A graphic with "For Us, By Us Filmmaker Incubator" and "Apply by Feb 24" in boxes. The logos for Filmmakers Collaborative SF, Re-Present Media, and National Endowment for the Arts are below.

For Us, By Us Filmmaker Incubator

Presented by Filmmakers Collaborative SF and Re-Present Media

Filmmakers Collaborative SF and Re-Present Media are collaborating to present the For Us, By Us Filmmaker Incubator, a seven month intensive to support a diverse cohort of local documentary filmmakers who are telling personal stories from underrepresented communities in the Bay Area.

aPPLICATION CloseS Feb 24, 2025 @ 11:59pm pt

About the Program

For Us, By Us supports a diverse cohort of local documentary filmmakers who are telling personal stories from underrepresented communities in the Bay Area. Six projects will be selected. The filmmakers will participate in workshops, receive mentoring, and be given stipends to strategically use for their films. The mentoring will be focused on a group setting, with additional individual mentoring with program directors as needed. The program will run from March-September 2025.

Our goal is to nurture stories that expand our understanding of those who live in our Bay Area communities, especially those who are marginalized that will benefit from seeing their perspectives realistically represented, validating their lived experiences and providing insight into how we can better understand each other and ourselves.

Filmmakers Collaborative SF is a nonprofit media organization with a mission to catalyze positive change through the power of filmmaking. Re-Present Media is an organization dedicated to advocating for personal storytelling from underrepresented communities in documentary film and nonfiction media.

A multicultural group of five people sit on a couch.

Learn more about the For Us, By Us Team.

See past filmmaker fellows.



Program Structure

  • $1,750 stipend to be used in accordance with the filmmaker's development plan that is created in the program.

  • Three months of workshops (twice a month) led by a diverse group of working filmmakers and industry professionals covering story development, creative approach, fundraising, distribution, and other elements of the filmmaking journey.

  • Three months of group mentoring sessions (twice a month) focused on the needs of the participants' films, with additional individual mentoring with program directors as needed.

  • Works-in-progress screening at the end of the program.

  • One year of free membership to Filmmakers Collaborative SF.

The program activities will be hybrid (virtual and in-person).

  • March-September 2025

    March sessions: Sat, March 15, 11am-1pm and Thu, March 27, 3-5pm

    April-September sessions: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, 3-5pm

    *Schedule to be finalized upon selection of participants

    Filmmakers are expected to attend two events in-person: the welcome orientation planned for March 15 and the screening event in September.

    The other sessions can be attended virtually or in-person. We encourage participation in-person if you are able to, but you may attend these sessions virtually.

    The in-person activities will take place at Ninth Street Independent Film Center (145 Ninth St, San Francisco).

    Workshop Topics:

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be an emerging to mid-career documentary filmmaker

    • Co-directors may apply together but each selected project will be given one stipend.

  • Live or work in the Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma Counties)

  • Be working on a documentary project that centers a personal story within an underrepresented Bay Area community. The film can be a short or feature length documentary in pre-production with secured participants, production, or post-production.

    • We define personal stories as stories focused on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Although social issues may intersect with their lives, these stories are not primarily social issue narratives.

  • Be available to participate in the program’s activities. See tentative schedule above. Participants are expected to commit to attending all sessions.

FAQ

  • Filmmakers are expected to attend two events in-person: the welcome orientation in March and the screening event in September.

    The other sessions can be attended virtually or in-person. We encourage participation in-person if you are able to, but you may attend these sessions virtually.

    Please see the Tentative Schedule above for more info.

  • Yes, if you have questions about how you can be accommodated if selected for the program or if you would like to request an alternative way to submit the application form, please email Amy: amy@filmmakerscollaborative.org

  • You do not need to be a Filmmakers Collaborative SF member to apply.

    There is no application fee to apply for this program.

Application

Application deadline: February 24, 2025 at 11:59pm PT

Applicants will be informed of decisions by March 10, 2025.

If you have questions or would like to request an alternative way to submit the application, please email Amy: amy@filmmakerscollaborative.org

 
National Endowment for the Arts logo

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

Donate to For Us, By Us Filmmaker Incubator

 

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