Home / Arts and Entertainment / NewFest Grants Empower Queer Storytellers with $25K Each
NewFest Grants Empower Queer Storytellers with $25K Each
30 Jul
Summary
- NewFest announced its 2026 New Voices Filmmaker Grant recipients.
- Four emerging filmmakers will each receive $25,000 grants.
- The grants support bold, queer-perspective storytelling in film.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, NewFest has announced the recipients of its 2026 New Voices Filmmaker Grant. This year's honorees include Georgia Krause, Star Amerasu, Deborah Devyn Chuang, and the directing duo AJ Dubler & Carmela Murphy. Each filmmaker will receive a $25,000 grant, along with valuable career development support.
This vital initiative, a collaboration with Netflix, seeks to empower emerging directors who are committed to telling stories from a queer perspective. The selected filmmakers were chosen from a pool of over 500 applicants, highlighting the competitive nature and the significant interest in supporting diverse voices in filmmaking. Their work spans genres such as stop-motion animation, documentary, comedy, and science fiction.
The grant recipients were carefully chosen by a jury of esteemed industry professionals, including Silas Howard, River Gallo, and Merrill Sterritt. NewFest Interim Executive Director Lesli Klainberg expressed excitement for the fresh perspectives the honorees bring to LGBTQ+ storytelling. The festival looks forward to supporting these filmmakers' professional growth and showcasing their ambitious new projects at the New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival in October.
