Barry Jenkins to Select Next Recipient of Indie Memphis Black Filmmaker Residency for Screenwriting
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- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Friday, 01 March 2019 20:13
Indie Memphis is excited to announce the return of the Indie Memphis Black Filmmaker Residency for Screenwriting, supported by the Remembering George Riley Fund. The 2019 Resident will be selected by Academy Award-winning screenwriter/director, Barry Jenkins.
The winner will also receive two months housing in Memphis, a $7,500 unrestricted cash grant, professional support, and round-trip travel accommodations. Their screenplay must be for a feature-length film to be produced in Memphis.
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"Memphis is seeking to be a center for black indie film, so we're thrilled to bring this Residency back as an opportunity to introduce the city to a curious and talented filmmaker," says Indie Memphis Artistic Director Miriam Bale. "We were overwhelmed with creative stories last year and are thrilled that the brilliant Barry Jenkins will be setting his eyes on the submissions from our top four finalists this year."
The purpose of this residency is to provide opportunity for under-represented artists in filmmaking to develop bold storytelling to ultimately be filmed in the Memphis-area. Indie Memphis is looking to support one narrative feature film project and priority will be given to the story deemed most original, daring, intelligent, emotionally resonant, and realistic to produce. Last year's Resident was filmmaker Alexander Huggins, whose project MASON DIXON received support from the festival.
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Applicants must describe why they believe their film should be produced in Memphis, TN. The setting of the story may or may not be Memphis and the residency will offer an opportunity for initial location scouting and inspiration from the geography and environment.
The residency is provided during the two-month time-frame of September 16th to November 16th 2019. No exceptions will be made to the timeline. The residency will include artist participation in events during the Indie Memphis Film Festival the first week of November.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm CST on March 31, 2019.
What is Provided
- Housing in Midtown Memphis at a residence located near the Indie Memphis office
- $7,500 of unrestricted cash to assist for time off work, food, or directly towards the project
- Travel accommodations to and from Memphis, TN.
- Periodically meeting with advisers and filmmakers experienced with shooting in Memphis.
- Visits to cultural institutions such as Stax Museum and the National Civil Rights Museum.
- Location and production advice from the Memphis & Shelby County Film/TV Commission.
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Rules & Eligibility
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
- Applications are open to any filmmaker/screenwriter that is a United States citizen of African descent.
- Applicant may be either an emerging or established screenwriter. The applicant must show how this residency will be unique and beneficial to the development of their project and career.
- Must be a resident from outside the Greater Memphis Metro area; an objective of this program is to bring new film productions to Memphis.
- Resident is expected to focus on writing their feature film screenplay and developing their project during the two-month period.
- Must submit a treatment of the story in development (20 pages maximum).
- Must submit the first 5–6 pages of the screenplay
- If selected, screenwriter must provide their own computer and script writing software.
- Filmmaker must agree to stipulation that a majority of the movie will be filmed in the Greater Memphis area, if produced.
- Only one submission per applicant will be accepted.
- Only one filmmaker will be accepted into the residency, but projects with multiple writers are eligible.
- Adaptations are eligible, but the applicant must show legal permission of the right to adapt.
Finalist Selections
- Eight semi-finalists will be chosen by an Indie Memphis selection committee. Each semi-finalist will have a skype interview with Indie Memphis staff, narrowing down the selection to four finalists.
- The treatments and work sample of the four finalists will be read by Barry Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins will then select the winner of the 2019 Residency.
- All eight semi-finalists will be given a VIP pass to attend the 2019 Black Creators Forum and the Indie Memphis Film Festival.
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How to Apply
Must submit a full treatment of the script and screenplay sample to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line of your name and project title.
Treatment must be submitted as a PDF, no more than 20 pages.
Screenplay sample must be submitted as a PDF, no more than six pages.
Lookbooks will be accepted in addition to treatment and screenplay sample but will not be part of final review process.
About Indie Memphis
The mission of Indie Memphis, a 501(c)3 arts organization, is to create community through independent film and support the development of filmmakers. Learn more at IndieMemphis.com
Image of Barry Jenkins courtesy of David Bornfriend and used with permission.
