After a five-month hiatus due to the Writers Guild of America strike, applications reopen today for their second cohort of Pillars Artist Fellows.
The new deadline to apply is October 31 at 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time / 11 p.m. British Summer Time.
A partnership with Riz Ahmed and Left Handed Films and sponsored by Netflix and Amazon MGM Studios, the Pillars Artist Fellowship offers mentorship, networking, and monetary support to 10 Muslim directors and screenwriters living in the U.S. or U.K.
At Pillars, Muslim artists are the past, present, and future of entertainment and they’re excited to invest in storytellers who are telling joyful, honest stories about the community!
What will Pillars Artist Fellows receive?
An unrestricted award of $25,000
Accommodations and airfare paid for three in-person retreats that provide opportunities to learn, connect, and create with a supportive peer group of fellow artists
High-quality one-on-one mentorship, professional development in the entertainment field, and access to a trailblazing advisory committee of award-winning actors, directors, producers, and writers.
Who is eligible for the Pillars Artist Fellowship?
Applicants must be directors or screenwriters who identify as Muslim and live in the U.S. or U.K. (citizenship is not required). Applicants must also be adults 18 years old or older.
In the applications, they are looking for emerging artists with some experience who meet 1-3 of the following criteria:
Has an agent or manager
Has directed a short or feature in the past 5 years
Has won a screenwriting award in the past 5 years
Has participated in another lab/fellowship in the past 5 years
Is a member of a professional guild or organization
Has staffed on a television show or received a writing credit on a film
Has worked as an assistant in the entertainment industry for 2+ years
Has worked in another field in the entertainment industry for 2+ years
Pillars is excited to meet storytellers who have an artistic style, a clear point of view, and a strong sense of their craft’s skill set. Read their FAQ to learn more.
Please contact them at artistfellowship@pillarsfund.org with any questions not covered in the FAQ!