FilmStack Calendar Table Of Contents
Screenings & Performances (IRL & Virtual)
Events (Festivals, MeetUps, & Webinars)
Actions & Petitions
Deadlines (Festivals, Grants)
Housekeeping
Special Bonus Offer For All FilmStackers!!! Take Note!
1. Screenings & Performances:
London:
March 31st at 6:30 PM (18:30): The FilmStack UK Microcinema Launches!
Be a part of history and join FilmStack UK for its first ever microcinema screening! 3 shorts will be screened followed by drinks and discussion.
Tickets are FREE but space is very limited, so make sure to register ASAP!
Where: 21Soho 3-5 Sutton Row, London W1D 4NR, UK
Register: https://luma.com/7ef6jgnz
(SS)
Miami:
April 11 at 2:30 PM Eastern: Miami Magic Has Its World Premiere
Miami Magic, a new short film produced by FilmStack’s own Jen Orta Castellanos of the Miami Film Lab, will have its world premiere at the Cosford Cinema on April 11 as part of the Miami Film Festival, specifically as part of their I’m Every Woman Shorts Block (how fun!).
More info and tickets: https://miamifilmfestival.com/program/event/miami-magic/
Support their festival run here: https://givebutter.com/miami-magic
Learn more about the film in Jen’s post below and follow Jen for more on the film’s process.
(SS)
Elsewhere:
Now - March 29: Dead Lover, by Grace Glowicki
Directed by Grace Glowicki
Written by Glowicki & Ben Petrie
A lonely gravedigger who stinks of corpses finally meets her dream man, but their whirlwind affair is cut short when he tragically drowns at sea. Grief-stricken, she goes to morbid lengths to resurrect him through madcap scientific experiments, resulting in grave consequences and unlikely love.
LAEMMLE GLENDALE | TICKETS
With Grace Glowicki and Ben Petrie In Smell O’Vision
3/27: Q&A moderated by Sandy Honig
3/28: Q&A moderated by Jamie Loftus
3/29: Q&A moderated by Amanda Kramer
Now - March 31st: Invisible Nation’s US College Tour #2, Legs 1&2
The NonDē approach is to work it, work it, work it. Invisible Nation’s first US College Tour was alongside the US festival release. This second one comes before the PBS release. More dates to be announced soon!
(TH)
April 2 - 22: More Beautiful Perversions, a film by Pavli Serenetsky
An eco-parable produced by the mutual aid collective Purpose Repair Shop, in collaboration with land stewards, underground music legends, and over 15 co-directors. Shot on 16mm and portions hand-processed with plants, this sophomore feature of filmmaker and environmental educator Pavli Serenetsky (winner of The Grand Jury Prize for their debut Firstness at Outfest 2021) reimagines “getting lost in the woods” as a queer coming of age to connect us closer with Earth.
April 2 | Nitehawk Cinema, Brooklyn (Q&A with Sadie Scott)
April 3 | Community Theater, Catskills
April 7 | Facets, Chicago (Q&A with Jennifer Reeder)
April 18 | Tomorrow Theater, Portland
April 22 | Laemmle Glendale, Los Angeles EARTH DAY SCREENING!
April 23 | Laemmle Monica, Santa Monica
More info here: https://www.futureoffilmisfemale.com/more-beautiful-perversions
(CR)
April 14 & 16: Lost Cause Screens at the 53rd Athens International Film + Video Festival (in Ohio)
Adam Kritzer’s latest film Lost Cause will screen at the 53rd Athens International Film + Video Festival in Athens, Ohio on April 14 and 16th. He will be in attendance for both screenings. Make sure to follow Adam for more screening information.
(SS)
2. Events
Festivals:
October 24: The NonDe Shorts Festival (NSF)
Okay, okay, so this one might feel a little far in advance, but you’re gonna blink and it’s gonna be October, so you better start planning now!
Submit: https://filmfreeway.com/NonDeShortsFestival
Location: Reading Biscuit Factory, Reading-UK
Subscribe and keep up-to-date on all the latest developments!
(SS)
Meet Ups & Meetings
FilmStack Meetups IRL:
FilmStack New York Meetup: STAY TUNED for the next meetup hosted by Tom Violett
Meetings & Masterclasses:
Thursday April 16: Ted Hope Masterclass at the Maimi Film Festival
Come join Ted & Vanessa Hope , both for a masterclass and a screening of their film Invisible Nation. The masterclass is with Ted and is brought to you by the Maimi Film Festival on Thursday April 16 3P and the screening is on the 17th at Univ of Maimi.
Webinars
March 30 - May 11: The Writers Lab Mentor Masterclasses
HOW TO MAKE STORY STRUCTURE YOUR FRIEND | Amy Fox
MONDAY MARCH 30 | 3pm ET.
Narrative structure should be an empowering tool for writers. It allows us to take a story and break it down into manageable pieces that build a greater whole. But the study of structure has become needlessly complicated as we learn all the ways to break scripts down by page numbers, beats, sequences, and acts. Amy Fox will cut through the noise to make structure a tool that works for you and your feature or pilot script.
PITCHING YOURSELF: The Idea of YOU | Susan Cartsonis
MONDAY APRIL 13 | 3pm ET
Susan Cartsonis will help writers deepen their pitches by teaching them how to connect their identities to their projects. Participants will introduce themselves in their totality, highlighting key assets and experiences with no apologies for maturity (in fact, using it to advantage) NOTE: Each writer will fill out a questionnaire in advance of the class, referencing 1 or 2 projects they are pursuing with a brief description. The document will be sent to writers who register.
DEVELOPING CHARACTER | Pat Verducci
MONDAY MAY 11 | 3pm ET
Character is the lifeblood of a great screenplay. Pat Verducci will first talk about the basic foundational blocks of a great main character, and then guide attendees through a series of live exercises to deepen and develop their own. Pat will also talk about secondary characters and how to use them to push and pull on your protagonist.
(CR)
3. Actions & Petitions
Petitions
Stop The Warners / Paramount Merger:
Sign here: https://act.freepress.net/sign/block-paramount-warner-bros-merger
Also, please visit Blockthemerger.com
where Future Film Coalition is collecting short, first-hand accounts from across the industry - including exhibitors - to document how media consolidation is affecting the film ecosystem. Use your voice and share your story!
Urge Attorneys General to Stop Paramount’s Mega-Media Monopoly
This one courtesy of the awesomeness that is Robert Reich.
Add your name in support here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-paramount-mega-media-monopoly/
4. Deadlines
Festival Deadlines:
April 3: Earlybird Square Peg Social Application Deadline
Square Peg Social: Square Peg Social is a five-day, intimate gathering designed to break down the walls and barriers that too often exist within the film industry. Real connections and mentorship fueled by honest conversations, the event is designed for those who stand out, push boundaries, and feel passionate about shaping the future of cinema.
At Square Peg Social, we want to create a space for many. We celebrate filmmakers whose voices are distinct, whose work carries an unmistakable fingerprint, and whose presence makes the industry a richer, more authentic place. Our mission is simple: to open doors, share stories, and build a stronger, more inclusive creative community from the inside out.
Knudsen and Aster will invite a group of their closest and most trusted collaborators to create an intimate ratio of established industry professionals to attendees. Square Peg Social is an opportunity for more seasoned filmmakers to help and nurture a new generation of filmmakers with unvarnished advice and mentorship in an informal and welcoming setting over a five day period. It’s a living, breathing network designed to guide and empower filmmakers as they take their next steps into the industry.
Over five days of meaningful conversations, and creative exchanges, we want to recognize and support the filmmakers who dare to stand out — those who challenge norms, redefine genres, and push creative boundaries. This is a gathering for filmmakers at every stage of their journey: graduate students, first-time filmmakers, and seasoned producers alike — anyone fueled by a lifelong passion for independent film.
Early Bird Deadline: Apr. 3 2026
Regular Deadline: July 6, 2026
Extended Deadline: August 7, 2026
Notification Date: October 5, 2026
Event Dates: November 5-9,2026
LdnDocs
Earlybird deadline: 15th April, 2026
Regular deadline: 15th June, 2026
Late deadline: 15th August, 2026
Notifications: 15th September
Woodstock Film Festival
Earlybird Deadline: March 13
Regular Deadline: May 8
Late Deadline: June 5
FilmFreeway Final Deadline: June 12
Bend Film Festival
Regular Deadline: Apr. 3 2026
Late Deadline: May 1, 2026
Extended Deadline: May 22, 2026
Event Dates: Oct. 7 to 11, 2026
Oak Cliff Film Festival
Regular Deadline: Mar. 23, 2026
Late Deadline: Apr. 13, 2026
Extended Deadline: May 4, 2026
Event Dates: July 30 to Aug. 2, 2026
HollyShorts Film Festival
Regular Deadline: Apr. 3, 2026
Late Deadline: May 8, 2026
Extended Deadline: Jun. 1, 2026
Event Dates: Aug. 13 to 23, 2026
May 24: FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER ANNOUNCES 64th NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL CALL FOR SHORT FILM SUBMISSIONS
Short film submissions will be accepted via FilmFreeway through May 24. The entry fee is $50 through April 5, and $60 from April 6 through May 4. This fee will contribute to funds for a seasonal staff of short film submissions screeners as well as additional festival operations, including artist support. NYFF64 is noncompetitive, and all sections are curated by the selection committee with support from an international roster of programming advisors and screeners. Only short films (40 minutes or less) are accepted through FilmFreeway.
Short films submitted via FilmFreeway are considered primarily for NYFF’s Currents section, though selected titles may also be invited to screen in other sections of the festival, including the New York Shorts program within Spotlight. A complement to the NYFF's Main Slate, Currents presents a diverse offering of short-, medium-, and feature-length work by filmmakers and artists working at the vanguard of narrative, documentary, and experimental modes.
NYFF’s call for short film submissions provides an opportunity for new and emerging filmmakers to share their work. In addition to short film submissions collected via FilmFreeway, the NYFF64 selection committee considers recommendations from alumni and industry colleagues, as well as work that has premiered in international festivals and galleries since the previous edition of NYFF. Submitted films will be evaluated by NYFF64 programming staff and considered equally with all other prospective entrants. All films submitted through FilmFreeway will be notified of their status by August 17.
(TH)
Grant & Application Deadlines:
Application window now open: Film Independent Fiction Producing Lab 2026
https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/artist-development/fiction-producing-lab/
Applications open: March 9, 2026
Non-Member Deadline: May 4, 2026
Film Independent Member Extended Deadline: May 18, 2026
More Information • Applications OPEN
Also their Documentary Producing Lab application is open!
Film Independent Documentary Producing Lab 2026
Applications Open: March 9, 2026
Non-Member Deadline: May 4, 2026
Film Independent Member Extended Deadline: May 18, 2026
More Information • Applications OPEN
New Grant! IDA Emergency Assistance Grant
More info here: https://www.documentary.org/ida-emergency-assistance-program
Are you a collaborative, expansive, imaginative, generative creative interested in making new immersive storyworlds?
Although no deadline is specified, the application window is limited for the Culture House Talent Pool Open Call.
More info here: https://culture.house/open-call
March 31, 2026: The Roy W. Dean Grant – Spring 2026 Cycle is now open.
For more than three decades, this grant has supported independent films that are unique and make a contribution to society — helping projects get made that might otherwise never reach the screen.
$3,500 cash grant
$20,000+ in donated services & production support
Deadline: March 31, 2026 (Midnight)
Open to filmmakers worldwide
Projects can include: Documentaries, Narrative features, Short films, Web series or multimedia projects.
Eligible at any stage of production — from development through post — for projects with budgets under $500K.
Finalists will be announced in July, with the winner revealed in August.
https://fromtheheartproductions.com/roy-w-dean-film-grants-and-awards/
(HT: Nancy Collet on LI)
April 1: Early Bird Chicken & Egg $40K Grant Deadline:
Applications are now open for the Chicken & Egg Films (Egg)celerator Lab, supporting women and nonbinary documentary filmmakers working on their first or second feature documentary.
Selected teams receive:
• $40,000 grant
• Creative retreats and mentorship with industry leaders
• Travel support for director and producer
Early Deadline: April 1
Final Deadline: April 29
https://chickeneggfilms.org/programs/egg-celerator-lab
April 9: The Writers Lab International ( Deadline)
TWL International is a 3-day, in-person, Lab Intensive focusing on script and career development for selected women and nonbinary screenwriters 40+.
At TWL Lab Intensives, writers are challenged to bring fresh eyes to their selected projects and undergo deep project development work in one-on-one and group sessions, with revision guidance and career support from the experienced TWL team and some of the industry’s best writers and producers.
Apr 9, 2026 — Regular Deadline
Apr 30, 2026 — Late Deadline
More info and to submit here: https://twlstories.org/labs/intl-labs/
(CR)
April 24th Deadline: Open Cities Accelerator
First read about it here: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/open-cities-film-company-joana-vicente-jason-kliot-1236661483/
And then apply here: https://open-cities.com/submissions
(TH)
May 6th: The Inspired Screenwriting Competition (Early Bird Deadline)
Now in our second year, the Inspired Screenwriting Competition is doubling down on our mission to amplify bold and unique new voices and disrupt the status quo of the film industry.
So, send us your best. Send us your personal. Send us the crazy out-there ideas that could have only come from (insert your name here).
Feature screenplays only.
EARLY DEADLINE: 5/06/26 - $25
REGULAR DEADLINE: 6/03/26 - $30
LATE DEADLINE: 7/01/26 - $35
https://www.inspiredscreenwriting.com
(AS)
5. Housekeeping
Who’s sharing what, you ask?
ARB= Alex Rollins Berg AS= Amanda Sweikow Avi= Avi Setton CR= Courtney Romano SS= Sara's Soliloquies TH= Ted Hope
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