4TH WORLD MEDIA LAB
Supporting career development for Indigenous storytellers
We are thrilled to continue the 4th World Media Lab, a year-long immersive fellowship program supporting emerging and mid-career indigenous filmmakers and visual artists.
This year marks the 10th cohort of the fellowship, a unique partnership between 4th World Media Lab (formerly called Indigenous Showcase) and three regional film festivals: Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana, Seattle International Film Festival, and Camden International Film Festival. The fellowship offers participants opportunities to develop skills and networks in culturally centered spaces through festival participation, hands-on training, masterclasses, workshopping projects in development, pitch activities, and meetings with funders and other industry decision-makers.
Fellowship activities take place at three film festivals:
- Big Sky Documentary Film Festival – February 2025 (Missoula, MT)
- Seattle International Film Festival – May 2025 (Seattle, WA)
- Camden International Film Festival – September 2025 (Camden, ME)
Since its launch in 2015, the fellowship has supported over 60 filmmakers across Turtle Island (an Indigenous name for North America and Central America) and Pasifika (the Indigenous name for the Pacific Islands).
FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE
“The 4th World Fellowship was an amazing experience that I wish I could relive again and again. Participating in the fellowship helped me to advance my project by connecting me to industry professionals and securing meetings. It also gave me access to an incredible community of Indigenous film professionals that I feel I can ask for help at any stage of my project and life.” – Cass Gardiner, 2024 4th World Fellow
2025 FELLOWS