The Digital Storytellers Lab is a yearlong fellowship that gives Jewish storytellers the opportunity to develop, launch and grow projects exploring Jewish themes for new media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, podcast networks and game platforms. The cohort-based program provides fellows with creative community, mentorship, technical expertise and funding to support their work. We have graduated two cohorts so far; read about our fellows here.
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The Lab fellows tell untold and lesser-known Jewish stories, or familiar stories retold in innovative ways and for new audiences. Working with each other, and with support from accomplished mentors, they participate in professional workshops, consultancies and Jewish educational experiences that elevate the material.
Program Specifics
The program includes three intensive, in-person seminars, in New York, Los Angeles and Israel and regular Zoom meetings of the cohort.
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The Lab offers support in a non-exclusive relationship, affording fellows a set schedule and motivational milestones to develop their projects. Fellows own their projects, scripts and other materials.
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What we're looking for
Fellows may work in short and very-short form live action, animation, comics, games, podcast* and other serialized or episodic audio and/or visual media that are made to be shared online through a variety of platforms. We are not interested in pitches for full-length TV shows, festival short films, or feature-length films even if you intend to put them on a digital platform. Pitches should not mention Netflix, Hulu and so on, and we will not read applications of this nature.
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Projects may be designed for any demographic, including children of all ages. The primary language for projects should be English, although we welcome creative bilingual approaches. We hope to include creators who want to tell stories on Youtube, IG Reels, TikTok, Webtoon, independent game platforms, and so on.
* We love podcasts, but there are A LOT of them out there. We will include only a small number of podcasts in the cohort and encourage applicants to think carefully about their choice of creative format.
Project Subjects
Projects developed in this program should explore Jewish themes, such as Jewish identity, culture, values, heritage, religion, spirituality, or history. Stories may be fictional or non-fictional in nature, and must be written and designed for new media platforms. Priority will be given to projects that investigate lesser-known aspects of the Jewish story, or that reimagine well-known stories for new audiences and new platforms. We welcome creativity in both content and form.
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Applicant Qualifications
This is not an age-based cohort and we truly welcome applicants at every stage of their careers, provided that you have the media and content know-how – with appropriate support – to carry out your project. Applicants must
- Reside in North America
- Demonstrate competency in media production and/or your subject matter expertise
- Be available to attend all fellowship convenings and online meetings (all travel is paid for)
- Be action-oriented - fellows should regularly post content to their projects while in the fellowship
- Work independently on a widely available A/V digital media platform, such as Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok, podcasting, Webtoon, Itch.io, etc.
- Plan an English-language, or bilingual project
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Applications will open in late spring of 2025. Join our mailing list, below, to receive updates.
