Seven women crew members, some holding camera equipment, gather around a monitor screen on a film set.

Career Programs

Empowering women to excel in roles behind the camera and behind the scenes.

WIF program alumnae have gone on to be…

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Venice Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Winner Celine Tricart
Two women holding oscars
Oscar winners Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
A woman holds her Peabody Award in front of a red carpet backdrop.
Peabody Award Winner Grace Lee
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The first Latina composer invited to join the AMPAS music branch, Grammy winner Germaine Franco

For questions, please contact the WIF Programs Team at programs@wif.org.

Current Programs

WIF Fellowships

Created in honor of our 50th Anniversary, this flagship program welcomes Fellows from all areas of the entertainment industry for a year of mentoring, master classes, network building, and one-on-one career strategy sessions. If you are thinking of applying, please join us for an AMA on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

Thanks to Netflix for their support of the Director and DP Fellowships. Additional support for WIF Fellowships is provided by Delta Air Lines.

WIF | The Black List Writing Labs

The Episodic Lab and Feature Residency are offered to promising non-professional television and film writers, respectively, to hone their projects through workshops and master classes. All selected WIF participants in both programs, as well as a small group of applicants who are not accepted into the Episodic Lab or Feature Residency, will become WIF Writer Fellows.

 

 

Thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for their support of this program.
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INSIGHT

In 2018, WIF launched INSIGHT, a collective of talented, emerging women of color filmmakers that were provided support through a strong network of advocates, mentorship, and continuing education. After a brief pause in the program due to the pandemic, INSIGHT is back with a new approach as part of our Emerging Careers program.

Thanks to Johnnie Walker and Lexus for their support of this program.

Past Programs

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WIF | THE BLACK LIST FEATURE RESIDENCY

For promising non-professional feature writers, to hone their projects through a weekend residency of workshops, networking, and writing sessions.

 

This program will not be offered in 2024. Consider applying to the WIF Writer Fellowships!

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WIF + THE SUNDANCE INSTITUTE FINANCING INTENSIVE

Annual two-day workshop, co-presenting by WIF and The Sundance Institute, meant to equip emerging producers and their filmmaking teams with financing strategies advised by industry executives and leading financiers. 

 

This program is on hiatus. Consider applying to the WIF Producer Fellowships!

SHORTS NIGHT

WIF’s annual Shorts Night showcases our members’ best short content of the previous two years. The selected shorts are screened virtually or in-person, followed by a Q&A with the creators.

 

This program is on hiatus. Consider applying to one of the WIF Fellowships!

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Emerging Producers Program

For participants early in their producing careers, to gain the information and entry points needed to advance through master classes and group advising.

 

This program is on hiatus. Consider applying to the WIF Producer Fellowships!

Thanks to eMinutes for their historical support of this program.
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Film Finishing Fund

Through this fund, a select group of films have been awarded grants in cash and in-kind gifts, enabling them to complete production; many going on to gain distribution, receive top honors at film festivals, and win accolades including Oscars and Peabody awards. The WIF Film Finishing Fund is currently on hiatus.

Thanks to Stella Artois for their historical support of this program.
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Mentorship

Mentoring Circles and Peer Mentoring together offered a safe and open environment for established women to cultivate the next generation of women seeking professional guidance as they built their careers and networks.

 

Mentorship is now a built-in component of every WIF Fellowship!

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Production Program

This multifaceted program offered support and funding for short-form content, which included mentoring for writers, directors, creative producers, and line producers, as well as resources to hire women-focused crew.

 

This program is on hiatus. Consider applying to a discipline-specific WIF Fellowship!

This program was made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Shorts Lab Supported by Google

Combining WIF’s years of expertise in nurturing women and non-binary creatives with comprehensive support, the WIF Shorts Lab supported by Google provided three filmmaking teams with the funds and support needed to produce a short film.

 

This program is on hiatus. Consider applying to a WIF Fellowship!