We are united in the recognition that people with disabilities are insufficiently represented in the documentary world, in fact in filmmaking in general. We need to do better. ~~ A Front Seat: Creating Social Change and Accessibility in Independent Film 

FILMMAKERS WITH DISABILITIES FELLOWSHIP (Virtual) -- Year One Cohort completed.  Check out our Fellows listed Below.  

Docs In Progress' Filmmakers with Disabilities Fellowship Program builds upon Docs long tradition of training filmmakers in the art and business of documentary filmmaking. The goal of this fellowship is to provide disabled filmmakers a facilitated support system as well as target training culminating with creating clear deliverables that are necessary to thrive creatively and professionally. Join a community of filmmakers and get the support to bring your documentary to life.

 

 

Key Program Components: 

  • Technical Skills Workshops
  • Deck Development
  • Pitch Coaching
  • Fellowship directed by Docs Board member, FWD co-founder and producer Day Al-Mohamed 

 

 

Eligibility:

  • Emerging or Mid-Career filmmaker
  • Must self-identify as having a disability
  • May hold role as Producer, Director, or Writer. No project teams
  • Beginning work on a documentary short or feature - In development 
  • Must hold the majority of the intellectual property of the film
  • Must agree to not miss more than 1 meeting (exceptions will be made for medical/family emergencies)  
  • Passionate about inclusive storytelling

 

 

 

day with doggie Day Al-Mohamed

 

 r4eveca Courtesy of Reveca Torres

DOCS FWD FELLOWSHIP-Cohort Year One is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and FWD-Doc.  If you are interested in supporting this important initiative and future cohorts, please contact

Barbara Valentino, [email protected]


 

FWD-Doc logo

Background

In 2021, Docs In Progress partnered with the Kennedy Center's Office of Accessibility and VSA to convene 26 thought leaders from across the country to focus on this state of affairs. The resultant white paper, A Front Seat served as a launch point to move toward solutions. A major wish and a report recommendation was for Docs to conduct one of its successful fellowships, this time for FWD. The time is now.  Docs In Progress is honored to be part of the movement to do better.  

Did you know that -

  • Only 3.5% of TV and 1.6% film characters have a disability
  • 95% of the actors who play these roles are non-disabled
  • Anecdotal evidence says that numbers for crew and front office personnel are equally troublesome

 

 

2025 FILMMAKERS WITH DISABILITIES FELLOWSHIP