SeriesFest is committed to leveling the playing field and elevating the content we promote to reflect the diversity in our communities. We evaluate all submissions to ensure each production’s process for hiring and casting expands the candidate pools by encouraging employment of qualified cast and crew who have been traditionally underrepresented. Projects must demonstrate accountability and intentional progress toward inclusivity.
For updates to all of our opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter.
Anna & John J. Sie and Global Down Syndrome Foundations Grant Fund
SeriesFest and the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation are proud to announce that, beginning with the 2024 SeriesFest: Season 10 Submissions Cycle, projects featuring or involving persons with disabilities will be considered for special grant funds underwritten by the foundation.
Qualified applicants will have their submissions fees waived by SeriesFest as part of our Inclusion Initiative.
INCLUSIVITY INITIATIVE: FROM START TO SCREEN
SeriesFest is partnering with the Royal Bank of Canada to celebrate our joint commitment to diversity and equity by making our festival more accessible to all content creators. Creators submitting for the Independent Pilot, Digital Short Series, Late Night, and Collegiate Spotlight competitions have the opportunity to apply for a submission waiver.
CAZ MATTHEWS FUND
Driven by a mission to champion filmmakers whose projects promote tolerance, acceptance, and inclusivity in the television landscape, The Caz Matthews Fund provides financial contributions to qualifying SeriesFest independent content creators. Each year, SeriesFest curates a short list of Official Selections that meet the fund’s requirements. We collaborate with Caz Matthews to select the creators that will receive a one-time financial donation from the fund, subject to granting a special credit to SeriesFest for the selected project.
LEVEL FORWARD IMPACT AWARD
SeriesFest is excited to partner with Abigail Disney’s Level Forward to present this opportunity for creators applying to the Independent Pilot, Digital Short, and Late Night competitions.
When submitting their projects for our festival, creators opt-in to be considered for the Level Forward Impact Award. This award is given to the episodic pilot and team who demonstrate—on top of their commitment to creative excellence—a thoughtful, thorough, and deliberate approach to using storytelling as a means of leveling the playing field for underrepresented people including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled voices. In keeping with Level Forward’s mission to advance the access, opportunity, and influence of storytelling, we are looking for compelling and entertaining pilots that have incorporated this ethos into the fabric of their process and project.
WOMEN DIRECTING MENTORSHIP
Since 2019, SeriesFest and Shondaland are proud to have partnered on the Women Directing Mentorship: A competition designed to discover and help launch the careers of aspiring female directors with unique voices. The Women Directing Mentorship is anchored with the prestigious opportunity to shadow a director for an episode of a Shondaland original series, supported by a $5,000 stipend to use during the mentorship.
EXECUTIVE ELEVATION MENTORSHIP
The Executive Elevation Mentorship aims to diversify the landscape of television’s top decision-makers. Fellows will be paired with top television, new media, and digital executives of color in hopes of moving their projects—and careers—forward. As part of our ongoing mission, SeriesFest curates a dedicated group of mentors and mentees to foster inclusivity in the tv/film/media industry at the leadership level.
Intersectionality Fund
New for SeriesFest: Season 11 (2025), this fund aims to support a creative, or team, who identifies across a spectrum of social categories that shape their experiences—and the stories they would like to tell through television.
This fund’s sponsors are Sarah Sellman and Julie Mordecai. Sarah is a queer + neurodiverse filmmaker and artist who grew up in rural Colorado, and Julie is a Colorado based investor and supporter of SeriesFest. At the conclusion of the festival, none, some, or all, up to three filmmakers will receive a one-time financial donation of $10,000.00 from the Intersectionality Fund.
