The fellowship is a year-long program that provides disabled filmmakers with funding, mentorship and community to make a short film and leverage it into their debut future.
Inevitable Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to investing in disabled writers and filmmakers, has announced the launch of its newest programme, the Visionary Fellowship for disabled filmmakers. This initiative is exclusively supported by Netflix‘s Fund for Creative Equity.
The Visionary Fellowship is a year-long programme designed to support disabled filmmakers with funding, mentorship, and community resources necessary to create a short film and leverage it into their debut feature. It aims to bridge the gap between making a short film and preparing and packaging a debut feature, ensuring comprehensive support for the filmmakers.
Each Fellow will receive $55,000 in funding, which includes a production grant to create their short film with an experienced crew and an unrestricted grant to support them throughout the programme. Additionally, Fellows will have access to health insurance, marketing support, and funds for travel and accessibility needs. The Fellowship also offers mentorship and workshops from industry leaders, opportunities for on-set collaboration with other filmmakers, community building within the Fellowship cohort, and an industry-focused short film showcase featuring creative executives, agents, and managers.
Historically, disabled filmmakers have been undervalued by the entertainment industry. This programme aims to change that by providing substantial resources to promising and resourceful disabled writers/directors.
Inevitable Foundation co-founders Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska said: “We are thrilled to launch the Visionary Fellowship for disabled filmmakers. This investment in disabled writer-directors represents a powerful expansion in our pipeline of support for disabled creatives, and speaks to the core of our mission: helping disabled creatives reach positions of industry power. Netflix’s commitment across our programming—the largest from any studio to date—is a resounding endorsement of our barrier-breaking approach to fostering the next generation of disabled creators.”
Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity supports the Visionary Fellowship. This dedicated effort aims to train creatives for job opportunities on Netflix productions and set talent up for success in the entertainment industry. Since its launch in 2021, Netflix has partnered with over 80 organisations in more than 35 countries.
Applications for the programme are open now and will close on July 31st. Fellows will be selected in Fall 2024, with the programme concluding in 2025 with an industry showcase of Fellows’ short films.
