Big Vision Empty Wallet Film Incubator

Overview

Big Vision Empty Wallet (BVEW) is a New York-based incubator and production company that develops film and television projects from creators whose perspectives are underrepresented in mainstream media. Founded in 2010 by Dani Faith Leonard and Alex Cirillo, the company operates a model that no other incubator in the US independent film space replicates: selected fellows receive mentorship, resource access, and distribution strategy support, and projects that advance through the incubator feed directly into Big Vision Creative (BVC), the company's production arm, which joins as co-producer.

As of July 2026, BVEW has no open calls for submissions on its Submittable portal. The incubator runs in cycles, and open calls have historically appeared with submission fees ranging from $25 (early) to $60 (last-minute). Filmmakers should monitor the portal and the BVEW website for the next cycle announcement.

What the Incubator Provides

BVEW is not a grant program. It does not award cash that a filmmaker can spend independently. Instead, it provides a structured development environment that includes:

• Mentorship from working filmmakers and industry professionals who have navigated low-budget production and distribution. Advisors include producers, directors, and executives with experience at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and major streaming platforms.
• Production resource access through BVEW's industry partnerships. Past partners have included AbelCine (equipment) and Hive Lighting, providing in-kind support that reduces out-of-pocket production costs.
• Editorial and creative development for scripts, treatments, and pitch materials. Fellows receive structured feedback from advisors who help refine both the creative work and the packaging strategy.
• Distribution and audience-building strategy. BVEW helps fellows construct marketing plans, identify distribution pathways, and build audience engagement before the project is finished.
• Co-production through Big Vision Creative. When a project advances through the incubator, BVC officially joins as co-producer, contributing the company's network, resources, and production infrastructure. The creator retains all rights to the concept and script.

The incubator has historically focused on feature-length narrative films and documentary projects, and has expanded into television series development. As of 2018, BVEW had 14 TV series in development. The company gravitates toward comedy and projects with strong social messages from creators with original points of view.

Track Record and Notable Projects

BVEW-supported projects have premiered at Sundance, SXSW, and the Tribeca Film Festival, with sales to major film distributors, streaming platforms, and TV networks. Specific credits include:

• The Light of the Moon - SXSW-winning narrative feature, theatrical release
• Lez Bomb - executive produced with Bobby Farrelly, Narrative Jury Award winner at the 2018 Bentonville Film Festival
• One Cambodian Family Please For My Pleasure - short film starring Emily Mortimer, produced for TNT and Refinery29 as part of the Shatterbox Anthology, with creative support from the Sundance Institute's Women at Sundance Program, premiered at Palm Springs ShortFest
• Jackrabbit - feature film in pre-production as of March 2025

Eligibility

BVEW targets filmmakers from underrepresented communities working on independent narrative or documentary projects. The incubator is designed for projects that are not commercially financed and where structured support can make a material difference. Key eligibility factors:

• Project stage: Projects can be anywhere from development through post-production. The incubator is most useful at the development and early production stages.
• Format: Feature-length films (narrative or documentary) and television/episodic series. Short films are generally not the focus.
• Budget level: No explicit minimum or maximum, but the program is built for projects without commercial financing access. If your project has studio backing or significant secured funding, BVEW is not the right fit.
• Creator identity: The incubator is inclusion-focused, prioritizing creators from communities underrepresented in film and television.
• Rights: The creator retains all rights to the concept and script. Big Vision Creative joins as co-producer on advancing projects, not as rights holder.

The Co-Production Model: What It Means for Filmmakers

The co-production structure is the defining feature of BVEW and the element filmmakers must understand before applying. When BVC joins a project as co-producer, it contributes business strategy, distribution planning, brand sponsorship connections, and production infrastructure. In exchange, BVC participates in the project as a production company.

This is not a grant you walk away with. It is a creative and business partnership. For filmmakers who want to maintain total control over every business decision, the co-production model may not fit. For filmmakers who need a production company partner to access resources, distribution relationships, and industry credibility they do not have on their own, the model can accelerate a project that would otherwise stall at the development stage.

How BVEW Differs from Grant Programs

Most film grants award cash and leave the filmmaker to manage production, distribution, and strategy independently. BVEW takes the opposite approach: it provides no cash grants but embeds the filmmaker in a support structure that addresses the non-cash barriers that stop low-budget projects from reaching completion. These barriers include lack of industry relationships, no distribution strategy, no equipment access, and no peer community for feedback and accountability.

The trade-off is meaningful. A $15,000 cash grant gives a filmmaker money but no infrastructure. The BVEW incubator gives a filmmaker infrastructure but no unrestricted cash. Filmmakers who need money for specific line items (post-production, color, sound mix) should look at grant programs like the Sundance Documentary Fund or the Catapult Film Fund. Filmmakers who need a production company partner, distribution strategy, and industry access should consider BVEW.

Application Process

When open calls are active, applications are submitted through the BVEW Submittable portal. Historical submission fees have ranged from $25 (early deadline) to $60 (last-minute deadline). Required materials typically include a project description, logline, treatment or script, filmmaker bio, and visual samples. The specific requirements vary by cycle.

BVEW operates without outside funding. The company is self-funded by its founders, which allows it to pivot quickly and launch programs without board approval. This structural independence means the incubator can appear and disappear from the submission landscape with less predictability than foundation-funded grant programs with fixed annual cycles.

Who Should Apply

Independent filmmakers from underrepresented communities with a feature-length narrative or documentary project, or a television/episodic series, who need a production company partner rather than a cash grant. The ideal applicant has a compelling project with a distinct point of view and is ready to collaborate with a co-producer on business strategy and distribution planning. Filmmakers who only need funding and want to maintain full independent control should look elsewhere.

See Also

For low-budget documentary financing strategies that layer grants with other funding sources, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. For production planning on tight budgets, use the Production Schedule Calculator. For comparing grant programs that offer cash funding, see the Sundance Documentary Fund and Catapult Film Fund entries.