The Cinematic Arts Residency
The four films that have emerged from our Cinematic Arts Residency have won awards and debuted at prestigious film festivals across the country. Will yours be next?
Applications are open Sept. 5 – Oct. 6 for the program that provides one Miami-based filmmaker with up to $50,000 to create a micro-budget feature, in addition to a shared studio space and access to a producer to oversee the project. Akin to the farm to table movement, this unique program, conceived of by award-winning filmmakers Andrew Hevia and Kareem Tabsch, enables local filmmakers to create, shoot and screen their films, without ever leaving Miami.
Learn about the previous residents and their films below. Join us for an information session and apply.
Program Benefits
- $50,000 for the creation of a narrative micro-budget feature
- A producer assigned to the production of the film
- Shared studio space for Cinematic Arts Residents at Oolite Arts on Miami Beach, with 24-hour access and Wi-Fi
- Free parking (based on availability)
- Use of Oolite’s facilities, including a flex lounge, workshop and the PRINTshop
- The opportunity to engage with Oolite’s network of curators, film programmers, artists, filmmakers, visiting faculty members and Oolite Arts Fellows, as well as to participate in studio visits, exhibitions, public programs and community outreach initiatives
- Access to Oolite’s international network of institutional film partners, as well as select film festivals and local art cinemas, as a way to help distribute the film
- Support for the film’s Miami premiere
- A one-week theatrical run at O Cinema
Selection Process
Oolite’s staff will review applications to ensure completeness and eligibility. A jury of local and national film professionals, chaired by Andrew Hevia, producer of the 2017 Oscar-winning film “Moonlight,” will review all entries throughout the months of October and November 2023. The selected Cinematic Arts Resident filmmakers will be announced in November 2023.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a full-time Miami-Dade County resident
- Create a narrative project set and filmed in Miami
- Be at least 18 years of age, and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
- Have completed a short film in a key creative role (director/producer/writer/editor)
- Demonstrate the ability to plan and execute the project as a micro-budget (under $50,000) feature film. Residents will have help, but will serve as the creative lead for the project.
Application
Applications are being accepted online and require the following:
What isn’t Included
Oolite Arts’ Cinematic Arts Residency does not cover housing, travel, or visa costs. If you have additional questions, please contact Hansel Porras Garcia at 305.674.8278 ext. 301 or via email at [email protected].
Residency Period
January 2024 – January 2025, with the possibility of extending into a second full year term.
Application Period
Applications are now closed
Please contact [email protected] or attend an information session.
2023 Cinematic Arts Resident
Chris Molina
After flunking out of college, Alex begrudgingly returns to his childhood home in Miami. With a new adult perspective and a massive hurricane threatening to sweep it all away, he’s forced to reevaluate his hatred for Miami.
Emma Cuba
Through eight tales of newfound love, destruction, mysticism, and the ebb and flow in between, the Florida Everglades is revealed to us, teaching us valuable life lessons in a landscape that is just as brutal as it is delicate.
2022 Cinematic Arts Resident
Greko Sklavounous
Sklavounous will use the residency to make a debut micro-budget narrative film about a man who must confront nature after his grandfather comes to him as a spirit. Learn more.
Special Jury Mentions
Four filmmakers received Special Jury Mentions, and will receive $1,000 towards their film projects. They are Michael Ruiz-Unger, Giancarlo Loffredo, Mimi Davila and Ronald Baez.
2021 Cinematic Arts Project
Hansel Porras Garcia
On her 64th birthday, Zoe, a Cuban widow exiled in Miami, receives the unexpected visit of Helena, her childhood best friend, after more than 40 years without seeing each other. When one of them confesses to be gay, they both have to reconsider their friendship.
Awards
- 2023 Knight Made in MIA Award – Miami Film Festival
Official Selections
- 2023 Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
- 2023 Los Angeles Queer Film Festival
2021 Cinematic Arts Resident
Special Jury Mentions
Four filmmakers received Special Jury Mentions, and will receive $1,000 toward their film projects. They are Jayme Gershen, Franco Gonzalez, Javier Labrador and Brenna Haragan.
2020 Cinematic Arts Projects
Faren Humes
Humes will use the residency to expand her much-celebrated short film “LIBERTY,” focused on Miami’s Liberty Square housing complex, into a feature narrative film. Learn more.
Edson Jean
Desperate to send money to her family back in Haiti, hardworking and exhausted nurse Ludi Alcidor spends a chaotic day battling coworkers, clients, and an impatient bus driver as she chases the American dream in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood.
Awards
- Best Film 2022 Newark Black Film Festival
- Best Actress 2021 RiverRun International Film Festival
- Best Actress 2021 Loudoun Arts Film Festival
- Rising Director and Lead Actor 2021 Atlanta Film Festival
Official Selections
- 2021 SXSW
- 2021 Bentonville Film Festival
- 2021 Miami Film Festival
2020 Cinematic Arts Residents
Special Jury Mentions
Four filmmakers received Special Jury Mentions, and will receive $1,000 toward their film projects. They are Carla Forte, Hansel Porras Garcia, Mark Pulaski and Danny Rosenberg.
2019 Cinematic Arts Projects
Xavier Medina
A five year old girl living in a Miami trailer park has a mission… to somehow get to the beach and see the ocean for the first time.
Awards
Official Selections
Monica Sorelle
A Haitian demolition worker is faced with the realities of redevelopment as he is tasked with dismantling his rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
Awards
Official Selections
2019 Cinematic Arts Residents
FAQ
What is the Cinematic Arts Residency program?
Oolite’s Cinematic Arts Residency aims to elevate Miami’s acclaimed community of short film creators into the realm of feature films. This initiative will give one Miami filmmaker $50,000 to create a narrative micro-budget feature film, along with a producer to oversee the project and shared studio space for production. The program provides residents with the support they need to bring a project from conception to local theater screens, offering a significant opportunity to the city’s filmmaking community.
When will applications for the Cinematic Arts Residency program be accepted?
Applications, which can be found online here, will be accepted from Tuesday, September 5th, 2023 through 6 p.m. Friday, October 6th, 2023.
Who is eligible to apply for the Cinematic Arts Residency?
The initiative is open to any filmmaker who is a full-time Miami-Dade County resident. The narrative project must also be set and filmed in Miami. Applicants must have completed a short film in a key creative role − director, producer, writer or editor – must be at least 18 years of age, and must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
What are you looking for in Cinematic Arts Residency program applicants?
We are looking for filmmakers with a demonstrated ability to bring their visions to the screen, as shown through their work on previous projects. It is also important that each film be suited to the scope of the program, as each budget cannot exceed $50,000. Essentially, we’re looking for filmmakers who can write and direct to budget without sacrificing the creativity or quality of their film. We want to help filmmakers with captivating ideas that are born of their experience in our city.
What will the Cinematic Arts Residents receive, in addition to the $50,000?
As this program aims to help one filmmaker bring a project from conception to theater screens, the residency offers a variety of benefits in addition to the monetary award. They include:
- A producer assigned to the production of the film
- Shared studio space for Cinematic Arts Residents at Oolite on Miami Beach, with 24-hour access and Wi-Fi
- Free parking at Oolite Arts (based on availability)
- Use of Oolite’s facilities, including a flex lounge, workshop and the PRINTshop
- The opportunity to engage with Oolite’s network of curators, film programmers, artists, filmmakers, visiting faculty members and Oolite Fellows, as well as to participate in studio visits, exhibitions, public programs and community outreach initiatives
- Access to Oolite’s international network of institutional film partners, as well as select film festivals and local art cinemas, as a way to help distribute the film
- Support for the film’s Miami premiere
- A one-week theatrical run at O Cinema
Can the budget of my film exceed $50,000, or be matched by another grant?
No. The Cinematic Arts Residency program is looking for micro-budget films that can be completed within the awarded grant amount of $50,000.
Am I the right fit for this program?
The Cinematic Arts Residency is crafted with self-starters in mind. We’re looking for filmmakers who are action-oriented in bringing their projects to life with the resources they have at hand, and in a timely manner. Cinematic Arts Residents should carve out time for development of the project, but the majority of your residency period should center around production, post-production and festival strategy. You won’t be in this alone; Oolite’s staff, advisors and Cinematic Arts alumni will be part of your support system. You’ll just be in the driver’s seat.
How can I learn more about micro-budget feature filmmaking?
Oolite Arts is offering several ancillary programs and info sessions in conjunction with the Cinematic Arts Residency application. Learn more about micro-budget filmmaking and get to know our residents in the process!
September 7. Cinematic Arts Residency Info Session: Learn more about the Cinematic Arts Residency with 2023 Resident Chris Molina and Oolite Arts’ Cinematic Manager Hansel Porras Garcia.
Register here.
Can’t make it to the info session? Book 15 min. with Oolite Cinematic Arts Manager Hansel Porras Garcia on Wednesday, September 20 or Thursday, October 5, from 12-4pm and get all your questions answered.
Book Appointment
September 16. Join us for a free, in-person screening of Sunnyland followed by a post-film discussion with director and Oolite Arts’ 2019 Cinematic Resident Xavi Medina. You can ask Xavi all the questions you might have regarding the process of applying for our Cinematic Arts Residency.
Synopsis: A five year old girl living in a Miami trailer park has a mission… to somehow get to the beach and see the ocean for the first time.
Register here
How will the Cinematic Arts Resident be chosen?
The Cinematic Arts Resident will be determined by a jury of local and national film professionals. The jury will meet in late November 2023.
I have an idea for a feature documentary. Can I submit that?
No. The Cinematic Arts Residency is for filmmakers shooting a micro-budget feature narrative.
When will the Cinematic Arts Resident be announced?
January 2024
How many applications can I submit?
As many as you like, though we’d suggest no more than three. Give us your strongest and most focused material.
I am working on a film in collaboration with a colleague. Can we submit a joint application?
While we know that all films are collaborative, there must be one individual applicant for the opportunity.
Will Oolite Arts supply me with equipment during my residency?
While we offer some equipment and resources, most equipment costs and rental should be included in the budget of your film.
Who should I contact with any questions I may have?
Please contact [email protected] or attend an information session.
Contact
Please contact [email protected] or attend an information session.
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