About
Expanding Communities—a program of The Gotham Film & Media Institute—provides resources, a community space, and industry access to film and media creators across film, TV, and audio industries. The program focuses on partnering with organizations who uplift creators from historically excluded backgrounds such as individuals with Disabilities and Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQIA+.
Through these partnerships, the program acts as a platform for both creators and organizations to reach new audiences, develop networks of potential collaborators, and access career advancement resources and opportunities within the media and entertainment industry.
Expanding Communities Expo
At Gotham Week 2022, The Gotham hosted the inaugural Gotham Week Expo, which brought together partners from our Expanding Communities, Owning It, and Gotham EDU programs for the first time. The Expo showcased thought leadership on the advancement of the film and media industries while amplifying partner organizations and communities.
At Gotham Week 2023, The Expo hosted two days of conversations around the topics of advocacy and career advancement for film & media creators. During over ten sessions hosted by the Expanding Communities Advisory Committee, filmmakers walked away with tools to advocate for their work and advance their careers.
Expanding Communities Advisory Committee
Beginning in 2023, The Gotham has hosted quarterly sessions with a group of Expanding Communities partners to provide support to the non-profit film & media ecosystem in a holistic and meaningful way. By building upon the existing work of the Gotham’s Expanding Communities program, the committee ensures that the needs of organizations and creators are of top priority. By hosting collaborative year-round programs which culminates at The Gotham Week Expo, the committee works to provide community and thought leadership on topics pertinent to the advancement of film and media creators.
- Austin Film Society
- Black Film Space
- Black TV & Film Collective
- Brown Girls Doc Mafia
- Center For Asian American Media (CAAM)
- Film Festival Alliance
- Filmshop
- Islamic Scholarship Fund
- mama.film
- Minorities in Film
- NewFest
- New Orleans Film Society
- Pano
- RealAbilities Film Festival
- Undocumented Filmmakers Collective
- Women Make Movies
- Women In Film
Expanding Communities Partners
- Austin Film Society
- Black Film Space
- BlackStar Projects
- Black TV & Film Collective
- Brown Girls Doc Mafia
- Center For Asian American Media (CAAM)
- Chicken & Egg Pictures
- Cinema Tropical
- Film Fatales
- Film Festival Alliance
- Film Independent
- Filmshop
- Hue You Know
- Islamic Scholarship Fund
- mama.film
- Minorities in Film
- NALIP
- NewFest
- New Negress Film Society
- New Orleans Film Society
- NYWIFT
- Pano
- Philadelphia Latino Film Festival
- Q26
- RealAbilities Film Festival
- Sundance Institute
- Undocumented Filmmakers Collective
- Women Make Movies
- Women In Film
Filmmaker Labs & Fellowships Directory
In the Expanding Communities Filmmaker Labs & Fellowships Directory below, you’ll find opportunities for filmmakers of all skill levels with projects ranging from fiction to nonfiction. Opportunities that require payment beyond the application fee are excluded.
If you would like to request an update or addition to this directory, please fill out this form.
If you have any questions or are interested in assisting in the maintenance of this directory, please email our Equity Programs team at [email protected].
At mamafilm and rePROFilm, we serve a distinct set of makers and audiences, and being part of The Gotham’s Expanding Communities program has absolutely given us more opportunities to support them. It’s wonderful to share space with, and be connected to other organizations who are also dedicated to traditionally underserved populations — to come together and learn from one another, support each other’s efforts, and collaborate is what this industry needs more of.
Lela Meadow-Conner, Creative Producer/Impact Curator/Founder, mamafilm
Working with The Gotham’s Expanding Communities Program has been by far one of the most rewarding partnerships for Black Film Space. The support, encouragement, follow-through and commitment from The Gotham has helped us expand our reach, strengthen our relationship with The Gotham, and collaborate with other amazing BIPOC film organizations. We are thrilled to see where else our participation in this initiative takes us!
Lande Yoosuf, Co-Founder & Co-Director, Black Film Space