Reel Resistance Fellowship

Where Queer History Meets Art & ACTIVISM

In 1969, just weeks after Stonewall, Atlanta made its own mark on LGBTQ+ history. A police raid on a screening of Lonesome Cowboys—an experimental Andy Warhol film exploring homoeroticism and gender nonconformity—targeted members of our community and sparked a wave of resistance. That night helped give rise to the Georgia Gay Liberation Front and eventually led to the founding of Atlanta Pride.

Today, as attempts to erase LGBTQ+ voices from our classrooms and cultural records grow louder, Out On Film and the Atlanta Pride Committee are reclaiming that spirit of defiance through storytelling.

Introducing the Reel Resistance Short Film Fellowship

The Reel Resistance Fellowship is a six-month program designed to empower LGBTQ+ filmmakers across Georgia to explore and document our community’s rich and complex history through short-form documentaries and narrative films.

Each year, up to five filmmakers—emerging or established—will be selected to create 8–10 minute films that spotlight pivotal people, places, and movements that have shaped queer life in Georgia.

Fellows will receive:

  • A $3,000 production stipend (distributed in two phases)

  • Mentorship from filmmakers, historians, archivists, and civil rights leaders

  • A premiere screening of completed work with Out On Film in June 2026

These films will serve as living archives—works of “artivism” that not only reflect the past but help shape the future.

Timeline:

  • August 4, 2025 - Applications Open

  • October 31, 2025 - Application Deadline

  • December 1, 2025 - Applicants Notified

  • January 5th, 2026 - Fellowship Begins

  • March 31st, 2026 - Rough Cut of Film Due

  • June 5th, 2026 - Final Film with Any Revisions Due

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the Artivism Documentary Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Residency: Must reside in the state of Georgia. (GA State issued ID required for proof)

  • Age Requirement: Must be 18 years or older.

  • Project Focus: Proposed documentary must explore an aspect of Georgia’s LGBTQ+ history, with an emphasis on underrepresented voices, events, or movements.

  • Format: Final film must be a short-form documentary or narrative between 5–10 minutes in length.

  • Availability: Must be available to participate in the fellowship between January and June 2026, including periodic virtual check-ins and a final public screening.

  • Originality: Project must be original and not previously completed or publicly exhibited in full.

  • Work Samples: Applicants are encouraged to provide at least one sample of previous work in film, video, or multimedia storytelling.

  • Team Size: Applicants may apply as individuals or teams, but stipends will be awarded to one person (fellow) per project.

Review Criteria

All eligible applications will be reviewed by a panel of LGBTQ+ historians, archivists, and filmmakers. Projects will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  1. Story Concept (25%)

    • Relevance and originality of the historical subject

    • Clarity and strength of the storytelling vision

    • Potential for emotional or cultural impact

  2. Filmmaker Experience & Artistic Merit (20%)

    • Quality of submitted work sample(s)

    • Evidence of storytelling or documentary filmmaking skills

    • Training, background, or lived experience in creative work

  3. Feasibility & Timeline (15%)

    • Clear, achievable plan for producing the film within the fellowship timeframe

    • Evidence of time and capacity to complete the work

  4. Access to Historical Material & Subjects (15%)

    • Demonstrated access to archives, interviewees, historians, or community figures

    • Thoughtful approach to research and accuracy

  5. Community Connection & Purpose (10%)

    • Authentic connection to the LGBTQ+ history being explored

    • Potential to contribute to public understanding or preservation of local queer history

  6. Proposed Budget (10%)

    • Realistic and well-planned use of the stipend

    • Clarity in production needs and cost allocation

  7. Team Strength (5%)

    • If a team is proposed, the roles and qualifications of collaborators

If you have any questions, please email fellowship@outonfilm.org

Fellowship Kickoff Summit: August 1–2, 2025

The program will launch with a two-day summit in Atlanta, bringing together filmmakers, LGBTQ+ civil leaders, archivists, and scholars for panels, workshops, and community-building sessions.

Anyone interested in learning more or engaging with the themes of the fellowship is welcome to attend—registration is encouraged but not required to apply.

This project is funded in part by grants from The Community Corps, South Arts, and Larch Creative Fund, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Georgia Council for the Arts.