LEF/CIFF Fellowship
Forecasted
LEF/CIFF Fellowship supports New England documentary filmmaking teams with festival participation, mentor-led project development, and industry connections to sustain their careers.
Funder: LEF Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $1,000 travel stipend per project, two festival passes, and six nights of accommodations
Summary: Supports New England documentary filmmaking teams through festival participation, mentor-led project development, and industry connections.
Key Information: Projects must have a director whose primary residence is in New England.
Description
The LEF/CIFF Fellowship, developed by LEF New England in partnership with the Points North Institute, supports five New England-based filmmaking teams attending the Camden International Film Festival in mid-coast Maine. The program serves feature documentary projects in production or post-production, combining festival access with mentor-led workshops, networking events, and curated one-to-one meetings.
The fellowship aims to sustain regional filmmakers’ careers through peer mentorship and access to potential industry supporters. Workshops provide a supportive cohort environment for discussing and practicing presentations of documentary works in progress. Meetings connect fellows with funders, distributors, producers, and other potential supporters, while festival participation offers access to screenings, forums, and the broader documentary community.
