New Voices Filmmaker Grant

Number of Awards: 4 emerging directors receive grants annually

Program Overview

The New Voices Filmmaker Grant is an initiative in partnership with Netflix to support emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers. Recipients receive professional development support, network-building opportunities through industry events, and access to a mentorship track facilitated by NewFest.

Focus Areas

• Support for emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers
• Professional development and career advancement
• Creation of new work across film formats (narrative, documentary, animation, experimental)

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be LGBTQ+ filmmakers in America
• Have NOT previously made a feature-length film, OR
• Have NEVER had a film (short, episodic, or feature length) publicly distributed with an exclusive and compensated agreement

What the Grant Includes

• $25,000 grant to support professional development and create new work
• Industry mentorship - Access to connect with an industry mentor relevant to applicant's work
• Network-building opportunities through industry events and partner organizations
• Industry engagement - Opportunity to connect with partner organizations, industry markets, consultants, and leaders in the field
• Festival showcase - Participation in NewFest's New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival (one of the largest queer film festivals in the world) with work showcased in events

Partnership

Part of Netflix's Fund for Creative Equity, an effort to help create more behind-the-camera opportunities for underrepresented communities within the TV and film industries.

Program History

• Inaugural year (2022): 4 recipients - Blanche Akonchong, Livia Huang, Rodney Llaverías, and Nyala Moon
• 2023 recipients: Terrance Daye, Drew de Pinto, Emily May Jampel, and LaQuan Lewis
• 2024 recipients: Program continued with 4 new recipients
• 2025 cycle: Applications currently open

Past Recipient Success

Nyala Moon (2022 recipient) completed her short film "DILATING FOR MAXIMUM RESULTS" with grant support, which won the Grand Jury Award at Seattle's TRANSlations Film Festival in May 2023.

Application Process

Current Status: Applications open for 2025 New Voices Filmmaker Grant

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Short-form work samples
• Application materials (specific requirements available on eligibility + FAQ page)

Selection Process

1. Applications and short-form work samples reviewed by grant evaluators consisting of:
   • LGBTQ+ programmers
   • Critics
   • Agents
   • Community leaders
   • NewFest staff
   • Established filmmakers
   • Industry professionals
2. Final selections decided by external jury of film and industry experts

Evaluation Criteria

Grant evaluators look for applicants demonstrating:

• Clear artistic perspective and vision
• Confident storytelling prowess
• Commitment to new modes of storytelling
• Vital collective spirit to have LGBTQ+ films made, seen, and heard
• Work samples showing range of LGBTQ+ experiences and cinematic storytelling techniques

Note

Full application details, specific submission requirements, and narrative questions are available on the Eligibility + FAQ page linked from the application portal.