Since 2016, the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund has given voice to those who have been denied filmmaking opportunities. The fund has emboldened diverse filmmakers to write, design, produce, and distribute a wide array of visual content, from narrative film to immersive media. The fund is a force for equality and diversity in the film industry, a voice for facts, and an equal playing field for the underrepresented.
NEW VOICES. NEW PERSPECTIVES. NEW DISCOVERIES.
We are always on the lookout for Fellows who want to tell bold and important stories. The application period for the 2024-2025 Cohort of Fellows will open in June 2024.
STORYLAB
Through candid discussion and structured working sessions, StoryLab brings together creative leaders and experienced storytellers with Saul Zaentz Fellows to encourage human-based storytelling and boundary-pushing, to help identify and solve production challenges, and to foster community and collaboration.
Every Saul Zaentz Fellow participates in our StoryLab - a cross genre lab run by industry experts, held in early autumn. StoryLab kicks off on a Friday evening with introductions and our tales-from-the-trenches panel of experts discussing industry trends and components of great storytelling. The next morning, each Fellow pitches their project to the group and then breaks out for small group work and one-to-one mentoring. Sunday morning gives everyone the opportunity to make their pitch again and identify what next steps they should be making in the development of their project.
DEVELOPMENT LABS & SCREENPLAY LAB
Throughout the year, the Innovation Fund runs a series of Workshops and Labs for current Fellows and alumni to support not only project specific growth, but to help foster a collaborative community between Fellow filmmakers.
Screenplay lab is an intensive workshop lead by leading screenplay writers, designed for current Fellows to further develop their narrative features.
DocLab pairs funded documentary projects with advisors who have expertise in all areas of documentary film production: directing, editing, production and development, distribution, sound.
Production Lab not only focuses on the nuts and bolts of the production and financing of films, but preps Fellows for how best to market themselves and their projects to the industry on topics including accounting and finance, releases and other legal issues, production and distribution.
The Legal Workshop, run in collaboration with Maryland Volunteer Lawyer for the Arts provides an overview of legal issues like: structuring partnerships and other working collaborations; accounting and financial milestones and potential pitfalls; releases; copyright and archival usage; leaving room for individual Q&A regarding specific project challenges.
Once completing StoryLab in the autumn, Fellows of each cohort are able to apply for funding. The funding application period for 2024-20245Fellows will open in December 2025.
MENTORING
The Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund matches Saul Zaentz Fellows with award-winning artists and established professionals in technology, media, business, science, and the arts.
These mentors offer their advice, guidance and practical knowledge, and help each Fellow explore new production and distribution models. Each Fellow is paired with a series of mentors who provoke the Fellow to think deeper about their projects and help them overcome challenges or obstacles.
GRANTS
Each year, the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund makes seed capital grants for selected projects. Seed grants open new doors for underrepresented people to speak their truths and gives life to their artistic voices. Once Fellows have completed StoryLab, they are eligible to apply for funding grants for further development or production of their projects.