What to prep for your New York Moonshot Film Challenge application

Applications for the next New York Moonshot Film Challenge open on August 1!

If you want to participate in this program in New York City or the Hudson Valley, get your application materials ready now, and make sure to become a Moonshot Member.

Participants prepare for the Moonshot Film Challenge (formerly Women's Weekend Film Challenge). (Photo by Victoria Lewis)

What is the Moonshot Film Challenge (formerly Women's Weekend Film Challenge)?

The Moonshot Film Challenge (formerly known as Women's Weekend Film Challenge) lets you meet women and gender-expansive folks in every role of production and post-production while making a short film in a tight time frame! Then, you'll see your film on the big screen during our premiere screening just a few weeks later.

If you want to grow your network, add to your reel, and promote gender equity in the film and television industry, this program is for you!

Moonshot Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

How does the Moonshot Film Challenge work?

We review hundreds of applications with the help of industry judges. Then, we place selected participants onto crews of all strangers to write, shoot, and edit a short film. Participants meet their teams for the first time at a pre-production meeting, and they shoot their short films the next weekend. Just a few weeks later, the program culminates in a premiere screening!

We provide cinema-quality gear courtesy of our sponsors, production insurance, location permits, a premiere screening and after-party, and small stipends to submit to film festivals. Walk away with a whole new network!

How do I apply to the Moonshot Film Challenge, and how does the application process work?

The next Moonshot Film Challenge will take place in October in New York, and applications will be open Aug. 1 - 31. We're looking for adults 18 and over who have experience in the roles they're applying for, because the goal is to create a network of women and gender-expansive folks who can hire and refer each other for future gigs. (If you don't have any experience but want to get on set for the first time, we encourage you to apply as a production assistant!)

We accept applications from folks in every role of production and post-production. Whether you're a director, writer, producer, actor, cinematographer, sound mixer, gaffer, grip, composer, editor, production designer, costume designer, etc., everyone applies on the same application. We'll need to see work samples depending on which role(s) you submit to (see below). We also ask about why you want to participate in the Moonshot Film Challenge.

We review applications with the help of a panel of industry judges. This year, our directing submissions will be reviewed by a panel of Alliance of Women Directors Icon Members. For some roles, such as the team leader (producer) or director positions, we may ask you to do a brief interview via Zoom.

Finally, we announce selected participants!

Here's what we'll ask you to submit for each role you apply for:

• If applying as a writer, you'll need to include a 2-page screenwriting sample.

• If applying as a director, editor, or DP, you'll need to include a reel of your work. This year’s directing reels will be reviewed by a panel of Alliance of Women Directors Icon Members.

• If applying as a producer or assistant editor, including a reel is highly recommended but not required.

• If applying as an actor, you'll need to include a reel. If you do not have a reel you can submit a self-tape from any past audition or scene that you would like.

• If applying as a costume designer, production designer, or composer, you'll need to include a portfolio or website where we can see your past work.

• If applying to any other role, you'll need to include an IMDb page and/or resume with your past experience.

• If you are looking to step into the film world for the first time, we encourage you to apply for a production assistant position!

We will ask how many years experience you have in each of the roles you are applying for. Because it’s such an intensive weekend, we want to make sure we’re putting together crews of people fully equipped to take on the challenge!

You must be local to New York to participate in this challenge. This is because we want participants to build a community of people to hire and refer for future filmmaking jobs.

Most of our crews will be based in New York City, so you must be local to this area to apply. This year, we are excited to have a satellite crew in the Hudson Valley in partnership with HUDSY! Anyone local to the Hudson Valley area may apply for that team using the same application form.

You will need to be a Moonshot Member in order to apply for the film challenge, so make sure to become a member today! (Note: Your membership must continue to be active through our application review period in order for you to be eligible.)

Learn more about the film challenge

Become a Moonshot Member

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.

Thank you to Artists Thrive and the Amplify Her Foundation for making this year's Moonshot Film Challenge possible.