# NFMLA Expands NewNarratives Grants and Adds Absurd Fellowship for Emerging Auteurs to Use AI

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/nfmla-expands-newnarratives-grants-and-adds-absurd-fellowship-for-emerging-auteurs-to-use-ai/
- Published: 2026-07-21T17:35:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-21T18:36:47+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hollywood Reporter
- Original article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/nfmla-new-narratives-grants-absurd-ai-tools-1236651356/
- Topics: AI, Entertainment, Film, Technology

## Key points

- NFMLA boosts NewNarratives grants to $35,000 total funding
- New $10,000 fellowship lets filmmakers trial Absurd's AI tools
- Programme has funded nearly $300,000 across 89+ countries since 2021

## Summary

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA), a nonprofit supporting emerging filmmakers, has expanded its NewNarratives grant scheme, raising total available funding to $35,000 and introducing a new AI-focused fellowship in partnership with Absurd. The move builds on a programme launched in 2021 with Warner Bros. Discovery, which has so far attracted more than 1,175 applications from over 89 countries and distributed almost $300,000 to independent storytellers.

This year's edition comprises six grants across three categories. Four unrestricted $5,000 grants, backed by the Rhulen Family Foundation, will go to filmmakers working on narrative, documentary, animation, experimental or episodic projects at any stage. A further $5,000 environmental storytelling grant, supported by Athens Services, will fund a short film in post-production addressing sustainability or climate themes. New for 2026 is a $10,000 Absurd AI storytelling grant, which comes with a three-month fellowship allowing the recipient to experiment with Absurd's AI filmmaking tools ahead of the platform's beta launch on 3 August. NFMLA leaders said the initiative aims to back filmmakers at the earliest, most under-funded stages of their careers.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.