Filmmaking
Healing
Community
We
nurture
&
cultivate
BIPOC
filmmakers
✶
We nurture & cultivate BIPOC filmmakers ✶
Our Programs & Offerings
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Film Fellowships
We offer two fellowships for BIPOC filmmakers.
StorySeeds is a 3-month screenwriting fellowship and FilmSparks is a year-long short film production & distribution fellowship.
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Cinefilmu Film Fest
Presented by TDM5 and Mamá Papaya, the film festival welcomes visionary QTBIPOC filmmakers and storytellers to a community focused celebration of our ancestral stories and cultures.
The free and open to the public event showcases powerful and brilliant cultural stories from immigrants, Black, Indigenous, Hmong, Somali, Latine, and the many peoples in our neighborhoods.
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Offerings
The BIPOC Filmmakers MN directory is a public resource to find and connect with local collaborators, mentors, apprentices, and crew.
We also offer services in script analysis & feedback, 1:1 film consultations, community catered screenings, and keynotes.
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Events & Workshops
Throughout the year, we offer events and workshops to grow, align, and nourish our local BIPOC film communities!
Our Values
Care
Interconnectedness
Accountability
Upcoming Workshops
Xasuus (Somali for “memory”) is a virtual experimental filmmaking workshop for artists interested in expanding their work into moving images. Participants will learn how color, symbolism and personal archives can become strong tools for storytelling. Inspired by her practice of incorporating primary colors with Somali motifs, themes of identity and memory into experimental filmmaking, this workshop invites participants to explore how their artistic languages can expand beyond the canvas (or any medium) into film.
Participants will leave with a developed concept and new approaches for translating their creative ideas into moving images. Throughout the workshop, we will explore examples of experimental films (with a focus on arthouse/avant-garde films), a step by step look into the process of “Growing Pains II” short film, discuss techniques, developing a film idea and receive guidance through group conversations and individual feedback sessions. Designed for both beginners and experienced filmmakers, this workshop offers a space to approach filmmaking as a means of processing life and strengthening your unique creative voice.
3 Virtual Sessions
September 12th, 19th, 26th
3 pm - 5 pm CST
Payment options include sliding scale or payment plan with 50% deposit upon registration.
Payment plan is only available for $100+ orders.
Let's break down how the art department functions on a film set, from pre-production through wrap.
Through candid discussions, real on-set case studies, and a guided workbook, participants will explore art department responsibilities including how to breakdown a script, track continuity, where to source prop and set pieces in the Twin Cities, how collaboration works across departments, essential toolkit item tips, and the unique realities of local productions.
By the end of the workshop, each participant will have created a personalized on-set action plan and leave with practical tools, resources, and a blueprint for their next role on any art department.
2 Virtual Sessions
October 11th & 18th
3 pm - 5 pm CST
Payment options include sliding scale or payment plan with 50% deposit upon registration.
Payment plan is only available for $100+ orders.
The Collective Frame workshop equip filmmakers to create stories grounded in cultural authenticity, community collaboration, and intentional production practices.
Participants learn that how a film is made is as important as the story it tells, while gaining practical insight into the producer's role, including script evaluation, production breakdowns, budgeting, and project leadership.
4 Virtual Sessions
October 13th & 20th 6 - 8 pm CST
November 3rd & 10th 6 - 8 pm CST
Payment options include sliding scale or payment plan with 50% deposit upon registration.
Payment plan is only available for $100+ orders.
Become a member!
Member Benefits
Extended application Deadlines for Fellowships and Programs
30% discount camera and studio rentals at Midcity Production Supply
Discount on Mamá Papaya Workshops
Access to Member Productions, Events, & Grants
Membership Eligibility
Open to MN based BIPOC filmmakers at all experience levels.
Committed to co-create a safer, joyful, and equitable film ecosystem.
It’s free!
Testimonials
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After being in enough art spaces where I felt really small and othered, I knew I wanted to learn about filmmaking in a space that centered community, healing, and connection.
Rio Pérez, FilmSparks Fellow 2025
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