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NewFest & Announces 2026 New Voices Filmmaker Grant Recipients, In Partnership With Netflix
NewFest and Netflix have named five emerging filmmakers as recipients of the 2026 New Voices Filmmaker Grant, supporting directors whose work presents LGBTQ+ stories through varied genres and perspectives. The initiative matters because it provides both funding and professional development to queer filmmakers at an early stage of their careers.
Georgia Krause, Star Amerasu, Deborah Devyn Chuang, and directing pair AJ Dubler and Carmela Murphy will each receive $25,000, after being selected from more than 500 applications. The fifth annual programme also offers career support, with recipients’ work expected to feature at NewFest’s New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival in October; previous grantees have gained television writing credits and developed feature films.
In short
- NewFest and Netflix awarded grants to five emerging queer filmmakers.
- Each recipient receives $25,000 and career-development support.
- More than 500 applications were considered.
Explained simply
NewFest is an annual LGBTQ+ film festival held in New York. In partnership with Netflix, it runs the New Voices Filmmaker Grant, which supports emerging filmmakers whose work presents queer perspectives and stories.
The programme provides both financial support and professional development to selected filmmakers, helping them develop their work and establish themselves in the industry. Recipients' films are typically showcased at NewFest's festival, which offers them visibility and professional connections.
The initiative has been running for several years and has supported filmmakers who have gone on to secure television writing roles and develop feature films. By investing in early-career talent, the scheme aims to nurture filmmakers at a stage when funding and professional support can significantly help their career progression.
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