Our Spotlight Shorts Program

Spotlight Shorts is an exciting and empowering media arts program designed to support emerging artists who are passionate about their creative projects. This program serves as a stepping stone for individuals who are either actively working on a project or are in the idea phase of their project. Spotlight Shorts is ideal for folks with 1-3 years of media making experience and have worked on short documentaries or other media projects, but not necessarily longer docs. In this program we will spend time building cinematography skills, more advanced lighting, and editing with storytelling in mind. Participants strengthen their technical and storytelling skills while collaborating as a production team to create a 10-15 minute documentary for a local nonprofit. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and real-world production experience.

FAQs

  • The mission of Spotlight Shorts is to help emerging filmmakers develop advanced documentary filmmaking skills while using media to amplify community voices. Through collaboration with local nonprofits, participants gain professional experience creating meaningful films that highlight important issues and stories.

  • Spotlight Shorts is designed for media makers who already have 1–3 years of filmmaking or media production experience.

    You'll be a great fit if you:

    • Have experience creating short documentaries or other media projects

    • Want to build more advanced filmmaking skills

    • Enjoy collaborating with others on creative projects

    • Are excited to tell stories that support local nonprofits and communities

    While participants have some filmmaking experience, they do not need experience producing longer documentary films.

  • Spotlight Shorts meets once a week during the summer, with classes held from 6:00–9:00 PM.

    Each session combines hands-on technical training, production planning, guest artist workshops, feedback sessions, and collaborative filmmaking. Outside of class, you'll work with your production team to film, edit, and complete your documentary.

    Each cohort includes approximately 6-8 participants.

  • Spotlight Shorts offers participants the opportunity to:

    • Work directly with local nonprofits on real documentary project.

    • Learn from emerging artists and industry professionals through guest instruction.

    • Gain experience using professional filmmaking equipment.

    • Collaborate in a production team that mirrors a professional documentary crew.

    • Receive a stipend while building their filmmaking portfolio.

    • Showcase their completed film at a public screening attended by family, friends, and nonprofit partners.

  • Participants have access to:

    • Sony FX3, FX30, and A7III cinema cameras.

    • Professional lighting equipment.

    • Audio recording gear.

    • Adobe Premiere Pro Editing software.

    • Mentorship from teaching artists and visiting filmmakers.

  • By the end of the program, participants will have:

    • Produced a completed 10-15 minute documentary for a local nonprofit.

    • Gained hands-on experience working in a documentary production team.

    • Strengthened their cinematography, lighting, audio, editing, and storytelling skills.

    • Built professional connections with filmmakers, nonprofit leaders, and fellow participants.

    • Screened their work at a public showcase.

Applications are Closed.

Questions? Email Tess.

Participants will:

  • Learn the Sony FX 3, lights and audio gear

  • Learn different crew positions and how to work as a team

  • Create a short documentary

  • Attend Monday night training and feedback sessions

  • Meet emerging artists when they come in to teach skills. 

  • Receive a stipend. 

Tentative Timeline:

  • Applications open June 1-July 4

  • Interviews July 15-18

  • The program will meet on Mondays from 6-9 July 29- December.

  • Nayad Geneti

    SPOTLIGHT SHORTS COHORT ‘24

    Nayad's documentary is spotlighting Kan Keenya. 

    Read Bio

  • Kabor Namarra

    SPOTLIGHT SHORTS COHORT ‘24

    Kabor's documentary is about the early Oromo immigrants in MN. 

    Read Bio

  • Skye Reddy

    SPOTLIGHT SHORTS COHORT ‘24

    Skye is creating a documentary exploring ghost stories in the context of MN's immigrant and refugee community. 

    Read Bio

Spotlight Shorts is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.