For Us, By Us Filmmaker Incubator

For Us, By Us Filmmaker Incubator

Funder: Filmmakers Collaborative SF and Re-Present Media

Status: Program runs March-September annually (2025 cohort application closed February 24, 2025)

Award Amount: $1,750 stipend per selected project

Geographic Scope: Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma Counties)

Program Focus:

Supports emerging to mid-career documentary filmmakers

Centers on personal stories from Bay Area communities not often seen in media

Expands understanding of those who live in Bay Area communities, especially marginalized perspectives

What They Fund:

Six projects selected per cohort

Documentary projects (short or feature length)

Projects in pre-production with secured participants, production, or post-production stages

Personal stories focused on individuals, families, and communities (not primarily social issue narratives)

Eligibility Requirements:

Be an emerging to mid-career documentary filmmaker

Live or work in the Bay Area (specified counties)

Working on a documentary project that centers a personal story within a Bay Area community not often seen in media

Film can be short or feature length

Available to participate in all program activities (two in-person required: March orientation and September screening)

Co-directors may apply together but receive one stipend

What They Don't Fund:

Primarily social issue narratives (although social issues may intersect with personal stories)

Filmmakers not available to commit to program activities

Program Components:

$1,750 stipend to use according to filmmaker's development plan

Three months of workshops (twice monthly) led by working filmmakers and industry professionals

Three months of group mentoring sessions (twice monthly) with individual mentoring as needed

Works-in-progress screening at program end

One year of free Filmmakers Collaborative SF membership

Hybrid format (virtual and in-person options)

In-person activities at Ninth Street Independent Film Center (145 Ninth St, San Francisco)

Workshop Topics Covered:

Defining the story of your film

Defining realistic "success" for your film

Developing fundraising strategy and implementation plan

Developing distribution strategy and implementation plan

Creative process

Finishing your film

Contact:
Amy: amy@filmmakerscollaborative.org

Funding Support:
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.