2025 SFA Film Residency
Summer 2025 through February 2026
Program Overview
Are you right for the prototype? In 1995, Andre 3000 from the hip-hop group Outkast proclaimed, “The South got something to say.” The SFA wants to hear what you have to say about the South and its foodways. As part of the Southern Foodways Alliance’s mission, we are inviting filmmakers to apply to be part of a small cohort for our 2025 Prototype Film Residency. By the end of the residency, each cohort member will have produced a high-quality film that is ready to share at film festivals.
This year, we are thrilled to announce some exciting changes! Instead of a conventional 8-week summer residency, we will be taking our program on the road, visiting three vibrant southern cities during the residency. Participants will immerse themselves in filmmaking, delve into southern foodways, and engage in community learning through customized virtual cohort workshops spread over a 9-month period. This new format is ideal for filmmakers who may find it challenging to commit to an 8-week program but can dedicate a few days throughout the year for a truly memorable residency experience.
Submit your application by April 25, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT via this link.
Members of the Prototype will receive the following:
- In-person workshop at the University of Mississippi in Oxford
- Attendance at SFA’s Symposium in Birmingham, AL
- Film Festival in-person screening in Memphis, TN
- Monthly film workshops and mentorship
- 5k Filmmaking stipend
The Prototype is free for accepted applicants.
Application and Event Timeline
March 22, 2025
Announce Residency Application
April 25, 2025
Deadline for receiving applications
May 12, 2025
Accepted Filmmakers Notified
Summer 2025
In-person film workshop at the University of Mississippi in Oxford
August 2025—January 2026
Monthly Virtual Workshops
October 2025
SFA Symposium
February 2026
Film Showcase
Application | Submission Materials
Please fully review the FAQs before applying for the residency.
Submit all application materials via this link.
*UPDATE: Some applicants experience difficulty with the software used to accept materials. If you are unable to upload your application materials, please email them directly to zaire@southernfoodways.org with the subject 2025 Film Residency Application.
- Short Bio [who you are, your mission, and some things you’re proud of]
- Headshot
- Three Work Samples [one must be a film/video of any length or genre]
- Film Pitch Deck | Please submit in .pdf format
Film Proposal
- Title of Film
- Logline and Synopsis
- Treatment that includes the expected narrative arc [beginning, middle, and end]
- Description of the style and approach of the film
- Mood board | One page of visual references
- Additional materials the filmmaker wants to include to convey the vision
In this application, you’ll be submitting a film proposal. Tell us why the film you want to make matters—to you, to the audience, to the larger filmmaking community. Why is it urgent?
What do you want to learn from the residency? What skills will you gain or polish?
