Minnesota Filmmaker Mentorship Grant Program

The Minnesota Filmmaker Mentorship Grant, offered biennially by the Jerome Foundation, is designed to support early career film directors based in Minnesota. The program provides up to $10,000 in funding to support a self-directed mentorship that enhances the applicant’s filmmaking craft or professional skills, specifically tied to a current film project. Applicants may be working in experimental, narrative, animation, documentary, or hybrid genres. The grant emphasizes creative risk-taking, imaginative storytelling, and a filmmaker’s engagement with their communities. The Jerome Foundation has a longstanding history of supporting early career artists. It encourages artistic experimentation, and this grant aligns with its values of risk, innovation, and intersectional racial equity. Filmmakers are expected to show a strong creative vision, pursue transformative approaches, and build meaningful relationships within the filmmaking ecosystem. The mentorship component may include direct guidance from experienced directors, skill-building in technical or business aspects, or networking activities such as attendance at festivals, pitch sessions, or residencies. Up to 25% of the grant may be used for equipment or software. To be eligible, applicants must be Minnesota residents for at least one year and remain so for the duration of the grant period, November 2025 through April 2027. They must have 2–10 years of film directing experience, two completed film projects, and must not have received certain mid-career or major film awards. Eligibility is limited to directors only—producers, editors, or artists from other disciplines do not qualify. A mandatory phone conversation with Jerome staff, required by March 28, 2025, precedes access to the application portal. The application includes narrative responses, work samples, a CV, and a detailed budget. Submissions must be made through Submittable, with applications opening January 6, 2025, and closing before 4 pm Central on April 3, 2025. Review is conducted by an independent panel that considers impact, creative vision, and feasibility. Final notifications will be issued no later than October 20, 2025, with public announcements following in Fall 2025. Grant funds must be received between November 13, 2025, and April 2027. This opportunity does not allow concurrent applications to the separate Minnesota Film Production Grant. Grantees are expected to remain aligned with their proposed mentorship and project, and any substantial changes must be approved by the Foundation. Funds are distributed directly to individual filmmakers or single-member LLCs and may not be directed to fiscal sponsors or organizations.

Emphasize creative risk, alignment with Jerome's equity values, and specificity in mentorship goals. Use recent work samples with clear directing credit. Incomplete or ineligible samples disqualify applications.