Once upon a time, there was a story. It took place in a particular setting, at a particular moment in time, but it called to people who had never been there, and never would.

Stories—especially visual stories like film—can help us transcend cultural boundaries and understand one another. They can help us grapple with social issues and think about where we belong in the world.

That's the logic behind Global Media Makers (GMM), a long-running cultural exchange program that brings together independent filmmakers from around the globe with U.S. filmmakers for residencies ranging from one to five weeks. Funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since 2016, Film Independent is currently running the program's ninth iteration—and preparing for its tenth. (Knology has been the program's external evaluation partner since Year 4.)

Professional Growth

The program creates a wealth of opportunities for Fellows to grow professionally. Fellows participate in feedback and critique sessions, master classes, and hands-on workshops during and after the program. Every year, they tell us how their mentors and peers helped them refine their visions, and how they return home energized to make progress on their films.

They also tell us how the residency program provides a crash-course in the business of film, especially for Fellows who are earlier in their careers. They practice pitching and grant-writing, and they attend sessions on topics from the economics of streaming platforms to personal branding.

Networks & Relationships

Even more importantly, Fellows build lasting relationships with one another and with the U.S. filmmakers they meet through the program. Fellows collaborate on new projects and refer one another to film professionals in their networks. The alumni network is robust and highly engaged, and Fellows regularly work with the Film Independent team to create programming in their home countries. They also receive ongoing support from staff and other Fellows when their films appear in festivals or are nominated for awards.

Every year, the Fellows marvel at how well they get along, and how like-minded they are despite their vastly different backgrounds. This too is the power of storytelling.

In recent years, GMM has been able to offer Fellows small community grants to collaborate. As a result of these grants, Fellows have been able to work together to create local workshops that are regional or even international, and which expand the GMM community beyond Fellows to their own local networks. Fellows frequently describe the "family" feeling of the LA Residency as an important inspiration for these workshops, and one that they seek to replicate.

Community grants have also supported Fellows’ collaborations on each other’s films across countries and Fellowship years. Fellows have served as producers, screenwriters, and cultural consultants for one another, bringing their complementary skills and knowledge to the table.

About This Article

This article is part of our ongoing evaluation of Global Media Makers, and is based on work supported by the United States Department of State under Grant No. SFOP0005614. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of State

Photo by KAL VISUALS @ Unsplash