FWB Global Fellowship

Overview

The Filmmakers Without Borders (FWB) Global Fellowship places experienced filmmakers and educators in teaching residencies at schools and community organizations in underserved communities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Fellows travel to their placement countries to teach filmmaking, media literacy, and digital technology skills to young people who would otherwise have no structured access to media production education.

The fellowship sits at the intersection of international development and film education, reflecting FWB's mission to democratize access to filmmaking tools and knowledge across geographic and economic boundaries. For fellows, it provides a structured international teaching experience with direct community impact. For students in placement communities, it brings professional filmmaking instruction to contexts where it is rarely available.

What It Funds

FWB provides placement support and travel assistance for accepted fellows. Fellows teach filmmaking and media literacy in their assigned placement country for a defined residency period. The fellowship covers the logistical costs of placing fellows in international settings; specific compensation arrangements vary by program and placement.

Fellows are expected to be self-sufficient professionals with existing filmmaking skills and some teaching or mentorship experience. The program is not designed to train filmmakers in production basics; it is designed to place experienced practitioners in teaching contexts where their skills can be passed on to the next generation.

Eligibility

The FWB Global Fellowship is open to experienced filmmakers and educators from anywhere in the world who have a combination of professional filmmaking experience and the ability to teach or mentor effectively. Fluency in a second language is valued, particularly for placements in non-English-speaking communities. Fellows must be available for the full duration of their placement.

FWB reviews fellowship applications on a rolling basis. Experienced filmmakers interested in international teaching placements should consult the FWB website for current open placements and application requirements.

Who Should Apply

Experienced filmmakers and media educators who want to apply their skills in a global development context -- teaching filmmaking and media literacy to young people in underserved communities in Africa, Asia, or Latin America. The fellowship is particularly well suited to filmmakers who have completed significant production work and are looking for a way to give back to the next generation of storytellers while gaining international teaching and cross-cultural experience.

See Also

For understanding how media education connects to the broader film industry pipeline, see Film Grants and the Development Pathway. For an overview of the career pathways available within the film industry, see the Director and Crew glossary entries.