North Star Fellowship

Still from The Gardeners by Crystal Kayiza, 2020 North Star Fellow

Presented in Collaboration With

Presented in collaboration with BlackStar, the North Star Fellowship supports four innovative Black, Brown and Indigenous media artists and filmmakers who are developing projects that span the latitudes of creative nonfiction. These might include film, video installation, audio and photo-based work, immersive experiences, performance, or other modes and genres. The North Star Fellowship convenes on two occasions; The Camden International Film Festival and The William & Louise Greaves Filmmaker Seminar.

Leading up to the 20th edition of the Camden International Film Festival, fellows gathered for one week on the coast of Maine. A series of workshops, screenings, meals, and excursions created time and space for an ongoing critical dialogue about expanded documentary aesthetics, multidisciplinary creative processes, collaborative practices and more.

Fellows are joined by curators, critics, filmmakers, multidisciplinary artists, and industry professionals, each of whom provide new perspectives on the Fellows’ creative process and the evolving universe of nonfiction.

The first part of the fellowship culminates during 4 days of CIFF, where North Star Fellows plug into a global community of storytellers and artists, attending screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, industry meetings, and special events.

The fellowship recommences in the spring during the William & Louise Greaves Filmmaker Seminar, a gathering for Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists working in cinematic realms, proudly presented by BlackStar Projects. Fellows will explore the technical and creative aspects of media-making, while having honest conversations about the successes and pitfalls of their work. The environment considers the intersection of cinema and visual arts, and is exclusively designed for people of color to focus and not manage the added burden of representation.

The Seminar is named after visionary filmmakers William and Louise Greaves, who together co-produced landmark documentaries such as Symbiopsychotaxiplasm and Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey.

2024 Mentors:

Jessica Beshir - Filmmaker

Nicolás Pereda - Filmmaker

Alex Hannibal - Senior Creative Executive, A24

Presented in collaboration with BlackStar, the North Star Fellowship supports four innovative Black, Brown and Indigenous media artists and filmmakers who are developing projects that span the latitudes of creative nonfiction. These might include film, video installation, audio and photo-based work, immersive experiences, performance, or other modes and genres. The North Star Fellowship convenes on two occasions; The Camden International Film Festival and The William & Louise Greaves Filmmaker Seminar.

Leading up to the 20th edition of the Camden International Film Festival, fellows gather for one week on the coast of Maine. A series of workshops, screenings, meals, and excursions create time and space for an ongoing critical dialogue about expanded documentary aesthetics, multidisciplinary creative processes, collaborative practices and more.

Fellows are joined by curators, critics, filmmakers, multidisciplinary artists, and industry professionals, each of whom provides new perspectives on the Fellows’ creative process and the evolving universe of nonfiction.

The first part of the fellowship culminates during 4 days of CIFF, where North Star Fellows plug into a global community of storytellers and artists, attending screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, industry meetings, and special events.

The fellowship recommences in the spring during the William & Louise Greaves Filmmaker Seminar, a gathering for Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists working in cinematic realms, proudly presented by BlackStar Projects. Fellows will explore the technical and creative aspects of media-making, while having honest conversations about the successes and pitfalls of their work. The environment considers the intersection of cinema and visual arts, and is exclusively designed for people of color to focus and not manage the added burden of representation.

The Seminar is named after visionary filmmakers William and Louise Greaves, who together co-produced landmark documentaries such as Symbiopsychotaxiplasm and Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey.

"Sample statement about how much the participant loved this program. The program was rewarding and gave the participant a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone should support this program."

Fellow 1, Grantee of American Stories

"Sample statement about how much the participant loved this program. The program was rewarding and gave the participant a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone should support this program. Sample statement about how much the participant loved this program. The program was rewarding and gave the participant a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone should support this program."

Fellow 2, Grantee of American Stories

ELIGIBILITY

The North Star Fellowship is open to all Black, Brown, and Indigenous filmmakers and media artists worldwide, regardless of nationality or citizenship status.

We’re looking for artists developing projects across a range of disciplines or modes of documentary, including film, video installation, audio and photo-based work, immersive experiences, performance, and others.

The 2024 North Star Fellowship will take place in person in Maine from September 9-15 (exact dates to be confirmed closer to the festival but please hold these dates for now) followed by virtual 1:1 industry meetings on 9/26 & 9/27. Dates for the The William & Louise Greaves Filmmaker Seminar will be published once confirmed.

If you have questions about the program or the application process, please contact [email protected]

NORTH STAR FELLOWS WILL RECEIVE

At The Camden International Film Festival, North Star Fellows will receive:

(1) Round-trip flight* to Camden, including ground transportation from Portland or Bangor, Maine,
(1) All Access pass to the Camden International Film Festival and Points North Forum,
(7) nights of accommodations for one during the festival and fellowship.

At The William & Louise Greaves Filmmaker Seminar, North Star Fellows will receive:

(1) Round-trip flight* to location of Seminar in 2025, TBD*
(1) Pass to the William & Louise Greaves Filmmaker Seminar
(3) nights of accommodations for one during the seminar.
(1) Pass to the BlackStar Film Festival in 2025

Following the week in Maine, Fellows will have an opportunity to schedule online meetings with funders, distributors, and other industry decision makers. In 2023, these meetings included representatives from Sundance, Firelight, Ford Foundation, Field of Vision, CAA, Cinetic, POV, ITVS, NBC, Netflix, HBO, NEON, and dozens of other major platforms.

Note: The North Star Fellowship can only support one person per project and is intended to foster a space for individual artists as much as their projects.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN!

Deadline: June 3, 2024 @ 11:59 p.m.

APPLY NOW

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION PREVIEW PDF

LIVE INFO SESSION + Q&A

Curious to learn more about the fellowships we offer at Points North? Not sure if you’re eligible to apply, what kind of work we’re seeking, what time spent on the ground will be like? Register for our Artist Programs Info Session, on April 14, 2023 at 1 p.m. EST! We'll be gathering virtually to discuss our 2023 Artist Programs offerings - the Points North Fellowship, North Star Fellowship, and LEF/CIFF Fellowship - and answer questions for interested applicants.

Please reach out to [email protected] with the subject line "INFO SESSION" with any questions.

REGISTER NOW

HOW TO APPLY

ELIGIBILITY

CONTENT We’re looking for documentary filmmakers working on stories that are tapping into narratives or themes that explore “American Stories” in a myriad of ways. (The stories don’t need to be developed or filmed entirely in the US)

LENGTH Feature films with an intended runtime of 70 minutes or more

STAGE Films in production and post-production

MAKEUP OF TEAM We’re looking to support directors and producers from communities and backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in documentary film