2025 CAAM FELLOWSHIP MENTORS
2024 CAAM FELLOWSHIP MENTORS | 2024 CAAM FELLOWS
2023 CAAM FELLOWSHIP MENTORS | 2023 CAAM FELLOWS
2022 CAAM FELLOWSHIP MENTORS | 2022 CAAM FELLOWS
2021 CAAM FELLOWSHIP MENTORS | 2021 CAAM FELLOWS
2020 CAAM FELLOWSHIP MENTORS | 2020 CAAM FELLOWS
2019 CAAM FELLOWSHIP MENTORS | 2019 CAAM FELLOWS
CAAM has a long history of supporting Asian American stories and storytellers, filmmakers and films, specifically in the documentary community, starting in 1980 when Asian American stories and storytellers had very little visibility and opportunity specifically in public media. CAAM’s interventions were incredibly crucial in providing opportunities and resources to seed, develop, produce, and distribute Asian American stories.
The CAAM Fellowship Program was developed in partnership with documentary filmmakers and organizations like A-Doc (Asian American Documentary Network) in an effort to create a meaningful program. The result is a Program that provides a nurturing space for Mentorship and community support between veteran documentary filmmakers crafting films exploring the breadth of Asian American experience.
We invite documentary filmmakers who are directing or producing their current work or are looking to transition into directing or producing to apply to our 2025 CAAM Fellowship Program. The CAAM Fellowship Program aims to support documentary filmmakers developing Asian American stories by pairing selected Fellows with accomplished professionals as Mentors for six months to nurture both a project and the Fellow’s career in documentary filmmaking. The Mentors for 2025 are Ursula Liang, Bing Liu and Bao Nguyen.
The program requires a commitment to a six-month-long process which includes meetings between Fellows and Mentors, participation at gatherings such as the CAAMFest Filmmaker Summit and monthly cohort meetings. This Program’s vision is to create a community of makers that serves to nurture one another’s careers and creativity in the field of documentary film highlighting Asian American experiences. Some of our programming for the 2025 Fellowship will take place virtually – such as our monthly cohort meetings.
We invite you to apply to this opportunity to engage with the veteran filmmaker Mentors and Fellows cohort in this six-month-long program that will focus on a work in progress, navigating a career in filmmaking, and a connection with one’s fellowship cohort.
Please visit Submittable to apply. The deadline for the 2025 CAAM Fellowship application is Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The CAAM Fellowship Program, offered to three Fellows each year, is a career and project development opportunity for non-fiction filmmakers. CAAM’s Fellowship Program aims to create the space for a fulfilling relationship between veteran and emerging media makers, a nurturing fellowship cohort, and opportunities to participate in documentary professional development events. The program includes monthly meetings between Mentors and Fellows, two in-person cohort gatherings, Mentor-led masterclasses, and more. The core cohort gathering for the Fellowship takes place at CAAMFest. Ready, Set, Pitch! is a vital element of the Fellowship where Fellows receive coaching on documentary film pitch practices and have the opportunity to pitch their works to a community of potential supporters. CAAM also provides a $5000 stipend to the Fellows for any costs associated with the Program as well as covers all travel to Program activities and events.
ELIGIBILITY
This Fellowship Program is designed specifically for the next generation of makers telling Asian American stories, prioritizing emerging and mid-career filmmakers from under-represented geographies, lived experiences, and perspectives. We will be looking for documentary directors and producers, but also seeking out cinematographers, editors and other creatives in the field who are looking to make the transition into directing or producing.
CAAM’s vision has always been to support a community of media makers to nurture careers and creativity in the field of documentary film. Our goal is to expand our reach and to serve makers from a diversity of geographies, lived experiences, and perspectives — especially those that are currently under-represented. The program is looking to nurture the Fellows’ projects, careers and contribute to a community of makers that is eager to support one another and uplift the quality of filmmaking across the board.
APPLICATION
Now accepting applications! Please visit Submittable to apply. The deadline for the 2025 CAAM Fellowship application is Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
CONTACT
mediafund [at] caamedia [dot] org
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
The 2025 CAAM Fellowship Program is made possible with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and other generous funders.