We are seeking 3 Mobile Dance Filmmakers to film short mobile dance film documentaries highlighting 3 inter-grant (international-immigrant) artists for an in-person screening at the Inter-Grant Festival, October 2-4, 2025, in New York City and for virtual screenings hosted by the MDFA. 

Details listed below outline all information for filmmakers interested in applying.


WHO: The 2025 Inter-Grant Festival is highlighting artists of Caribbean and / or South Asian diasporic descent and will be prioritizing applications from filmmakers who identify as such. The ideal candidates will also have some experience navigating the US immigration / naturalization processes. Filmmakers will need to be able to gather footage and shoot the films in-person in the greater New York City metropolitan area. While these criteria are ideal, we encourage all interested filmmakers to apply!


WHAT: Each filmmaker will create one short mobile dance film documentary about an Inter-Grant Artist - 3 filmmakers, 3 Inter-Grant Artists, 1 film per filmmaker. Filmmakers and Inter-Grant Artists will be assigned upon application deadline / assessment.

      FILMS MUST BE SHOT SOLELY ON MOBILE DEVICES - smartphones, tablets, etc.
      Films will be a maximum of 3 minutes in length. 
Subject matter can include but is certainly not limited to: artist’s work process & personal journey, artist’s choreographic and personal vision, artist hardships, artist victories, past-present-future life snapshots, life anecdotes, pearls of humor or life outlook, wisdom and shared knowledge with inter-grant communities.
Films will be submitted with accompanying Audio Descriptions provided by the filmmakers. Filmmakers and Inter-Grant Artists may work together to create Audio Descriptions.

**Note about audio description for screen dance projects: the Mobile Dance Film Association is committed to creating inclusive and accessible dance films for disabled viewers, including deafness and blindness and language barriers. Self-made audio description is always the first/best option for screen dance projects, and videographers interested in making inclusive films are encouraged to apply. Guidance for making arc-driven dance stories that are accessible to all is available through the Mobile Dance Film Association resource page on Audio Description for dance film. 


HOW: Time frame: 1 day of filming + editing. Finished films to be promoted and presented virtually by the Mobile Dance Film Association and screened in-person by the Inter-Grant Festival on Oct. 2-4 in NYC. Filmmakers may take more time to film if needed. Inter-Grant Festival production assistance will be available to filmmakers.
Filmmakers and Inter-Grant Artists will be responsible for all scheduling of filming and editing dates / times. Communication can be facilitated by Inter-Grant Festival.


WHEN: Filmmakers may apply no later than March 1, 2025. Filmmakers will be chosen within a week of application period end time. Films and Audio Descriptions must be completed and submitted to MDFA / Inter-Grant Festival no later than September 1, 2025.


COMPENSATION: Chosen filmmakers will receive a $300 production stipend from Mobile Dance Film Association.

If you are interested in making a film for inter-grants, please complete the application form.

If you have any questions, please contact achapman@mobiledancefilmfestival.com and cc’ intergrantfestival@gmail.com