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1.27.26 Robert Ndondo-Lay
Robert Blair Ndondo-Lay is a Minneapolis-based filmmaker, educator, and program administrator at FilmNorth. In addition to facilitating FilmNorth’s outreach and professional development efforts—engaging education and industry partners, media artists, and students — he administers the McKnight Media Artist Fellowship Program, which supports independent media artists living and working in Minnesota. Four fellowships of $25,000 are awarded every year. These fellowships are unrestricted (not project based) and, in addition to the funding, they offer recognition and educational opportunities. These fellowships are for filmmakers; writers and directors in film, television, and streaming; interactive and virtual reality creative artists; and other media artists (including but not limited to radio, podcasters, narrative-based storytellers) who are beyond emerging and have a history of sustained work (not for beginning artists).
Robert’s professional background includes contributions to prominent film and television organizations such as Verve Talent & Literary Agency, Imagine Entertainment, IMAX, and Fox Searchlight Pictures. Since joining FilmNorth in 2023, Robert has developed and managed more than a dozen programs that support filmmakers at every stage—from emerging voices to established artists. His work includes workforce training, fellowships, youth media education, and industry mentorship, all aimed at expanding access for underrepresented artists and strengthening the region’s creative ecosystem.
Applications for the McKnight Media Artist Fellowships open this year on February 2 and the deadline to apply is March 23. https://filmnorth.org/filmmaker-support/mcknight/
Robert is open to offering feedback and other assistance for fellowship applicants. Listen to hear more of the fellowships, information about the application process, and much more!
2.28.23 Eric Mueller
McKnight Fellowships in Media Arts Administrator Eric Mueller is featured on this podcast. Eric is at FilmNorth in St. Paul. FilmNorth administers the McKnight Fellowships for Media Artists. This includes filmmakers, screenwriters, and other media artists. The application deadline is March 20. Eric spoke about FilmNorth and the fellowships.
ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT MEDIA ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
The intent of this program is to recognize and support mid-career media artists living and working in Minnesota who demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence. This is not a project-specific grant.
The McKnight Fellowships for Media Artists provide recognition and financial support for mid-career media artists. The program is designed to reward media artists who have created a substantial body of work over a period of time, and who are at a career stage that is beyond emerging. The specific criteria that the jurors use to select the fellows are consistent artistic excellence and merit, clarity and uniqueness of vision, professional accomplishment, and commitment.
Four fellowships of $25,000 will be awarded to Minnesota media artists. The awards are unrestricted and can help an artist set aside periods of time for study, reflection, experimentation, and exploration; take advantage of an opportunity; or work on a new project.
One of these four fellowships will be awarded to a screenwriter, and three will be awarded to other types of media artists, including directors in film, television, and streaming; radio producers; and creative artists in web, computer/video games, and other emerging forms of media. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines.
Eligible applicants include directors and writers in film, television, and streaming; radio producers; and creative artists in web, computer/video games, and other emerging forms of media. The fellowship is designed to support Minnesota media artists whose work is of exceptional artistic merit and who are at a career stage beyond emerging.
Listen to the podcast to learn more and visit their website with questions or to apply at https://filmnorth.org/mcknight-fellowships-media-artists/.