🚨 #FiFellows (past & present), time is ticking to submit your short film or music video to the 2026 Artist Development Showcase, happening this July at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.

Submissions close next Friday, April 10! ➡️ submit here: bit.ly/47gWGJ9

This week's film news includes the announcement of the 2026 #FilmIndependent Screenwriting Lab #FiFellows! 📰

Read more: variety.com/2026/film/ne...

Write Place, Write Time: Meet the 2026 Film Independent Screenwriting Lab Fellows - Film Independent Why now? If you’ve ever pitched a movie, you’ve heard this question posed before. For anything to happen in the film business, it sometimes feels as if

Meet the 2026 #FilmIndependent Screenwriting Lab #FiFellows: Andrés Pérez-Duarte, Emma He, Maddie McCann, Sam Osborn, Rammy Park, Alissa Torvinen & Alejandra Vasquez! 🎉

Congrats to Alissa Torvinen, recipient of our $25K grant in partnership with Plot Shift Media. 🌱

Meet them here: bit.ly/3PBGixd

A group photo of producer Juliet Berman with the 2026 Film Independent Project Involve Fellows.

Project Involve update! Thank you to Juliet Berman (Producer, Spiral Stairs Entertainment) for a fantastic conversation all about producing with our #FiFellows! 💚

Applications for 2027 Project Involve open up in May! Learn more about the program here: bit.ly/FiProjectInvolve

Green graphic for Film Independent Artist Development Showcase. Text reads: "Call for Entries." A QR code is included. Deadline is April 10 on FilmFreeway.

📣 #FiFellows (past & present), submit your project to the 2026 Artist Development Showcase, happening this July at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.

Submissions close APR 10! ➡️ Learn more & apply: bit.ly/47gWGJ9

Don’t just take our word for it—the 2025 #FiFellows say apply to the Documentary Producing Lab! Spend one week this fall leveling up your nonfiction producing skills on both the creative and business sides.

Apply by MAY 4: bit.ly/4b4bfSZ

#FilmIndependent #documentary #producer

Headshots of the 2026 Film Independent Episodic Directing Intensive Fellows arranged in a grid. Each headshot has a name label: Alex Heller, Chelsea Christer, Christopher Nataanii Cegielski, J.M. Harper, Jacob Combs, and Stefon Bristol.

Text graphic with a quote: "I feel like the mystery of breaking into television has been completely dispelled and I now have a better understanding of how to navigate the next steps in my career as an episodic director." Below the quote, it says "Chelsea Christer, 2026 Episodic Directing Intensive Fellow.

Announcing the 2026 Episodic Directing Intensive #FiFellows: Alex Heller, Chelsea Christer, Christopher Nataanii Cegielski, J.M. Harper Jacob Combs & Stefon Bristol! 🎉

Meet them & learn more about the Lab #ontheblog: bit.ly/4d7UhnQ

Green graphic for Film Independent Artist Development Showcase. Text reads: "Call for Entries." A QR code is included. Deadline is April 10 on FilmFreeway.

📣 Calling all #FiFellows! Submit your short film or music video to the 2026 Artist Development Showcase, happening this July at the DGA. Submitted work must have been written, produced, edited, directed and/or shot by a Film Independent Fellow.

✍ Submit by APR 10: bit.ly/47gWGJ9

Big Ideas, Bold Voices: Meet the 2026 Amplifier Fellows PLUS $180K in Grants - Film Independent Film Independent has announced the six filmmakers selected for the fifth annual Amplifier Fellowship — and with $180,000 in unrestricted grants on the

#ICYMI: Meet the six filmmakers selected for the fifth annual Amplifier Fellowship! With support from Netflix + $180K in grants, we’re providing our #FiFellows with a full year of creative and strategic support, customized mentorship & professional coaching.

Learn more: bit.ly/4aL0pRL

Last camera roll memories from 2025 Project Involve. 📸 At the First Look Screening of their short films earlier this month, we caught up with our #FiFellows!

Missed the screening? Catch all 5 shorts at #Slamdance on Sun, Feb 22 at 7:30 PM: slamdance.com/festival-pas...

🎞️ What a journey! After a year of hard work, the 2025 Project Involve short films finally hit the big screen. We also proudly welcomed our 2026 cohort. Here’s to another year of bold storytelling!

Learn more about our #FiFellows here: www.flipsnack.com/pmiller/2025...

📸: Matei Horvath/Getty Images

2026 Brings a Brand-New Cohort of 33 Project Involve Fellows for Year 33 New Year, new voices! We are proud to introduce the 2026 Film Independent Project Involve cohort.

Another warm welcome to our 2026 Project Involve cohort. 💚 The program is officially in motion, and we're so ready to see what our #FiFellows create!

Read more about them here: www.imdb.com/news/ni65659...

Directing is delicate. At our #FiPresents screening of the 2023 Project Involve short film ‘Single Residence Occupancy’, our #FiFellows gave us an inside look into the film.

🎤 Watch the Q&A here: youtu.be/DFYk0qHHRZo?...

Introducing the 2026 Project Involve cohort! 🎉 We can't wait to see our #FiFellows create short films from their inception to completion.

✨ Meet them here: bit.ly/4b14Ok2

See you tomorrow at 7:00 PM for the First Look Screening featuring shorts from the 2025 cohort!

First Look Screening: 2025 Project Involve Short Films - Film Independent You're invited to join us for a theatrical screening of the five short films created in the recently completed 2025 edition of Project Involve. During the

🎉 Kick off the 33rd year of Film Independent's Artist Development programs with the First Look screening. Watch 5 shorts from the 2025 Project Involve #FiFellows + welcome the 2026 cohort!

Thu, Jan 15 | Free RSVP:

A Mountain of Film Independent Fellows at This Year’s Sundance Program - Film Independent Fall is a stressful time for indie filmmakers. There are plenty of sleepless nights getting your cut in shape for the first-quarter festivals, including a

☀️🏔️ Proud to see 21 projects featuring #FiFellows at #Sundance! Plus, our Artist Development programs directly supported:

‘Joybubbles’ - 2021 Fast Track
‘Soul Patrol’ - 2025 Amplifier Fellowship
‘Union County’ - 2023 Screenwriting Lab, 2023 Fast Track

🔗 Full list #ontheblog: bit.ly/4oSpsWJ

So excited to feature the 2023 Project Involve short ‘Single Residence Occupancy’ as this month’s #FiPresents Programmers’ Pick. Thank you to our #FiFellows, writer Belinda Huijuan Tang, director Omer Ben Shachar and cinematographer Wenting Fisher! 💚

📸: Unique Nicole/Getty Images

Programmers' Picks: Single Residence Occupancy - Film Independent Join us for 10-minute short film Single Residence Occupancy, followed by an in-person conversation with writer Belinda Huijuan Tang, director Omer Ben

#FiPresents Programmers' Picks TOMORROW, at 7:30 PM! Catch ‘Single Residence Occupancy’, a 2023 Project Involve short. Plus, hear from the team behind it: our #FiFellows writer Belinda Huijuan Tang, director Omer Ben Shachar & cinematographer Wenting Fisher.

🎟️ Tix: bit.ly/3XCwgMO

Programmers' Picks: Single Residence Occupancy - Film Independent Arts Circle, Film Lover, Secret (shhh...) Members and Fellows (with an active Membership), you and a guest are invited to Programmers' Picks, a curated

This month’s #FiPresents Programmers' Picks is 2023 Project Involve short, ‘Single Residence Occupancy’ on Fri, Dec 5, plus a Q&A with our #FiFellows: writer Belinda Huijuan Tang, director Omer Ben Shachar and cinematographer Wenting Fisher.

🎟️ Seats are limited: bit.ly/3XCwgMO

Spotlight Your Story: Applying to Our Artist Development Programs - Film Independent With so many stories to tell – and so many storytellers – how do you stand out and access the resources needed to bring your film to life? Film

✨ FREE online info session on Dec 2! Learn about our Artist Development programs from Our AD team and #FiFellows who will break down how to stand out in your Documentary Story Lab (due Dec 15) & Episodic Lab (opening soon!) apps.

💬 RSVP here: bit.ly/48tsOu7

(L-R) Writer Marilyn Fu, actor Lawrence Shou, actress / producer Lucy Liu, director Eric Lin and moderator Shirley Li attend the Film Independent Special Screening of "Rosemead" at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills on November 14, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

Actress / producer Lucy Liu at the Film Independent Special Screening of "Rosemead" at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills on November 14, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

(L-R) Moderator Shirley Li, actress / producer Lucy Liu, director Eric Lin, actor Lawrence Shou and writer Marilyn Fu attend the Film Independent Special Screening of "Rosemead" at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills on November 14, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

Director Eric Lin (L) and actor Lawrence Shou attend the Film Independent Special Screening of "Rosemead" at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills on November 14, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

What a night! #FiPresents screened #Rosemead alongside director Eric Lin, writer Marilyn Fu, actress/producer Lucy Liu, actor Lawrence Shou and moderator Shirley Li. So proud of our #FiFellows Eric Lin and Mynette Louie (producer)! 💫 Out Dec 5!

📸: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Our annual Fast Track Film Finance Market returns this week with 15 new fiction and nonfiction projects, and 34 filmmakers joining us! 🏃🎬 Over three days, our #FiFellows will connect with industry professionals who can propel their current projects forward.

Learn more #ontheblog: bit.ly/3XBw945

Film Independent Selects Participants For 23rd Fast Track Film Finance Market Film Independent's Fast Track Film Finance Market has set its participants and projects for 2025, Deadline can report exclusively.

📢 The news is out! Here are the #FiFellows participating in this year's Fast Track happening this week.

Read more: deadline.com/2025/11/fast...

Members-Only Screening: Predators - Film Independent Film Independent Members, you and a guest are invited to join us for a theatrical screening of Predators, followed by an in-person conversation with

📹 #FiPresents ‘Predators’ on Thu, Dec 4 followed by an in-person Q&A with director David Osit. Osit and Producer Kellen Quinn are Fast Track #FiFellows! A 2025 #Sundance premiere + on DOC NYC's 2025 Shortlist of Best Feature Docs.

🎟️ Free for #FiMembers — RSVP: bit.ly/43EuRsq

(L-R) Actresses Shih-Yuan Ma and Nina Ye, co-writer / director Shih-Ching Tsou, and co-writer / producer Sean Baker attend the Film Independent Special Screening of "Left-Handed Girl" at AMC The Grove 14 on November 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

Co-writer and director Shih-Ching Tsou attends the Film Independent Special Screening of "Left-Handed Girl" at AMC The Grove 14 on November 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

(L-R) Rebecca Sun, Shih-Ching Tsou, Nina Ye, Shih-Yuan Ma, a translator and Sean Baker attend the Film Independent Special Screening of "Left-Handed Girl" at AMC The Grove 14 on November 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

(L-R) Nina Ye, a translator, Shih-Yuan Ma and Sean Baker attend the Film Independent Special Screening of "Left-Handed Girl" at AMC The Grove 14 on November 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

#FiPresents @Netflix.com's ‘Left-Handed Girl’, a project we’ve followed since its 2011 Fast Track days with #FiFellows Shih-Ching Tsou, Sean Baker & Film Independent’s Angela Lee. 🎞️✨Huge thanks also to actors Shih-Yuan Ma and Nina Ye, and moderator Rebecca Sun!

📸: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Sloan Grant recipients posing together at the Film Independent’s Artist Development Grants and Awards Dinner.

Guests enjoying dinner at Film Independent’s Artist Development Grants and Awards Dinner.

Film Independent Fellow Raven Jackson speaking at a podium at Film Independent’s Artist Development Grants and Awards Dinner.

Guests enjoying drinks at Film Independent’s Artist Development Grants and Awards Dinner reception.

Film Independent’s Artist Development had a fabulous evening at our Grants and Awards dinner with our #FiFellows. Special thanks to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for a fun reception. Congrats to all! 👏❤️

Learn more about our labs & programs here: bit.ly/FiArtistDevelopment

📸: Delia Bush

Members-Only Screening: Rosemead - Film Independent Film Independent Members, you and a guest are invited to join us for a theatrical screening of Rosemead, followed by an in-person conversation with

#FiPresents ‘Rosemead’ at the @thelondonweho + an in-person Q&A with actress/producer Lucy Liu! From #FiFellows director Eric Lin and producer Mynette Louie, this @Tribeca premiered film features a career-defining performance by Liu.

🎟️ Fri, Nov 14 — tickets:

At #FiForum25, Film Independent Acting President Brenda Robinson helped us master the art of the pitch. 🎬

#FiFellows Betty Hu, Tracy Jarrett & Rui M. Xu pitched their projects to industry experts who shared real-world strategies. Watch the full session here: bit.ly/4o2y11H

Lucy Liu, Chloé Zhao, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Among Honorees For Critics Choice 4th Celebration Of AAPI Cinema & Television Honorees for Critics Choice 4th Annual Celebration Of Cinema & Television include Lucy Liu, Chloe Zhao, director HIKARI, and KPop Demon Hunters

👏 Among the honorees for the Critics Choice 4th annual Celebration of #AAPI Cinema & TV are #FiFellows Chloé Zhao ('Hamnet'), HIKARI ('Rental Family') & Shih-Ching Tsou ('Left-Handed Girl'). Congrats!

Read more:

Film Independent Names 2025 Producing Lab Fellows Film Independent's Producing Lab Fellows for 2025 were announced on Tuesday morning.

📰 Read more about our new cohort of Fiction and Documentary Producing Lab #FiFellows on Deadline: deadline.com/2025/09/film...