answer to the question, leave it blank. Do not type N/A, TBD, ? or anything else. Leave it blank.
If you have a writing partner, be sure your applications have the same scripts and script summaries – and include each other’s names and email addresses in the fields for your writing partner information. Decide in advance which emails you will use and be consistent.
If you experience any technical difficulties while completing the application, please send us a message using the form below.
Do not wait until the last day to submit as the chances increase of experiencing issues with uploading and submitting due to server overload. Applications will not be opened, reviewed, or accepted after the deadline; no exceptions, including for technical difficulty reasons.
sites.disney.com/ctdi/application/
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SHORT SCRIPT LAB
WeScreenplay
DEADLINES / FEES:
Regular - May 15, 2024 - $49.00 (Standard Entry with Feedback) / $104.99 (Standard Entry with Upgraded Feedback)
Late - June 15, 2024 - $59.99 (Standard Entry with Feedback) / $114.99 (Standard Entry with Upgraded Feedback)
Final - July 15, 2024 - $69.99 (Standard Entry with Feedback) / $124.99 (Standard Entry with Upgraded Feedback)
INFO: Short scripts are a fantastic way to get your screenwriting feet wet, explore a new genre, hone your craft, and gain recognition within the entertainment industry!
6 winners will be invited to take part in our exclusive Virtual Shorts Lab to help define the next steps in their projects journey – whether that’s self-producing, crowdfunding, or connecting it with producers looking for short content.
Plus, every entry receives one page of feedback from a professional reader!
BENEFITS:
Grand Prize Winners:
6 winners will be selected to participate in this game-changing virtual lab. This lab will be PACKED with virtual meetings with industry professionals, workshops, and more so you can learn, network, and gain exposure.
Winners will also receive:
A copy of Final Draft screenwriting software
Guidance for drafting query letters, research methods for finding the right representation, and insight for career next steps.
Finalists:
Finalists will be invited to a special virtual group mentor session with an industry professional!
Select finalists will have a 1:1 virtual meeting with a member of the WeScreenplay team to discuss you and your work.
writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/wescreenplay-shorts
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The Studios at Key West
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024
INFO: The Studios of Key West, the premier arts organization at the Southernmost Point of the United States, offers a residency program for emerging and established artists and writers from around the world. We provide residencies to visual artists, writers, composers, musicians, media artists, performers, and interdisciplinary artists.
The program grants nearly 40 artists each year the time and space to imagine new artistic work, engage in valuable dialogue and explore island connections.
The Studios’ residency program is community-based and built upon the hope that visiting artists will take inspiration from Key West’s rich artistic past and present, and will engage with — and be inspired by — the remarkable people and culture that surrounds them.
Key West’s official motto, “One Human Family” reflects our commitment to living together as caring, sharing neighbors dedicated to making our home as close to paradise as we can. To that end, we encourage artists of all races, nationalities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities to apply.
DURATION: Our residencies are one month; they run from the 2nd day of the month to the last day of the month. For example: if you are awarded a residency in June, you would plan to arrive on June 2, and would plan to depart by June 30.
We’re sorry, but we are currently unable to offer residencies of less than one month. If you are accepted to the program, please plan to be in residence for the full month.
COST: There is no fee for the residency once an artist has been accepted into the program. However, artists are responsible for their travel to Key West, as well as living expenses and incidentals.
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MONSON ARTS RESIDENCY
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024
INFO: Monson Arts’ residency program supports emerging and established artists and writers by providing them time and space to devote to their creative practices. During each of our 2-week and 4-week programs throughout the year, a cohort of 5 artists and 5 writers are invited to immerse themselves in small town life at the edge of Maine’s North Woods and focus intensely on their work within a creative and inspiring environment. They receive a private studio, private bedroom in shared housing, all meals, and $1,000 stipend ($500 for 2-week programs).
Applications for a residency at Monson Arts are open to anyone at any stage of their career, working in visual arts, writing, and related fields (i.e. audio, video, photography, movement, screen and playwrights). Open calls for residency applications currently take place 3 times throughout the year with deadlines on January 15, May 15, and September 15. Each application period corresponds to specific residency offerings 3-6 months out.
Residents’ studios are located in newly renovated Main Street buildings that have been designed specifically for visual artists and writers. All of our studio spaces are outfitted to be as flexible as possible so that we can accommodate a variety of creative practices. Our visual arts studios are spacious and light-filled with large work tables and sinks. Shelving and portable storage carts are available as needed. Access is available to woodshop and metal shop facilities in nearby buildings for any fabrication needs. Our writing studios are comfortably furnished with work tables, office chairs, bookshelves, and reading chairs. For those working in time and sound based media: apply to the Writing category if quiet contemplation would be best for your project or the Visual Arts category if you need room and the opportunity to make and play sounds out loud.
Residents live in newly renovated historic homes throughout town, within walking distance to studios and everything that downtown Monson has to offer. These are mostly 3 bedroom structures that are fully furnished and comfortable all four seasons of the year. Houses all have shared kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas with laundry machines, telephone, and other amenities as well. Wifi is available in all of our buildings through high speed fiberoptic service.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Up to 5 pages of work samples / 15 pages for playwright or screen writing
A letter of intent for your time at the residency
C.V. or Resume (limited to 6000 characters)
Two reference names
monsonarts.org/residencies/overview/
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VCCA RESIDENCY
DEADLINE: May 15, 2024
APPLICATION FEE: $30
INFO: Residencies can be transformative to an artist’s process and the effect on an artist’s career profound. A residency at VCCA gives artists the time and space to explore and go deeper into their work. Away from the constraints of “the real world” and in an accepting environment of talented peers, one can dream and create with the feeling that anything is possible.
VCCA’s Mt. San Angelo location in Amherst, Virginia, typically hosts 360 artists each year in residencies of varying lengths (no minimum; up to six weeks) with flexible scheduling. A residency at Mt. San Angelo includes a private bedroom with private en-suite bath, a private individual studio, three prepared meals a day, and access to a community of more than 20 other artists in residence.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, VCCA is surrounded by natural wonders and hiking trails. Many local sites and additional inspiration can be found in short drives to Lynchburg (20 minutes), Charlottesville (1 hour), Roanoke (1.5 hours), or Richmond (2 hours).
VCCA Fellows are selected by peer review on the basis of professional achievement or promise of achievement in their respective fields. Separate review panels are created for each category (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting/screenwriting, children’s literature, performance, film/video, book arts, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, installation art, music composition, etc.). Panelists undergo periodic review and rotate regularly to ensure VCCA admission decisions are guided by high caliber artists who represent a diversity of styles and tastes.
All VCCA residency and fellowship applications are accepted online via SlideRoom. The standard application fee is $30. If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, artists should reach out to Artists Services at vcca@vcca.com to request an application fee waiver at least five days before the deadline.
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: A variety of fully-funded fellowship opportunities are available at each application deadline. In addition, significant financial assistance is available throughout the year.
vcca.com/apply/residencies-at-vcca/
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2025 (EGG)CELERATOR LAB
Chicken & Egg Pictures
DEADLINE: May 22, 2024 at 3:00 pm EST
INFO: Applications for the 2025 (Egg)celerator Lab are now open!
The (Egg)celerator Lab is focused on identifying and supporting nonfiction directors working on their first or second feature-length documentary. This program brings together ten projects, with a special focus on women and gender-expansive directors.
In this year-long program, these ten projects will receive:
$40,000 USD in grant funding for the production of their feature-length film
Monthly mentorship with Chicken & Egg Pictures’ team members
Two creative retreats focused on career building and creative development
Tailored industry meetings and funder connections
Peer support from the (Egg)celerator Lab cohort
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for this grant, filmmakers must meet the following criteria:
Identify as a woman (cis and trans) or gender-expansive director:
For information about how we define gender-expansive, please refer to additional information on the gender expansion page of our website.
Applicants who are not in the target demographic that our organization serves are encouraged to partner with a woman or gender-expansive director.
If a prospective applicant does not meet the targeted demographic criteria, we will accept and evaluate the application based on merit/strength of the proposed project.
Be directing their first or second feature-length (48 minutes or longer) documentary or nonfiction (including hybrid docs) film. See below for additional information on how we define this career stage.
A first-time director has never completed a feature-length documentary/nonfiction film and is currently working on their first feature-length documentary/nonfiction film.
A second-time director has already completed one feature-length documentary/nonfiction film and is currently working on their second feature-length documentary/nonfiction film.
A director who has completed one feature-length documentary/nonfiction film and has two works-in-progress is considered a second-time director as long as they have not completed/premiered a second feature documentary/nonfiction film.
You are still considered a first- or second-time director, even if you have the following experience:
You have directed multiple shorts or a web series.
You have directed feature-length narrative film(s)
You have produced feature-length documentary film(s)
If you have questions about co-directing teams go to the FAQ: “What if we are co-directors, but the other has made more than two feature-length films?”
Be based anywhere in the world, except for the countries which are under comprehensive US sanctions, which include: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the following regions of Ukraine: Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk. Further information on why filmmakers based in these countries/regions are ineligible to apply can be found here.
Legally, Chicken & Egg Pictures is required to comply with these laws, and therefore is not able to engage in financial transactions (i.e. grant disbursements) with any person/entity in any country/territory that is the subject of current comprehensive sanctions administered by the US Government.
If you are originally from these countries/regions but are based outside of them, you are still eligible to apply.
Please note: If you are making a film that takes place in one of these countries/regions, you may apply, but you will not be able to spend the grant in such countries/regions.
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants to this grant must submit a project for consideration that meets the following criteria:
Must be a documentary or nonfiction film (including hybrid docs). VR, interactive, branded content, or fiction films are not eligible.
Must be intended as a feature-length (48 minutes or longer) film. Short / medium-length films or series are not eligible.
Must be in early to mid-production at the time of applying:
We recommend that you apply if you have between 10-60% of your footage shot by the date of application.
If you are aiming to reach the rough cut stage by the end of 2024 or by the first quarter of 2025, your project is most likely too advanced. The purpose of the (Egg)celerator Lab is to support projects at a stage where they can be actively workshopped and developed over the course of the program year.
We understand that production timelines are dependent on many factors including funding, and so if you have any questions about the eligibility of your project stage, please reach out to us at egglab_opencall@chickeneggpics.org
Must be independently produced. Works-for-hire are not eligible, and student films produced in an undergraduate or graduate program are also not eligible.
You do not need a fiscal sponsor to apply for the (Egg)celerator Lab. However, if you are awarded, you must secure a US fiscal sponsor, or be a 501(c)(3), to receive the funds. A fiscal sponsor is a 501(c)(3) organization that shares its tax-exempt status with individual filmmakers, meaning that you are able to accept charitable grants. In exchange for this service, they may take a percentage of the incoming funds. A few examples of 501(c)3 organizations that offer fiscal sponsorships to filmmakers are included here.
For more details about eligibility, please review the full list of FAQs at the end of this page. If you have any questions regarding our open call that are not addressed in the FAQs, you can contact us at egglab_opencall@chickeneggpics.org.
APPLICATION TIMELINE:
May 22, 2024, at 3:00 pm EDT: 2025 (Egg)celerator Lab application deadline
June – October 2024: Chicken & Egg Pictures reviews applications in a three-round process
Late October 2024: Chicken & Egg Pictures interviews finalists
November 2024: Applicants are notified of their application status
February 2025: (Egg)celerator Lab program year begins with first cohort check-in call
February – March 2025: Grants disbursed
We kindly ask that you do not email to request an update on your application status. We will update applicants on the status of their application as we move through the reviewing process. The timeline may be subject to change, and we will communicate any significant delays to applicants.
PROGRAM TIMELINE:
February 2025: Orientation Call (Zoom)
March/April 2025: Spring Retreat (5 days, in-person – all costs covered by Chicken & Egg Pictures)
June 2025: Cohort call (Zoom)
July 2025: Summer Retreat (5 days, in-person – all costs covered by Chicken & Egg Pictures)
October 2025: Cohort Call (Zoom)
In addition to the group activities outlined above, the program includes monthly one-on-one calls with members of our senior creative team. Each of the ten projects will also receive individualized industry strategy consultations with International Program Consultant Tereza Simikova.
Please note, the program timeline may be subject to change, and any changes will be communicated in November upon acceptance into the program.
APPLICATION:
The majority of the questions are based on the Nonfiction Core Application 2.0, with some supplemental questions included.
Review application checklist: 2025 (Egg)celerator Lab – Application Checklist
Confirm your eligibility: You must first fill out the pre-application form to confirm you are eligible for the grant. If eligible, you will receive an email with your account login information and the link to the application platform.
Submit application: You must submit your application via the platform no later than Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 3:00 PM EDT. Important: late applications will not be accepted for any reason. You must submit your application via the platform by the deadline, otherwise you must wait until the following year to apply.
Accessibility Request: If you require technical assistance to navigate the application platform due to a disability, please contact egglab_opencall@chickeneggpics.org. We kindly ask that you make your request for assistance as soon as possible, and no later than Wednesday, May 15, 2024, to allow adequate time for staff to support you before the deadline.
WORK SAMPLES FOR APPLICATION:
All work samples must be in English or have accurate English subtitles on-screen.
First-time directors:
Must submit a sample of the project with which they’re applying
(OPTIONAL) Can submit a prior work sample
Second-time directors:
Must submit a sample of the project with which they’re applying
Must submit a prior work sample from their first feature-length document/non-fiction film, on which they served as director or co-director
Co-directing teams:
Must submit a sample of the project with which they’re applying
Must submit a prior work sample from the first- or second-time director, if your co-directing team consists of one first- or second-time director and one more experienced director
(OPTIONAL) May submit a prior work sample if all directors are first-time director
CURRENT WORK SAMPLES REQUIREMENTS:
The current work sample should meet the following criteria:
Length: Should be 7-20 minutes of material from the project with which you are applying.
We encourage applicants not to spend extra resources creating a brand new sample for this application if they already have one they have been using to apply to other funding opportunities. If your current sample is longer than the maximum length of 20 minutes, you can provide timecodes to the portion of the sample that you would like reviewers to watch and that best reflects your intended style and approach and that you would like to highlight.
Content: Can consist of a combination of the following, but a trailer alone will not be eligible nor competitive:
2–3 scene selects/excerpts
Character strands
Trailer/Teaser/Sizzle Reel
Since we will be looking at your ability to construct a story, we encourage first-time filmmakers to ensure that their work samples include constructed scene selects/excerpts.
Scenes/excerpts do not need to be in chronological order; we encourage you to put your strongest material first since in the first round reviewers are required to watch up to the first 10 minutes of the project sample. In this early round, we consider that 10 minutes should be sufficient to get a sense of the project, the importance of the subject matter, and the talent of the filmmaker to move into the following round. Work samples will be viewed in full in subsequent rounds.
Important notes on trailers, character strands, and scene selects/excerpts:
Trailers: Trailers can often be slick, fast, and energetic, and may not give us an accurate sense of your film’s tone, character development, or story structure. If you’re submitting a trailer, we encourage you to also attach a couple of additional scenes. This will give us a better chance to experience your style and get a feel for your characters, access, relationship to the material, and narrative arc.
Character strands: If you’ve been following a character over time and want to show their evolution or development, you might want to string together scenes that show the character’s progression. A character strand doesn’t require formal transitions or the scenes to be interwoven with others, but it should demonstrate a character’s story arc, what makes them unique, and your depth of access to them. Please do this only if the character is your lead and a major part of the story.
Selected Scenes/Excerpts: If you are a bit further along, you can send us a selection of edited scenes or an excerpt of an early assembly of the film. These can be edited together consecutively to tell us a part of your story (with transitions), or they can be intercut with black in between (no transitions), to show us the range of your story. Scene selects or excerpts should provide us with a feel for how your story will play out in real time; they should also offer a sense of your tone, pacing, and cinematic language.
chickeneggpics.org/programs/#eggcelerator-lab
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2025 Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab
BlackStar
DEADLINE: May 23, 2024
INFO: BlackStar is proud to present the 2025 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 with mentorship, funding and critical feedback over the course of a year-long program. BlackStar will provide $50,000 in production funds and act as an executive producer on each short film created during the Lab. Lab films will later premiere at the BlackStar Film Festival in 2025.
Selected directors will receive mentorship throughout the fellowship including feedback on works-in-progress, advice on working with crew and career guidance from a working director. The fellowship supports short narrative, experimental or hybrid projects.
ELIGIBILITY:
Candidates must live 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 September 21-22, 2024.
GUIDELINES:
The Lab does not accept films that are currently in production or post-production.
Applicants must be listed as the director of the submitted project.
Candidates must have directed and exhibited at least one short film in any genre.
Candidates should submit a short script for an original film. Our preference is for narrative, experimental and hybrid work of 15 minutes in length or less. Adaptations are acceptable as long as applicants can demonstrate permission to use the material.
Previous Lab fellows are not eligible to participate.
KEY DATES:
May 2, 2024 – Application Info Session
May 23, 2024 – Application Closes
July 1, 2024 – Notification Date
Aug 1-4, 2024 – Meetup at 2024 BlackStar Film Festival
September 21-22, 2024 – Orientation Weekend (Candidates must be available for in-person programming)
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CALL FOR FILMS
The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series
DEADLINE: May 24, 2024
INFO: The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series is an annual film festival founded by African Voices magazine. Established in 1997, Reel Sisters (www.reelsisters.org) is dedicated to providing opportunities for women of color to advance their careers in the film industry. Reel Sisters accepts films written, directed, or produced by women/non-binary filmmakers of color. Reel Sisters is the first Academy Qualifying Film Festival for short narratives devoted to women of color across the globe. Reel Sisters is an IMDb qualifying film festival. Reel Sisters celebrates our 27th Anniversary in 2024.
APPLICATION INFO:
YOU MUST SUBMIT PRODUCTION STILLS/PHOTOS and a TRAILER for your submission to be ELIGIBLE AND COMPLETE. You can screenshot photos from your film if you were unable to hire a photographer.
Reel Sisters is a competitive festival and films are selected by an independent jury. Please submit films early as deadlines are final. The festival provides quality customer service and does not offer fee waivers. The fee covers a small fraction of the administrative costs for running a professional Oscar qualifying film festival.
Reel Sisters accepts all genres and formats with a special interest in submissions from animated and web series producers. Send us films that will make our audience “cry, dance, laugh, sing and explore." The festival curates events throughout the year so all entries will be considered for Reel Sisters Tea & Cinema series. Join our worldwide community of film professionals in celebrating stories produced, directed and written by women of color!
For complete application visit www.reelsisters.org
AWARDS + PRIZES
Reel Sisters screens original films by women across the globe each year — the festival has screened over 5,500 films since its inception. Awards for Best Director, Best Documentary, Best Screenplay, Best Experimental, Best Animation, Best Feature, Best Short, Best Narrative, Best Web Series, Best Original Soundtrack and the Reel Sisters Spirit Award are selected by an independent jury composed of filmmakers, community leaders and artists. Reel Sisters has given over $75,000 in cash awards, fellowships and scholarships since our inception. In 2023, Reel Sisters Micro Budget Film Fellowship provided script to screen opportunities to three women of color filmmakers who received $5K each towards their short film project. Our fellows receive a premiere screening at Reel Sisters, an Oscar Qualifying festival.
CASH AWARDS FOR 2024
Best Narrative Short - $1,000
Best Director - $500
Best Screenplay - $300
Best Animation - $200
filmfreeway.com/ReelSistersoftheDiasporaFilmFestival
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Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers
GrubStreet
DEADLINE: May 30, 2024
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, 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.
COMPENSATION:
$25,000 per fellow for the year.
Access to mentorship from GrubStreet’s Education Director 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.
A dedicated 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.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
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 Director of Faculty and Fellowships periodically to track progress.
Meet with new fellows at the end of your own fellowship year.
The fellowship begins September 3rd, 2024 and runs through the end of August 2025.
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.
Covid-19 Update: GrubStreet’s programming is currently taking place both virtually and in-person. We hope fellows will be able to join us in-person later in 2024 and 2025. Priority will be given to applicants who will be able to join us in Boston when it's safe to do so.
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:
Deadline: Thursday, May 30th, 2024.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel composed of GrubStreet’s program staff.
Final decisions will be announced at the end of June.
Program kicks off on September 3rd, 2024 and runs through the end of August 2025.
QUESTIONS?
If you have specific questions about the Teaching Fellowship for Black Writers, email programs@grubstreet.org or call the office anytime at 617.695.0075.
grubstreet.org/write/teaching-fellowship-for-black-writers
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Disney Launchpad Season Three
Disney
DEADLINE: June 2, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PDT
INFO: With a focus on building a more inclusive entertainment industry, Disney is looking for experienced writers and/or directors from underrepresented backgrounds or those with unique perspectives to produce a short film for the Disney Launchpad: Shorts Incubator program.
As part of Disney Launchpad, writers and/or directors will be paired with Disney creative executives who will serve as mentors as they embark on a training program centered on creative collaboration within the Disney Studio system. Under the purview of the Disney Launchpad Producer, three (3) writers and/or directors will work to deliver three (3) live-action short films for possible exhibition on Disney+.
Select shorts may be considered for further feature-length or episodic development, based on the short’s quality, performance on the platform, future arcs, and other factors, though future development is not guaranteed.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Launchpad is a minimum twelve (12) month program that will include the following (please note that timeframes and program parameters are subject to change):
Three (3) months of script development and professional development classes, specifically designed to strengthen professional and storytelling skills.
Classes for the writers and/or directors led by educational partner, the American Film Institute (AFI), as well as The Walt Disney Studios, held once or twice per week on the Disney studio lot in Burbank, California from 6:30-10 p.m. PT. Please note: these classes are mandatory for directors.
The production schedule will include up to eight (8) weeks of pre-production, four (4) weeks of principal photography, and up to twelve (12) weeks of post-production. Please note: program timelines are subject to change.
HOW TO APPLY:
When applying, you will need to provide the following:
Three (3) essays
One (1) directing sample if applying as a director, one (1) short film script if applying as a writer, and both if applying as a writer/director.
One (1) resume
Signed legal agreements
One (1) professional reference (optional)
APPLICANT CRITERIA:
To qualify for Disney Launchpad, applicants must:
Be from an underrepresented background and/or have a unique perspective.
Have the unrestricted right to be employed in the United States throughout the duration of the Launchpad program and throughout the term of any additional post-term obligations in connection with the Launchpad program. (Disney will not sponsor work visas for individuals employed for Launchpad.)
Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age as of December 1, 2024.
Have completed at least one (1) scripted, live-action narrative work (e.g., a short, feature film, webisode, or episodic program) of at least five (5) minutes in length within the past eight (8) years if applying as a director.
Demonstrate a shared history of co-directing, if applying as a directing team of two (2), which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please see the FAQ for more information.
Co-wrote the submitted script together, if applying as a writing team of two (2).
You are NOT eligible to apply either as a director, writer, or writer/director, if you’ve done any of the following:
Directed a theatrically distributed, scripted, non-documentary feature film.
Directed two (2) or more scripted, non-documentary episodes of a network television, cable television, or premium streaming series.
Directed two (2) or more scripted, non-documentary films, distributed on network television, cable television, or premium streaming service.
Written a theatrically distributed, scripted, non-documentary feature film.
Written more than two (2) episodes of an aired and/or released network television, cable, or premium streaming series.
Written a scripted, non-documentary film, distributed on network television, cable television, or a premium streaming service.
launchpad.disney.com/#howToApply
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The Disruptors Fellowship
The Center For Cultural Power
DEADLINE: June 7, 2024
INFO: The Disruptors Fellowship is an annual program for emerging television writers of color who identify as trans, nonbinary, disabled or undocumented/formerly undocumented immigrants.
Culture is power–it shapes us, sets the terms of the world we live in, and informs how we perceive issues, stories, and each other. Yet, white supremacy holds so much power as culture makers, reinforcing and perpetuating systems of oppression and preventing racial and gender equity from becoming the norm. The Disruptors Fellowship aims to change that.
The Disruptors Fellowship builds new pathways for Artist Disruptors, enabling them to generate more narratives that inspire and define their experiences on their own terms. As artist disruptors increase their power and impact, they accelerate narrative change and shift culture.
#OscarsSoWhite, #MeToo, and #TimesUp disrupted cultural norms around racial and gender justice, taking aim at the structures that normalize abuse and oppression, and catalyzed an effort to bring more diverse narratives to the forefront. The Disruptors Fellowship continues to build on this momentum and energy and chart new ways forward.
Artists Disruptors are dedicated to their craft and committed to creating a more just and harmonious world.
PROGRAM DETAILS: During this 3-month program, fellows are provided with mentorship, professional development, master classes and an opportunity to build community with other writers of color, both emergent and leaders in their field. Each fellow will receive a $10,000 stipend!
FELLOWSHIP SCHEDULE:
APPLICATION DEADLINE - June 7, 2024
2024 FELLOWS NOTIFIED - Late July 2024
TUESDAY & THURSDAY SESSIONS* - August 8 - October 17
In-person Sessions: 6PM-7:30PM
Online Sessions 7PM-8:30PMFELLOWSHIP KICK-OFF PARTY - August TBD • 6PM-9PM PST (In-Person)
Los Angeles, Location TBDDISRUPTORS SHOWCASE - November TBD (In-Person)
CLOSING CELEBRATION - November TBD (In-Person)