CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
2024 Global Media Makers (GMM) Los Angeles (LA) Residency
The U.S. Embassy to Yemen is extending an invitation to mid-career Yemeni filmmakers who have at least one project produced as a writer, producer, or director, and who also possess proficiency in the English language for the Global Media Makers Los Angeles Residency (GMM) in 2024.
Since its launch in 2016, Global Media Makers has grown into a global filmmaking network, connecting visual storytellers from around the world with leading U.S. entertainment professionals through specially tailored mentorships, workshops and master classes. GMM has brought more than 150 film, television and new media makers to Los Angeles for the LA Residency. The Fellows have come from 21 countries: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
In addition to the LA Residency, Global Media Makers has travelled to various countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia and North and Sub-Saharan Africa to better understand the media landscape and present in-depth film and TV programming, such as workshops and masterclasses, led by prominent filmmakers and industry leaders from the U.S. The workshops have served more than 3000 participants internationally.
Countries GMM has travelled to in the past nine years include: Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
More than 450 U.S. Mentors from the entertainment industry have participated in the program to offer project support, comprehensive filmmaker education, business training, professional networking opportunities, workshops and creative connections for participating international filmmakers.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
In May/June 2024, GMM plans to bring up to 12 Fellows for the GMM LA Residency, which will be composed of two parts: one virtual week and five-weeks in person in Los Angeles.
Fellows are selected with a project in development that focuses on local issues of importance in Yemen. They participate in filmmaking tracks focused on screenwriting, directing, creative producing or documentary filmmaking where they develop their current projects. The Fellows also attend master classes, learn about best practices for American filmmaking and participate in electives to learn new filmmaking technology. Mentorship continues remotely through the remainder of the year via video call sessions.
Fellows are expected to foster a culture of mentorship in their respective countries. They are strongly encouraged to share their experiences and knowledge learned during their stay in LA with their local filmmaking communities.
To date, 24 GMM-supported projects have been produced and premiered at top international film festivals including Sudanese Fellows Mohamed Kordofani and Amjad Abu Alala’s Goodbye Julia (official selection at Cannes 2023), Egyptian Fellow Ayten Amin’s Souad (official selection at Cannes 2020, Berlin and Tribeca 2021) and Lebanese Fellow Myriam Sassine’s Costa Brava (Orizzonte Venice and TIFF 2021.
ELIGIBILITY:
To qualify, eligible applicants must:
- Be a citizen or a permanent resident of Yemen, Yemeni nationals living permanently in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States are not eligible for this program. Exceptions can be made for filmmakers who have been displaced from their home countries and are living in exile in Europe or in another country to which they have relocated (U.S. citizens, residents or green card holders are not eligible for this program.)
- Be mid-career filmmakers with at least one to three produced projects as writer, producer or director (in film, television and/or serial web content). Please note that college graduates from the classes of 2022 to 2023 are not eligible to apply.
- Later on, selected candidates will submit an additional online application about a project currently in advanced development or production that addresses issues of local importance in Yemen. Selected participants are required to focus on and develop the project with which they applied to the program. Global Media Makers cannot support projects which have not been reviewed by the program’s selection committee.
- Fiction filmmakers must have a completed screenplay or teleplay and documentary filmmakers must have at least a 40-minute assembly edit.
- Proficiency in English is required to participate in the program, as it will be the common language of Global Media Makers. All materials must be submitted in English.
- Participants may not be accompanied by family members or dependents.
APPLICATION:
- Please submit the online application form here https://forms.gle/WbPqy2N4kX6mGCju5 by Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm Yemen time.
- GMM will contact qualified nominated candidates with instructions and a link to an additional online application form.
For inquiries contact us through Yemen@fan.gov
