FESTIVALS
Celebrating 22 years, Chicago’s REEL Shorts Festival spotlights the art of short filmmaking with global submissions, low entry fees, and unique venues ranging from the Fire House Theater to Chicago’s Belmont Theater District. Audience Choice Awards are given at every screening, alongside Best of Fest and other prizes.
Key Details:
Super Extended Deadline: September 12, 2025
Event Dates: November 7 – 8, 2025
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Held in Saguenay, Quebec, REGARD is one of North America’s largest festivals dedicated to short films, attracting 30,000+ attendees and filmmakers worldwide. As an Academy Award® and FIPRESCI qualifying event, REGARD awards over $130,000 CAD in prizes across categories.
Key Details:
Early Bird Deadline: September 15, 2025
Event Dates: March 18 – 22, 2026
Location: Saguenay, Quebec, Canada
FUNDING & PROGRAMS
Run by Yale Law School’s Media Freedom & Information Access Clinic, DocProject provides independent documentary filmmakers with free legal research and consultation. Support includes guidance on issues like source protection, privacy, defamation, and access to information, from development through rough cuts. While not financial funding, this program helps filmmakers reduce legal risks and focus on storytelling.
Key Details:
Deadline: Rolling (apply anytime)
Support: Free legal consultation & research
Eligibility: Independent documentary filmmakers (global)
Supports completion of short films (≤30 min) by California-based Women In Media members. Grants range from $500–$3,000 plus mentorship in post-production sound, music clearance, and festival strategy. Applicants must have at least 40% of crew as women or gender non-conforming individuals and the project in rough cut stage.
Key Details:
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Funding: $500 – $3,000 USD + mentorship/services
Eligibility: California residents
TOOLS & RESOURCES
Trelby is a free, open-source screenwriting program that works across platforms. It enforces proper script formatting, offers auto-completion, spell check, and multiple writing views. With a 200,000+ name database, version comparison, and import/export support (Final Draft, Celtx, Fountain, etc.).
Best For: Screenwriters and filmmakers looking for a professional, no-cost alternative to Final Draft or Celtx.
StoryTribe is an easy-to-use online tool for creating professional storyboards and illustrations. It offers a library of ready-to-use assets, customizable characters, and freehand sketch tools, no drawing skills required.
Best For: Filmmakers, marketers, and students needing fast, collaborative storyboards without complex software.
JOBS
Vox Media’s Lifestyle team (covering brands like The Cut, Eater, and New York Magazine) is hiring an Associate Video Editor. The role involves editing short-form lifestyle and culture content for digital and social platforms, collaborating with producers and writers to deliver high-quality video stories.
Key Details:
Location: US (Remote)
Type: Full-time (Permanent)
Pay: $73,000 – $76,000 USD/year
Dow Jones (publisher of The Wall Street Journal) is hiring an Audio/Video Producer & Studio Operator in its Washington, D.C. bureau. The role supports WSJ podcasts and video programs, handling recording, editing, and production for shows on politics, national security, and more.
Key Details:
Location: Washington, D.C., US (On-site)
Type: Full-time, Union role
Pay: $90,000 – $100,000 USD/year
INDUSTRY PULSE
Gege Akutami’s hit series Jujutsu Kaisen will officially continue with a new sequel manga titled ≡-Modulo-, debuting September 8, 2025. Running for six months (collected in three volumes), the sequel comes alongside a newly announced spin-off novel, signaling major expansions for the beloved franchise.
Estimated read: 2 min
LEGO has revealed its largest-ever Death Star set, recreating iconic scenes from the Star Wars saga with 38 minifigures and detailed movie locations like the Emperor’s Throne Room and trash compactor. Tied to the films, this 6,000+ piece set highlights the ongoing power of Star Wars as both cinematic and merchandising force.
Estimated read: 3 min
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