A film crew is filming a scene outdoors with a clear blue sky. A woman stands in front of a camera, facing a man, as they appear to be acting. Crew members assist with the filming process.

Filmmaking

Healing

Group of five women standing together, smiling, in front of a plain white backdrop. One woman is wearing a black face mask and making a peace sign.
Two people, one sitting on a couch and one standing, are looking at a piece of paper and smiling.

Community

A film clapperboard placed on a wooden bench outdoors, with greenery in the background.

We

nurture

&

cultivate

BIPOC

filmmakers

✶

We nurture & cultivate BIPOC filmmakers ✶

Our Programs & Offerings

☻

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.

❋

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.

✦

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.

✿

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

The Spaces Between: Rhythm, Time and Intuition in the Edit | Dec 5th & 12th
from $20.00

This workshop approaches editing as a creative and intuitive practice, encouraging participants to move beyond rigid rules and to develop a sense of confidence in their own artistic instincts.

Through guided exercises, screenings, discussion and hands-on editing, we'll explore rhythm, pacing and point-of-view as creative tools, as well as practical editing strategies. Workshop sessions will prompt participants to ask themselves questions like: what is already inherent in my footage? How do I want to shape my story and how can I use timing and rhythm to infuse the material?

Between sessions, participants will create short observational footage of their own to edit throughout the workshop, allowing them to experiment with multiple editorial approaches as a group. The facilitator will be using Premiere, but the concepts and strategies covered in the workshop sessions can be used in any editing platform.

2 Virtual Sessions
December 5th & 12th
3 pm - 5 pm CST

Participants must have access to an editing software (Avid, Premiere, Davinci, or iMovie) and experience with editing. This workshop is not intended to teach how to use editing softwares.

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

A person with short curly hair smiling, wearing a dark grey collared shirt, standing in an indoor setting with warm lighting and a reflective wall.

“

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

Connect with us!

Three women filming outdoors in a wooded area, one holding a camera on a tripod and two smiling women standing nearby.