NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is continuing its push to invest in fresh narratives.
The organization — a year-round nonprofit founded in 2007 and “dedicated to discovering, championing and advancing emerging filmmakers from around the world” — has expanded its NewNarratives initiative by increasing available grant funding to $35,000 and adding a new fellowship component backed by Absurd.
NewNarratives was launched in 2021 in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery as an international grant focused on emerging storytellers with “distinctive creative voices,” helping them make the leap from idea to completed project. So far, the program has fielded more than 1,175 applications from more than 89 countries and invested nearly $300,000.
This year’s NewNarratives installment will be spread across six grants in three categories. The core grants are supported by the Rhulen Family Foundation in honor of Anthony Rhulen (The Butterfly Effect), and will see four unrestricted grants of $5,000 each go to filmmakers developing narrative, documentary, animation, experimental or episodic projects at any stage.
In its second year, the NewNarratives environmental storytelling grant will award one $5,000 grant to a short currently in post-production that explores environmental sustainability, conservation, climate or humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The grant is possible through support of Athens Services.
