Congratulations to the 2023 scholarship recipients!
Each filmmaker will be working with a composer to create a short film and a musical score performed live by the Film Score Fest orchestra. Stay tuned for information about the film screening in June 2023.
Kish Daniels
Film Score Fest Topic: Mental health and social media.
Kish Daniels is a marketer and filmmaker focused on storytelling and amplifying rarely heard voices. As the son of Liberian parents, Kish’s influences come from an upbringing in New York City, Monrovia, Liberia, and Cambridge, Minnesota. Currently he spends his days as a part of the PR team at Best Buy, and his nights running Kish Media Co., a multidisciplinary media company out of his home. Outside of work you can find him fishing, traveling, and spending time with his young son.
Benji Perez Gonzalez
Film Score Fest Topic: Snapping out of the hypnosis that is routine life to make time to connect with family and others.
Benji Perez Gonzalez is a director and a documentary filmmaker exploring equity in education, social justice, and cultural identity. As a first-generation immigrant, Benji’s unique storytelling lens unites his traditional Mexican upbringing with an infinitely different American experience. As a child of both worlds, it’s no surprise Benji seeks to bring people together through empathy, understanding, and storytelling.
Joua Lee Grande
Film Score Fest Topic: A short documentary about a neurodivergent experience and perception of time.
Joua Lee Grande is a filmmaker whose work highlights marginalized voices and experiences. Her documentaries have been funded by Kartemquin Films, Center for Asian American Media, Jerome Foundation and more. Her work screened on platforms like WORLD Channel, PBS digital, CAAMFest and PBS Short Film Festival. She is a Jerome Hill Artist Fellow (2021-23) and a leading member of Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc). Joua was a mainstream television news editor and spent a decade working to educate and support marginalized storytellers, families and youth in nonprofits.
Pallav Kumar
Film Score Fest Topic: Using found footage, unconventional editing techniques, and hand-drawn animation to explore the concept of time through an experimental and poetic piece.
Pallav Kumar is a queer South Asian media artist based in Minneapolis, MN. Their work in film and animation draws on their personal experiences to explore social and cultural issues in the US, and work towards social good. Outside of the video world, Pallav spends their time riding bikes, enjoying live music around the Twin Cities, and working to create more space for BIPOC communities in the outdoors.
Mai Moua Thao
Film Score Fest Topic: Love decided by an algorithm.
Mai Moua Thao (she/her/hers) is a storyteller whose main medium is film. Mai’s work expands into photography, performance, and writing. She has worked with organizations such as Saint Paul Neighborhood Network, Asian Media Access, AAOP and more. Mai is a first-generation graduate of Macalester College ’22 with a B.A. in Media & Cultural Studies and Theater & Dance, and an alumna of the JGS: Imagining America Fellowship. In her spare time, Mai enjoys watching K-Dramas and visiting cafes.
Original Scholarship Posting:
Do you have a unique story you would like to share?
Film Score Fest is proud to offer a new scholarship to support BIPOC filmmakers.
Scholarship Eligiblity
You can be considered for the scholarship if all of the following apply to you:
- You are a filmmaker. All experience levels and filmmaking styles are welcome (narrative, documentary, experimental, animation).
- You identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC).
- You are a Minnesota resident.
- You plan to participate in Film Score Fest 2022-23 by making a 5-minute-or-less film and collaborating with a composer/music maker (either your choice or randomly assigned). Film Score Fest participation guidelines.
Scholarship Details
Application deadline: Monday, December 12, 2022 by 11:59pm
Amount: $500 scholarship. $250 upfront / $250 upon completion of your film.
Number of scholarships available: 5
Application fee: Free
After applying for this scholarship, we also encourage you to sign up to participate in Film Score Fest, so even if you don’t receive the scholarship, you can be paired with a composer and participate for free in the festival challenge.
