FAB: Filmmaker in Residency – Fort Lauderdale Film Festival

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
With support from Funding Arts Broward, the Broward County Film Society (BCFS) created the Local Filmmaker Residency & Exhibition Program to support and collaborate with ten Broward County-based filmmakers throughout 2027. From January through October, BCFS will work directly with these emerging creators, providing them with valuable insight into how arthouse movie theaters and film festivals evaluate, program, market, and present independent work.

Each residency will provide filmmakers with hands-on access to the exhibition process while helping them prepare their projects for an audience. The experience will culminate in a professionally presented red-carpet premiere at Savor Cinema, giving each filmmaker the opportunity to showcase a completed film, work-in-progress, or concept reel while connecting with audiences, fellow filmmakers, and members of South Florida’s creative community.

PROGRAM GOALS:
The goal of the Local Filmmaker Residency & Exhibition Program is to provide you with the tools, knowledge, professional experience, and visibility to help move your filmmaking career forward. Throughout your residency, you will gain a better understanding of what happens after a film is made—including how theaters and film festivals evaluate, program, market, and present independent films. BCFS will work with you to explore audience development, promotion, exhibition preparation, community engagement, and opportunities to build meaningful connections within South Florida’s film community.

Just as importantly, this program is designed to celebrate and elevate filmmaking taking place here in Broward County. Whether you are presenting a completed film, a work-in-progress, or a concept reel, we want your residency to help you strengthen your project, expand your audience, and take the next step in your development as a filmmaker. Your experience will culminate with a professionally presented red-carpet premiere at Savor Cinema, giving you the opportunity to share your work with an audience in a historic theatrical setting and showcase the creative talent being developed right here in Broward County.

OPEN FOR PROGRAM INFORMATION

Program Breakdown

Filmmaker Orientation
Come meet us at Savor to discuss your project! We will establish a flow for the residency by learning about you, your career goals, your production history and who is your target audience.

Project Development
Let’s meet up and discuss your project. What is your story? What is the structure? How will your audience react to certain elements? For those with unfinished projects we will ask those same questions to help you move forward.

Festival or theater Premiere Strategy
What is the vision of your premiere? What is your budget? If selected at a film festival, are you going to have the resources to ensure your screening is a success?

Marketing and Audience Development
When it’s festival time you have to come prepared. We will show you what festival directors need to see.

Professional Presentation
Let’s watch your film together and really see how it feels at a theater. Make sure your favorite part of your movie doesn’t need any tweaks to be perfect, and if it does we are here to help.

Cinema and Technical Preparation
Have you considered what the Theater or Festival staff needs to make your vision come to life? We can show you the exact things they would love to have to make that happen.

Your Red Carpet Premiere at Savor Cinema
You will have YOUR night. Our staff is so excited to see the culmination of your efforts and to see you entertain your audience. The evening will include a pre-film reception and a post-film talk back with the audience. Are you ready for it?

Post-Residency Development
This is where we meet and you tell us about your experience along with your next career goal. This will help us learn how to pass this program on to the next group and allows you to contribute to the future of Broward’s artistic community!

Filmmaker Information

Name *

Email *

Phone *

City

State/Province

Select *

6. Website, IMDb page, portfolio, or social media links related to your filmmaking work *

File Upload (as needed)

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File Upload (as needed)

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Filmmaker Background

7. Briefly describe your background and experience as a filmmaker or digital-media creator. (150 words maximum) *0 / 150

8. How would you describe your current career level: student, emerging filmmaker, early-career professional, or established independent filmmaker? *0 / 150

9. What role(s) do you typically perform—director, producer, writer, editor, cinematographer, animator, digital-media artist, or other? *0 / 150

Please list up to three previous projects, screenings, festivals, awards, or other accomplishments relevant to your work. *0 / 150

Proposed Residency Project

Proposed Residency Project *

Select *

Provide a brief synopsis of the project. (150 words maximum) *0 / 150

What is the project's current stage of development or completion? *0 / 150

What is the anticipated running time of the material you would present at Savor Cinema? *

Approximately what percentage of the project has been or will be produced in Broward County? *0 / 150

Please identify Broward County locations, cast, crew, businesses, organizations, or resources involved in the project. *0 / 150

Provide a private viewing link to the completed film, work-in-progress, previous work, or other material that demonstrates the project and your filmmaking abilities. *

Additional links as needed

Residency Goals

What do you hope to accomplish through a residency at Savor Cinema? *0 / 150

How would the opportunity to present your work in a professional theatrical environment advance your project or career? *0 / 150

How would you use feedback from audiences, fellow filmmakers, or industry professionals during the residency? *0 / 150

What specific activities would be most valuable to you during the residency—for example, technical testing, private industry screening, audience preview, filmmaker discussion, networking, or public exhibition? *0 / 150

Premiere & Community Engagement

Describe your vision for your culminating screening or red-carpet premiere at Savor Cinema. *0 / 150

Who is the intended audience for your project? *0 / 150

How would you promote the screening and attract an audience? *0 / 150

Are there Broward organizations, schools, community groups, businesses, or other local partners you would like to involve in your screening? *0 / 150

Program Eligibility & Commitment

Are you available to participate in the program for at least one month between January and October 2027? Please indicate any months when you are not available. *

Select *

Is there anything else you would like the selection committee to know about you, your project, or why this opportunity would be meaningful to your development as a Broward filmmaker? *0 / 150

Name *

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