Submissions

Andrew Berends Film Fellowship - 2021

Andrew Berends was a courageous and talented filmmaker who sought out stories in places which the mainstream media ignored. He shone a light on communities, people, and children facing unimaginable hardships. He traveled, shot, edited, and promoted his work with intense fervor and dedication. The Andrew Berends Film Fellowship was born out of the desire of Andy’s family, friends, and colleagues to keep his memory alive and active in the world of documentary where he himself thrived.

The mission of this fellowship is to support emerging filmmakers from all walks of life that embody Andy’s spirit and determination, with a focus on sharing unheard stories. We hope that the Fellowship experience will help Fellows make a shift in their careers to the next level of success and artistic fulfillment.

The Andrew Berends Film Fellowship will include:

  • A one-time, grant of $5,000 towards filmmaking expenses (this is not a co-production grant);
  • Connection with a Fellowship Mentor for guidance in finishing the project;
  • Additional support and resources as needed, including networking opportunities, complimentary festival passes, and complimentary access to various publications and platforms.

Last year, the Fellowship was awarded to Braulio Jatar, Anaïs Michel, Angelos Rallis, and Tom Laffay. You can learn more about them and their projects here.

Submissions are closed for Andrew Berends Film Fellowship - 2021.

Information

Submission Guidelines

  • The Fellowship accepts applicants, 18 years or older, from all backgrounds and locations, working on their first, second, or third feature length documentary.
  • Applicants must be currently working on a feature documentary project in the spirit of Andrew Berends’ work. We recommend screening at least 2 of Andy’s films, available here, before applying. Note that while many of Andy’s films take place in conflict zones, the Fellowship is not limited to films about war; all stories are welcome to be submitted.
  • Applicants must have a trailer or sample of their current project in order to apply.

    • Video Guidelines

    For the first round of applications, we ask that you upload a video sample or trailer of your current project. We will not accept video samples of previous projects.

    Your sample must be 10 minutes or less. If your video is not in English, please include subtitles.

    Deadlines

    Pricing

    ABFF Round 1 - Extended Deadline $0.00