MOONSHOT FILM CHALLENGE
October 2025, New York
Make a short film and meet women and gender-expansive people in every role of production
This film challenge is unlike any other. No more using up all of your resources and favors for the chance to showcase your talent. We provide all of the support you need to make a film in one weekend!
Accepted participants are placed on crews and work with women and gender-expansive filmmakers in every role of production. We provide cinema-quality equipment courtesy of our sponsors, production insurance, stipends to submit to film fests and more!
The films made during the film challenge have been accepted into over 100 film festivals. More importantly, past participants' careers accelerate after this program due to the connections they make during the challenge.
OUR IMPACT
53%
of participants are people of color
32%
of participants identify as LGBTQ+
9%
of participants are part of the disabled community
99%
of participants would recommend this challenge
IMPORTANT DATES
Click here for a more detailed schedule.
August
Applications are open Aug. 1 - Aug. 31
September
Crews will be announced
October 11
Pre-production meeting (required for all participants)
October 16
Production begins
October 19
Picture lock due by 11:59 p.m.
October 26
High-res upload due
November
Premiere screening (date TBA)
HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT?
We're on a mission to advance the careers of women and gender-expansive filmmakers. The only way to improve representation on the big screen is to support diverse emerging talent. Since filmmakers are expected to have a reel in order to get hired, many people are forced to fund their own work. With the cost of filmmaking prohibitively expensive for so many, we work year-round to fundraise so that our filmmakers don't need to shoulder that burden. Filmmakers are finally able to focus on building their networks and creating quality material for their reels and for festival submissions.
Our film challenge was created by filmmakers and every development has been inpired by feedback from nearly 1,000 surveys of past participants.
No other film challenge supports its filmmakers the way we do. Here is some of what we provide our participants:
Cinema-Quality Gear and Insurance
One of the most important factors in advancing someone's career is giving them access to the best, professional equipment. We secure sponsorships from top-of-the-line companies who share a deep desire to improve representation in the industry. Crews have access to over a million dollars of equipment. No more using up all your favors to get the equipment you need!
Premiere Screening & Festival Run
It's not enough to make the film...you need eyes on your work in order to get hired. We screen all completed films for an audience of hundreds of filmmakers and industry members. We provide waivers to help the films get into festivals around the world. We work year-round to showcase our participatns talents and help them get hired.
A Complete Crew/ New Network
Applicants are vetted by industry judges, so when you apply, your work is viewed by casting directors, screenwriters, directors and cinematographers. If you are accepted, you will be placed on a crew with around thirty other people in every role of production. You will instantly expand your professional network and be able to hire and refer women and gender-expansive crewmembers.
Orientations and Trainings
Since the film challenge is unlike any other production, we offer extensive guidance. We recognize that our participants have varying backgrounds and experience which can be an asset if handled correctly. We provide trainings for core leadership roles, handbooks for all participants, workshops and ongoing support in order to ensure success.
PAST SPONSORS
"The scale of the challenge, the access to professional gear and contacts blew me away."
- Karen Rodrigeuz
HOW DO WE SELECT THE PARTICIPANTS?
While the film challenge itself is not a competition, we rely on the expertise of an outstanding panel of judges to help us select the participants for each film challenge. When you apply to the film challenge, your work is being seen by award-winning filmmakers! This year our directors' reels will be judged by a panel provided in partnership with the Alliance of Women Directors.
The Moonshot Film Challenge was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Additional funding was provided by Amplify Her Foundation and Artists Thrive. We are proud to partner with HUDSY TV to provide a satellite crew in the Hudson Valley.
DON'T SIGN UP IF...
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You want to sell the film you make this weekend. This is a highly collaborative effort with no one person creating and executing the film. Moonshot Initiative retains all of the rights to the films. These films are meant to be used as materials for your reel, as a means to get you into festivals and as a tool for networking. If a film makes money through distribution, all proceeds will go towards helping more filmmakers through Moonshot.
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You need everything thoroughly mapped out before you do something. While we host a pre-production meeting and provide a detailed handbook, so much of this challenge is up in the air. You need to be flexible and excited to challenge yourself.
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You are a stickler for the standard roles of production. Again, everyone is working together to get the film done under a tight deadline and a limited budget. You may have to take on some extra tasks that you don’t normally do. The fun is in seeing what you’re truly capable of and bonding with others in the trenches.
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You don't care about improving the representation of women and non-binary people in the film and TV industry.
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You are racist, misogynistic, and/or generally rude.