Key Dates: Moonshot Film Challenge in NYC & Hudson Valley

A detailed look at the schedule for the October 2025 Moonshot Film Challenge,

taking place in New York City and the Hudson Valley

Are you thinking of applying to the Moonshot Film Challenge? Learn more about the program here, and become a member to apply! Applications are open Aug. 1-31.

The goal of the Moonshot Film Challenge is to introduce participants to women and gender-expansive people in every role of production while creating quality material for participants' reels. We want to be respectful of everyone's time constraints while also giving you enough time to showcase your talent. Here's an overview of the schedule:

• Aug. 1-31: Application period

• Mid-September: Interviews for team leaders and directors. These brief interviews will be conducted via Zoom, and applicants selected for an interview will be sent a Calendly link to select an interview time.

• Sept. 30: Welcome party in NYC for all accepted participants! This is a great chance to network with all of the participants and meet your crew for the first time. This is not required, but all accepted participants are encouraged to attend.

• Oct. 11: Pre-production meeting (required for all participants). For most, it's a five-hour commitment, but for writers, directors, and team leaders, this is all-day event. At this meeting, the crews can start planning for production. They'll also receive their genres and begin writing the first draft of their scripts.

• Oct. 16: Crews pick up equipment (especially camera teams, G&E, and production sound). Actors should be rehearsing. All other crew members will be prepping for filming.

• Oct. 17 and 18: Filming. We encourage all crews to keep reasonable hours so as not to burn anyone out. During this time, editors begin processing footage as it comes in, as well as creating the credits.

• Oct. 19: Editing. Picture lock is due by 11:59 p.m. (teams must send a low-res version to Moonshot). The entire post team (sound, colorists, composers) should be getting as much done as possible by this 11:59 p.m. deadline.

• Oct. 25 and 26: Post team can make final tweaks to the sound, color and score. The high-res version is due by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 26. This work period is reserved for the weekend because many people have day jobs.

• November (date TBA): Premiere screening and after-party in NYC

• Date TBA: Premiere screening in the Hudson Valley

Learn more

Become a member to apply