A Fellowship for Emerging Festival Programmers

The Athena Film Festival Programming Fellowship was created in 2022 as an opportunity to develop the next generation of film festival programmers. This is a learning and career development Fellowship opportunity for individuals passionate about festival programming and women’s leadership.

Through this Fellowship, you will deepen your understanding of how to review and consider film festival submissions. Working together with the Athena Film Festival Post-Baccalaureate Fellow and Senior Programmer, you will develop a multi-faceted Festival program that speaks to Athena’s mission of showcasing diverse, powerful stories of women’s leadership, with a focus on the short film line-up for the 2024 Athena Film Festival.

Fellows will benefit from the opportunity to connect with Athena’s Artistic Director, Melissa Silverstein, and other individuals in the industry to deepen their knowledge of the industry landscape.

The Athena Film Festival will select two programming fellows for the 2023-24 season.

The Fellowship dates are July – March. There is a $1,000 stipend available.

Fellowship Requirements:

  • Screen 8-10 hours of films weekly and develop a written evaluation for each film based on Festival criteria.
  • Participate in weekly programming review meetings with the Post-Baccalaureate Fellow and Senior Programmer.
  • Participate in monthly learning/networking opportunities with industry professionals and learn more about the festival industry.
  • Attend team gatherings at the Athena Office in NYC to connect with team members in person (travel stipend may be provided).
  • Attend the 2024 Athena Film Festival (February 29 – March 3, 2024), to connect with filmmakers, introduce films and moderate Q&A’s with attending filmmakers.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Commitment to women’s leadership and deep appreciation for the Athena Ethos.
  • Knowledge of and an appreciation for independent film.
  • This is a hybrid fellowship, taking place predominantly in a virtual setting, with one or two team gatherings at Athena’s offices in New York City. Fellows must have the ability to join meetings virtually and travel to NYC for the in-person gatherings (travel stipend may be provided).
  • Availability to participate in the entire program pursuant to requirements listed below.
  • Some prior experience with film review and critique. Programming experience is a bonus.

The Athena Film Festival encourages applications from people of all races, religions, national origins, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and ages, as well as veterans and individuals with disabilities. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are from a marginalized or underrepresented group, particularly in the film industry.

*Barnard students and alumnae are encouraged to apply