Labs & Fellowships

Supporting the creative community has always been our top priority at BET which is why we launched Project CRE8, our first ever nationwide filmmaker competition.

The 360 Incubator+ is a professional development and fellowship program that builds a critical and holistic ecosystem of support for content creators and their projects.

The program is designed for independent producers of broadcast and digital projects centered on the Black experience.

The HBOAccess 2020 Directing Fellowship is designed to give emerging, directors from underrepresented groups the ability to shoot a project for HBO.

The Producers Guild of America Diversity Committee aims to create greater diversity in the entertainment industry.

The Women Directing Mentorship is a competition designed to discover aspiring female directors with a unique voice and provide a launchpad for their career. The Women Directing Mentorship is anchored with the prestigious opportunity to shadow a director for an episode of a Shondaland original series and a $5,000 stipend to use during the duration of their mentorship.

Research has revealed that very few women of color get mentored. Just as bad, many don’t even think to seek mentors. That’s how systemic racism and patriarchy work hand in hand.

It’s time to equip women of color to ascend to the C-suite, run the shows, direct the films, and take over. It’s time to break up the boys’ club that has kept the gates closed off to us for too long.

The DirectHer Program is anchored to shining a light on immensely talented women directors and helping them secure their first episode of television.

Elevate Your Filmmaking Journey with Women at Sundance: Empowering Women in Film Excellence!

Their dedicated program emerged in collaboration with WIF Los Angeles back in 2012, marking the beginning of a transformative partnership. Together, they joined forces to commission pioneering research conducted by Dr. Stacy Smith and her esteemed team at USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. This research illuminated the critical barriers and opportunities that shape the narrative for women filmmakers.

Empowered by these insights, the Women at Sundance initiative is a guiding light for filmmakers hailing from historically underrepresented communities. Through yearlong Fellowships and impactful intensives, they empower you to forge sustainable careers, foster community connections, and fortify the pipeline of visionary artists.

The Women at Sundance program has fostered the growth of networks led by women and heightened industry decision-makers' awareness about the underrepresentation of women behind the camera, not just in independent film but also beyond its realm.

The Women at Sundance program remains steadfast in its commitment to championing, spotlighting, and carving pathways for women storytellers to thrive and shape our cultural landscape. With offerings like the Momentum, Women at Sundance Adobe, Adelante Directors, and ReFrame Rise Fellowships, as well as the annual two-day WIF x Sundance Institute Financing and Strategy Intensive, they create a nurturing environment for you to excel creatively and professionally.

Explore the opportunities Women at Sundance presents, offering career sustainability, community building, and an enriched creative practice. Their programs are designed to propel you forward, all by invitation based on prior Institute support.