2026-2027 For Us, By Us San Francisco Filmmaker Incubator
Presented by Filmmakers Collaborative SF and Re-Present Media
The For Us, By Us San Francisco Filmmaker Incubator is a one-year fellowship program that supports a cohort of San Francisco documentary filmmakers from historically marginalized backgrounds who are telling personal stories of communities within the City.
aPPLICATION Deadline
Sep 8, 2026 @ 11:59pm pt
About the Program
Since launching in 2023, For Us, By Us has supported cohorts of local documentary filmmakers who are telling personal stories in the Bay Area. In 2026, the program will be focused on nurturing San Francisco filmmakers and stories, thanks to support from a San Francisco grantor. Through this program, we help San Francisco filmmakers thrive and continue their work in this City.
We seek personal stories that expand our understanding of San Franciscans, especially those who will benefit from seeing their perspectives realistically represented, validating their lived experiences and providing insight into how we can better understand each other and ourselves. We define personal stories as stories focused on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Although social issues may intersect with their lives, these stories are not primarily social issue narratives.
This program is designed for emerging to mid-career filmmakers who have a documentary project in progress that they want to move forward through honing their visual storytelling, learning the business side of filmmaking, and delving into the art and craft of film with mentors and peers. Each filmmaker’s fellowship will culminate in a co-designed public community engagement event tailored to their film that enriches the viewing experience with arts and culture practitioners, guest speakers, and community members.
Filmmakers Collaborative SF is a nonprofit media organization with a mission to catalyze positive change through the power of filmmaking. Re-Present Media is an organization dedicated to advocating for personal storytelling from communities not often seen in documentary film and nonfiction media.
Learn more about the For Us, By Us Team.
See past filmmaker fellows.
Program Structure
The program will run from October 2026-October 2027. Five projects will be selected. The filmmakers will participate in workshops, receive mentoring, and be given $5,000 stipends to strategically use for their films. The program culminates with a Filmmaker Showcase and Community Screenings.
Program Benefits
$5,000 stipend to be used in accordance with the Development Plan the filmmaker creates in the program.
Elevate your producing skills through workshops and group mentoring in a supportive peer environment.
Create a compelling work sample you can use to further your fundraising, audience building, and community engagement.
Get experience with planning and presenting a robust community engagement event for your film.
Network with industry professionals and potential donors/supporters.
One year of free membership to Filmmakers Collaborative SF.
Required Activities
The program activities will be hybrid (virtual and in-person).
Development Plan detailing project goals for the next year created with feedback from Program Directors.
Six months of group sessions (twice a month) including workshops and group mentoring sessions led by working filmmakers and industry professionals. Each session will be two hours. Participants will also have check-ins and individual mentoring with Program Directors as needed.
Two screenings for each project at the end of the program
Filmmaker Showcase with all of the cohort projects.
San Francisco community screening for each film, co-designed with the filmmaker and supported with additional funds.
Mentors
Guest speakers will be added to the final schedule.
Past guest speakers have included: Sara Needham (Impact Producer), Pallavi Somusetty (Filmmaker), Theresa Navarro (Catapult Film Fund), Justine Nagan (Actual Films), Lien Do & Matt Pereira (Liema)
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October 2026 - October 2027
Late Oct/Early Nov 2026: Welcome Orientation
Nov-Dec 2026: Filmmakers create Development Plan
Jan-Jun 2027: 2 hour sessions twice a month (will include workshops and group mentoring).
July 2027: Filmmaker Showcase
Jul-Oct 2027: Community Screenings (each filmmaker will co-design one screening to take place during this timeframe)
*Dates and times of events to be finalized upon selection of participants.
Hybrid Participation
Filmmakers are expected to attend three events in-person: the Welcome Orientation, Filmmaker Showcase, and Community Screening.
The other sessions can be attended virtually or in-person. We encourage participation in-person if you are able to, but you may attend these sessions virtually.
All in-person activities, aside from the community screening, will take place at Ninth Street Independent Film Center (145 Ninth St, San Francisco). Community screening venues will be selected with the filmmakers.
Sample Workshop Topics:
Work-in-Progress Feedback Session
Defining the Story of Your Film
Defining Realistic “Success” for Your Film
Developing a Strategy and Implementation Plan for Fundraising
Developing Your Audience and Community Partnerships
Creative Process
Finishing Your Film
Developing a Strategy and Implementation Plan for Distribution
Designing a Community Engagement Event
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must:
Be an emerging to mid-career documentary filmmaker who identifies as part of a historically marginalized community
Co-directors may apply together but each selected project will be given one stipend.
Students are not eligible.
Be a San Francisco resident
Artists at risk of being displaced from San Francisco will be prioritized. See FAQ for more info.
Be working on a documentary project that centers a personal story within San Francisco. The film can be a short or feature length documentary in pre-production with secured participants, production, or post-production up to having a rough cut completed.
We define personal stories as stories focused on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Although social issues may intersect with their lives, these stories are not primarily social issue narratives.
Be available to participate in the program’s activities. See Tentative Schedule above. Participants are expected to commit to attending all sessions and working on their films throughout the program.
FAQ
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We understand this to be someone who is having challenges affording to live and work in San Francisco, and therefore can be at risk of having to move to a different city for their economic sustainability. This does not mean you have to be immediately at risk of losing your home next month.
We are taking into consideration the applicant’s individual income level, as well as other factors that have an impact on their stability in the city.
For context, San Francisco’s current Area Median Income (AMI) used for income based services is $113,450 for a household of one.
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Filmmakers are expected to attend three events in-person: the Welcome Orientation (late Oct/early Nov, date TBD), Filmmaker Showcase, and Community Screening.
The other sessions can be attended virtually or in-person. We encourage participation in-person if you are able to, but you may attend these sessions virtually.
Please see the Tentative Schedule above for more info.
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Yes, if you have questions about how you can be accommodated if selected for the program or if you would like to request an alternative way to submit the application form, please email Amy: amy@filmmakerscollaborative.org
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You do not need to be a Filmmakers Collaborative SF member to apply.
There is no application fee to apply for this program.
Application
Application deadline: September 8, 2026 at 11:59pm PT
Applicants will be informed of decisions by October 12, 2026.
If you have questions or would like to request an alternative way to submit the application, please email Amy: amy@filmmakerscollaborative.org
