A fellowship supporting filmmakers from racially and ethically underrepresented communities has announced a national open call for submissions. Firelight Media’s 18-month Documentary Lab program offers emerging filmmakers “customized mentorship from prominent leaders in the documentary world, funding, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities,” Deadline writes. Launched in 2008 to increase inclusion and diversity in the industry, the fellowship is for those working on their first or second feature-length doc.
“There are hundreds of talented, diverse filmmakers out there creating work that pushes the boundaries of documentary. These voices are critical to providing new narratives about the most pressing issues of our time,” said Loira Limbal, Vice President and Documentary Lab Director at Firelight Media. “Many of them, however, do not have accessible points of entry to the film industry. Through this open call, Firelight can better reach those filmmakers, support them, and flood the industry with new stories and fresh perspectives.”
Three Documentary Lab fellows — two of whom are women — are set to premiere their docs at Tribeca Film Festival, which kicks off April 18. Assia Boundaoui’s “The Feeling of Being Watched” centers on a Muslim American community in Chicago where residents suspect they may be under FBI surveillance, and Melissa Haizlip’s “Mr. Soul!” revisits groundbreaking PBS series “Soul!” which is considered television’s first “black ‘Tonight Show.’”
“My advice to other female directors is to always remember you’re a director first, not just a ‘female director,’ Haizlip told us in a soon-to-be published interview. “Times are changing, but not fast enough. So never give up either your vision or your title, especially if you’re helming a project with another director who happens to be male. Women have been taught to over-apologize and over-accommodate, and it’s time to re-set the narrative,” she urged. “There’s room for all of us. It’s time to make our voices heard, so keep rising.”
Head over to the Documentary Lab’s website for more information on the application process and eligibility requirements.
