The 2025 BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship is a nine-month program aimed at supporting documentary filmmakers across the U.S. who use innovative storytelling to address pressing social issues. This fellowship is ideal for directors working on their first or second feature-length documentary. Through a collaborative cohort, the program emphasizes diversity, representation, and ethical storytelling. Participants will have opportunities to workshop their films, build networks, and deepen their documentary craft in a supportive, community-centered environment.

Eligibility for the fellowship includes several key criteria. Applicants should be U.S.-based directors in charge of their project’s creative direction, working on a feature-length, primarily non-commercial documentary or hybrid documentary film with potential for social impact. Projects must be in production or post-production but should not yet be at a fine-cut stage by the program’s end. While there is no citizenship requirement, participants must reside primarily in the U.S. during the fellowship.

The fellowship provides each participant with a $10,000 stipend distributed over the program duration, travel per-diems, and full travel and lodging coverage for two San Francisco convenings. Fellows will attend intensive workshops and feedback sessions led by industry professionals. Additionally, they receive an all-access pass and travel for two film festivals or industry conferences, health conditions permitting. Ongoing workshops and one-on-one mentorship through the MediaMaker Connect Mentorship Program add further support.