Transgender Film Center Launches Second Career Lab for Emerging Trans and Nonbinary Filmmakers

The Transgender Film Center (TFC) is launching the second year of the Career Development Lab , a 12-week fellowship designed to fast-track the careers of transgender and nonbinary filmmakers in film and television. This year, the program expands to support two additional fellows for a total of 10 participants, and each fellow will receive a $15,000 unrestricted grant.

"We are proud and grateful that we have been able to expand the lab to provide even more support to up-and-coming artists," said Sav Rodgers, executive director of the Transgender Film Center. "Expanding the number of fellows and increasing the grant reflects our commitment to building lasting careers - not just opening doors, but helping people walk through them fully prepared."

Selected through a competitive process judged by TFC board members and industry partners, fellows will participate in virtual classes, in-person workshops, and behind-the-scenes site visits to key industry institutions. The curriculum covers both the practical and unspoken rules that shape a creative career in entertainment.

"There's a lot about this industry that isn't written down - and that's what this lab teaches," Rodgers said. "From how meetings really work to how to build resilience in the face of bias, this program is about giving trans and nonbinary filmmakers the real tools they need to succeed."

Beyond workshops and mentorship, fellows gain direct access to working professionals and festival insiders, offering a rare window into how creative decisions and career pathways are shaped behind the scenes.

The 2025 Career Development Lab, supported by Netflix, runs this summer. Applications are open now at transfilmcenter.org and will be accepted until August 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. Selected fellows will be notified in early September.