NALIP Accelerator and Incubator Programs

Overview

The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) is the leading US membership organization for Latino content creators. Founded in 1999, NALIP operates four core programs that support Latino filmmakers, writers, producers, and directors at different career stages: The Accelerator, the Director Incubator, the STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers Intensive, and the Imaginar Producers Residency.

The Accelerator (formerly known as the Latino Media Market) is NALIP's flagship project development program. Each year, 12 creative teams are selected to participate in a month-long mentoring process that culminates in a Hub Day at the NALIP Media Summit, where participants have one-on-one meetings with market guests and projects are assessed by a jury. The 2025 NALIP Media Summit took place June 26 to 27 at NeueHouse Hollywood, bringing together over 400 filmmakers, producers, executives, and artists from the US and Latin America.

The Director Incubator, sponsored by Netflix through the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, is a production grant program for emerging filmmakers who tell stories from the perspectives of women and gender-expansive individuals. The program awards $35,000 per film to five selected directors to develop and produce narrative short films, with hands-on mentorship throughout the entire filmmaking process from pre-production through post-production and distribution strategy.

NALIP membership is required to participate in all programs. Membership costs $100 per year at the Associate Producer level or $399 per year at the Executive Producer level.

What It Covers

The Accelerator

• Month-long mentoring process for 12 selected creative teams developing their 1st or 2nd feature film or first episodic series
• Hub Day at the NALIP Media Summit with one-on-one meetings with buyers, distributors, financiers, and industry decision-makers
• Jury assessment of projects with feedback from industry professionals
• NALIP Media Summit access including panels, networking events, and screenings
• No cash grant - the program provides access, mentorship, and industry connections

Director Incubator (Sponsored by Netflix)

• $35,000 production and post-production grant per film for 5 selected directors
• Hands-on mentorship throughout the entire filmmaking process from pre-production through post-production and distribution strategy
• Narrative short film production with a completed film as the deliverable
• Screening at the NALIP Media Summit in June 2026, showcasing the completed work to industry attendees
• Stepping stone toward feature film or television development

STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers Intensive

• Spec script development with hands-on guidance from mentors, executives, and experienced writers
• Original spec script creation for emerging television writers
• Industry exposure through the NALIP and NFMLA network
• No cash grant - the program provides mentorship and craft development

Imaginar Producers Residency

• Nine-month residency for 3 Latinx producers, created in partnership with Film Independent, The Walt Disney Company, and Searchlight Pictures
• Producer development through structured mentorship and industry access

Eligibility

The Accelerator

• Must be a NALIP member
• The project must be the director's 1st or 2nd feature film or first episodic series
• Project must have either a completed screenplay, a pilot screenplay, a 10-page treatment, or a documentary proposal
• Applicants must confirm full availability for the in-person Market day and NALIP Media Summit
• Each project must have either a director, producer, or story of Latinx/e origin

Director Incubator

• Must be a NALIP member
• Applicants must be emerging or mid-career filmmakers. Emerging is defined as having completed at least one short film, web series, or independent project with festival or public release experience. Mid-career applicants should have a demonstrable track record that may include a feature film, a significant body of work, or series credits
• The submitted project must be a narrative short film
• Applicant must tell stories from the perspective of women and gender-expansive people
• Projects must be in late development or pre-production stages, ready to enter production no sooner than 4 months after the application deadline
• A producer must be formally attached to the project
• A core creative team (director, writer, producer) must be identified at time of application
• Applicants must hold or share the rights to the submitted project

STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers Intensive

• Must be a NALIP member
• Open to emerging television writers
• Submissions opening August 2026

How to Apply

All applications are submitted through the NALIP website. Each program has its own application form, requirements, and timeline.

Application Timeline (2026 Cycle)

The Director Incubator 2025-26 cycle timeline ran as follows: submissions opened July 18, closed August 1 at 11:59 PM Hawaii time, review period August 1 to 21, incubator opened September 1, script stage and review in September, development and team building in October, production October through November, post-production December through March, final post in March to May, and screening at the NALIP Media Summit in June 2026.

NALIP Membership

Membership is required for all programs. Two tiers are available:

Existing Associate Producer members can upgrade to Executive Producer for $299 at any time. Memberships are annual and auto-renew.

How the Director Incubator Grant Compares

The $35,000 production grant from the Director Incubator is one of the more substantial short film production grants available to Latino filmmakers. For context:

The Director Incubator grant is specifically for production and post-production of a narrative short. It is not an unrestricted grant. The program provides the funding, mentorship, and infrastructure to complete a film that will screen at the NALIP Media Summit, giving the filmmaker a festival-style premiere with industry attendees.

Who Should Apply

The Accelerator

Latino directors and producers developing their 1st or 2nd feature film or first episodic series who have a completed screenplay, pilot screenplay, 10-page treatment, or documentary proposal, and who want industry meetings and mentorship to move their project toward financing and production. The program is best suited for creators whose projects are ready to pitch to buyers and financiers.

Director Incubator

Emerging or mid-career Latino filmmakers who direct narrative short films telling stories from the perspective of women and gender-expansive individuals, who have a producer attached and a project in late development or pre-production, and who need production funding and mentorship to complete the film. The $35,000 grant and full-cycle mentorship make this one of the most competitive short film production programs for Latino filmmakers.

STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers Intensive

Emerging Latino television writers who want to develop original spec scripts with mentorship from experienced industry writers and executives. The program is suited for writers who are building their portfolio toward staffing on a television show.

Common Confusions

The Accelerator is not the Latino Media Market. NALIP renamed the Latino Media Market to the Accelerator. The program structure is similar: selected teams get mentorship and market meetings at the NALIP Media Summit. If you see references to the "Latino Media Market" in older materials, they refer to the same program now called the Accelerator.

The Director Incubator is only for narrative shorts, not features or documentaries. The program explicitly requires a narrative short film project. Documentary filmmakers and feature film directors are not eligible for this specific program. The Accelerator is the better fit for feature film projects in development.

The Director Incubator has a specific storytelling perspective requirement. The program is designed for filmmakers who tell stories from the perspectives of women and gender-expansive individuals. This is a hard eligibility requirement, not a preference. Projects that do not meet this criterion will not be considered.

NALIP membership is required for all programs. You cannot apply to any NALIP program without an active membership. The Associate Producer membership at $100 per year is sufficient for program eligibility. The Executive Producer membership at $399 per year adds additional benefits but is not required for program access.

The Accelerator does not provide cash grants. The program provides mentorship, market access, and industry meetings. Filmmakers who need production funding should look at the Director Incubator or other grant programs in the Film Scholarships Directory.

See Also

For independent filmmaking strategies, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies. To plan your short film production budget, use the Production Budget Calculator. For exploring other funding and career development opportunities, browse the full Film Scholarships Directory.