Sound & Scene: NewFest + Concord QTBIPOC Short Film Initiative
Are you a passionate QTBIPOC filmmaker who understands the transformative power of music in storytelling? Do you have a vision that can captivate and inspire audiences? NewFest and Concord Originals want to support the next steps of your creative journey!
Candidates will be invited to select an eligible song and creatively amplify the music in an original short film. Final recipients will receive $20,000 to make their short film, and have it premiere at NewFest Pride 2025!
The Songs
Allison Russell, “All of the Women”
Billie Holiday, “God Bless The Child”
Joan Sebastian, “Secreto de Amor”
MUNA, “Home By Now”
Phil Collins, “Against All Odds”
Radical Face, “Welcome Home, Son”
The Experience
– Narrative Funding: Receive $20,000 to produce your short film.
– Iconic Music Access: Incorporate one of the eligible and iconic songs identified from Concord’s vast IP library into your film.
– Mentorship and Support: Receive professional mentorship and production support from queer film experts forging the pathway to impactful storytelling.
– Production Experience: Write and produce a short film between August 2024 and May 2025
– Industry Impact: Completed films will be showcased at NewFest Pride 2025.
– Career Support: Filmmakers will receive customized support to develop a festival strategy for their completed work.
– Community Connection: Join a fellowship of QTBIPOC filmmakers working toward creative growth by participating in monthly facilitated cohort ‘Reflect x Create Dialogue Sessions’ to offer constructive and professional peer feedback
Interested?
QTBIPOC filmmakers are invited to submit their interest between June 5th – July 5, 2024. Eligible candidates will be invited to attend a virtual Sound & Scene Preview Session to learn more about the initiative.
Please reach out to soundandscene@Newfest.org with any questions.
Eligibility Requirements
Sound & Scene candidates must:
– Be 18 years or older
– Identify as QTBIPOC
– Be based in the United States through June 2025, regardless of immigration status
– Have directed at least (2) short films, music videos or episodic works of content since 2014.
Directors who have completed feature-length narrative films (over 60 mins) and/or received paid distribution support for any of their directorial work are ineligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sound & Scene is an initiative offering QTBIPOC filmmakers the opportunity to produce a short film incorporating one of the iconic songs from Concord’s vast IP library. Selected filmmakers will receive funding, mentorship, and production support, with the completed films showcased at NewFest Pride 2025.
This initiative is open to QTBIPOC filmmakers. We encourage submissions from emerging filmmakers who have a strong narrative vision and a passion for impactful storytelling.
The eligible songs are:
Allison Russell, “All of the Women”
Billie Holiday, “God Bless The Child”
Joan Sebastian, “Secreto de Amor”
MUNA, “Home By Now”
Phil Collins, “Against All Odds”
Radical Face, “Welcome Home, Son”
Allison Russell, “All of the Women”
Billie Holiday, “God Bless The Child”
Joan Sebastian, “Secreto de Amor”
MUNA, “Home By Now”
Phil Collins, “Against All Odds”
Radical Face, “Welcome Home, Son”
No, each filmmaker can incorporate only one of the eligible songs into their short film.
Each selected filmmaker will receive $20,000 to produce their short film. The funding should be used for all aspects of production, including pre-production, shooting, and post-production.
Films should be written and produced between August 2024 and May 2025 with picture lock and an exhibition ready film available in June 2025.
Filmmakers will receive professional mentorship and production support from queer film experts. This includes guidance throughout the filmmaking process, from script development to post-production.
Interested filmmakers can submit their interest between June 5th and July 5, 2024. All inquiries will be reviewed with eligible candidates invited to complete a full application outlining their film, sharing their creative intentions and professional goals.
Sound & Scene Preview Session will take place July 10, 2024. The optional virtual event where eligible candidates can learn more about the initiative, the songs available for use, and the support provided throughout the filmmaking process. All eligible candidates may receive access to a private recording of this informational session to inform their full application.
Completed films will be showcased at NewFest Pride 2025, providing filmmakers with a platform to share their work with a public audience, artistic peers and film industry leaders.
Filmmakers will receive customized support to develop a festival strategy for their completed work, helping them to navigate the festival circuit and maximize the impact of their films.
The ‘Reflect x Create Dialogue Sessions’ are monthly facilitated cohort sessions where filmmakers can offer and receive constructive and professional peer feedback, fostering a supportive and collaborative community of QTBIPOC filmmakers.
By joining this fellowship, filmmakers will have the opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences, and support each other’s creative growth, enhancing their professional network and collaborative skills.
Yes, filmmakers with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment for all participants. Please let us know if you have any specific requirements, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Absolutely! Animation-based directors are welcome to apply. We value diverse storytelling methods and encourage filmmakers with a background in animation to bring their unique perspectives to this initiative.
Yes, co-directors are eligible to apply, provided that each co-director individually meets the professional development requirements of having directed at least two short films either separately or together and have not yet had experience directing a narrative feature. At least one co-director must identify as QTBIPOC. Co-directing teams must have a history of previous professional co-directing experience.
For more information, please reach out to soundandscene@newfest.org.
We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment. Please let us know your specific requirements, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Key Dates:
– Application Submission: June 5th – July 5, 2024
– Sound & Scene Preview Session: July 10, 2024
– Sound & Scene Pitch (Selected Candidates): August 14, 2024
– Production Period: August 2024 – May 2025
– Showcase at NewFest Pride: June 2025
We look forward to receiving your application and supporting your creative journey!
– Application Submission: June 5th – July 5, 2024
– Sound & Scene Preview Session: July 10, 2024
– Sound & Scene Pitch (Selected Candidates): August 14, 2024
– Production Period: August 2024 – May 2025
– Showcase at NewFest Pride: June 2025
We look forward to receiving your application and supporting your creative journey!
“NewFest firmly believes that the only way to combat pipeline issues in our industry is to put resources directly into the hands of the most marginalized members of our community. Concord Originals is putting their money where their mouth is, and we are so excited to work with them to bring this incredible opportunity to QTBIPOC filmmakers, and to share the music-driven films the selected artists make with NewFest audiences.”
– David Hatkoff, NewFest Executive Director
