Director’s Cut: Documentary Filmmaking

Applications for spring 2025 are now open.

The deadline to apply for this fellowship is Sunday, February 23, 2025.

In collaboration with NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Imagine Entertainment, the Jacob Burns Film Center is pleased to offer an intensive documentary fellowship for 10th and 11th grade high school students in spring 2025. Led by NYU Tisch Adjunct Faculty Anthony Q. Artis, Director’s Cut: Documentary Filmmaking will be a ten-week course consisting of ten engaging sessions on the JBFC Campus.

In this pre-collegiate program, students will learn about the process and business of making documentaries through expert guidance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Imagine Entertainment and the collaborative creation of a short interest-driven documentary film.

In addition to weekly in-person classes, students will be expected to participate in four weekday afternoon Zoom sessions with Imagine Entertainment, spread over the duration of the course, and one set/production visit to Imagine Entertainment offices which will also take place on a weekday afternoon. At the end of the program, students will showcase their work for family and friends at the Jacob Burns Film Center Theater.

Students must apply for this program. Admission will be based on a complete review of the entire application, personal statement, creative résumé, and Zoom interview. There is no cost to participate in this program. Complete application details are below and the deadline to apply is Sunday, February 23, 2025.  All students accepted into the program will receive a stipend for transportation and potential lost wages. We encourage all students with an interest in documentary filmmaking that are currently in 10th and 11th grade to apply.

Director’s Cut: Documentary Filmmaking includes several key features designed to nurture and support students’ growth:

• $1000 stipend for transportation and potential lost wages
• Access to industry-standard equipment and software
• Mentorship from NYU Tisch faculty and Imagine Entertainment industry advisors
• Polished portfolio of professional-grade work for college applications and scholarship opportunities

APPLY NOW

PROGRAM DETAILS

Location: Jacob Burns Film Center Media Arts Lab

*405 Manville Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570

Program Dates: March 22–June 14, 2025 (10 Saturdays) and Tuesday, June 17, 2025*

*Culminating screening, Q&A, and reception will take place on the evening of Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Time: 9:30 AM—4:00 PM

Capacity: 10 Students

Grade Level: Students in grades 10 and 11

APPLICATION PROCESS/INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

• Step 1 – Requirements and Eligibility
• Step 2 – Online Application
• Step 3 – Verification
• Step 4 – Notification
• Step 5 – Confirmation

STEP 1: REQUIREMENTS AND ELIGIBILITY

• This program is open to 10th and 11th grade high school students in spring 2025.
• There is no GPA minimum requirement to participate in this program.
• You must agree to be available and make the commitment to attend the course every Saturday from March 22, 2025 to June 14, 2025, from 9:30 AM—4:00 PM. In addition to Saturday classes, you will be expected to participate in four weekday afternoon Zoom sessions with Imagine Entertainment, spread over the duration of the course, and one set/production visit to Imagine Entertainment offices which will also take place on a weekday afternoon. The culminating screening, Q&A, and reception will take place on the evening of June 17, 2025.
• The deadline to apply for the program is Sunday, February 23, 2025. Admission decision is based on a review of entire application, including personal statement, creative résumé, and unofficial high school transcript. All communications regarding your application, including your admission decision, will be communicated to you via the email address you have provided on your application. Please note, you will be receiving time sensitive communication via email that will require a response.

STEP 2: ONLINE APPLICATION

Please submit the following:

• A Completed Application Form (Google Form)
• Personal Statement
  • Please upload your Personal Statement to the application. Your Personal Statement should be a 500 word statement that demonstrates who you are, your values, and what inspires you.
• Creative Résumé
  • Please upload your Creative Résumé to the application. Your Creative Résumé should demonstrate your achievements, interests, and showcase anything that creatively expresses who you are as an individual.
• Unofficial High School Transcript
  • Please upload your unofficial high school transcript. There is no GPA minimum requirement to participate in this program.
  • Homeschooled Applicants Only: Please have your parent/guardian in charge of your homeschooling provide a document detailing the following:
    • Summary of courses
    • Explanation of academic achievement in each course
    • If you have previously attended a high school, please also submit a copy of that transcript

STEP 3: VERIFICATION

• Our primary method of communication is email. Please be sure to allow emails from edujbfc@gmail.com and registrar@burnsfilmcenter.org to be viewed.
• Once your application is submitted, you will receive an automated email from edujbfc@gmail.com confirming your application has been received. If any information on your application is missing or incomplete, you will receive an email notifying you to submit those items.
• Once your application is verified as complete, ALL follow up emails will come from registrar@burnsfilmcenter.org. You will be evaluated by NYU Tisch and JBFC faculty and staff. Both group interviews and individual Zoom interviews will be conducted and you may be asked to provide references to be contacted. Once all evaluations are complete, you will receive final status notification and further details will be provided to you about the course structure and stipend.

STEP 4: NOTIFICATION

• Final status notification will be sent via email from registrar@burnsfilmcenter.org.

STEP 5: CONFIRMATION

If accepted into the program, you will be asked via email to confirm your participation by the deadline found in your acceptance email.

APPLY NOW