A film crew is filming a scene outdoors with a clear blue sky. A woman stands in front of a camera, facing a man, as they appear to be acting. Crew members assist with the filming process.

Filmmaking

Healing

Group of five women standing together, smiling, in front of a plain white backdrop. One woman is wearing a black face mask and making a peace sign.
Two people, one sitting on a couch and one standing, are looking at a piece of paper and smiling.

Community

A film clapperboard placed on a wooden bench outdoors, with greenery in the background.

We

nurture

&

cultivate

BIPOC

filmmakers

✶

We nurture & cultivate BIPOC filmmakers ✶

Our programs & offerings

☻

Film Fellowships

We offer two fellowships for BIPOC filmmakers.

StorySeeds is a 3-month screenwriting fellowship and FilmSparks is a year-long short film production & distribution fellowship.

❋

Cinefilmu Film Fest

Organized by TDM5 and Mamá Papaya, the film festival welcomes visionary QTBIPOC filmmakers and storytellers to a community focused celebration of our ancestral stories and cultures.

The free and open to the public event showcases powerful and brilliant cultural stories from immigrants, Black, Indigenous, Hmong, Somali, Latine, and the many peoples in our neighborhoods.

✦

Offerings

The BIPOC Filmmakers MN directory is a public resource to find and connect with local collaborators, mentors, apprentices, and crew.

We also offer services in script analysis & feedback, production consultation, community catered screenings, and keynotes.

✿

Events & Workshops

Throughout the year, we offer events and workshops to grow, align, and nourish our local BIPOC film communities!

Our Values

Accountability

Interconnectedness

Care

Become a member!

Member Benefits

  • Extended application Deadlines for Fellowships and Programs

  • 30% discount camera and studio rentals at Midcity Production Supply

  • Discount on Mamá Papaya Workshops

  • Priority for Mamá Papaya Productions, Events, & Collaborations

  • Access to Our Members Community Chat

  • Community Conflict Support

  • Vote on Mamá Papaya Funded Member Initiatives

Membership Eligibility

  • Open to MN based BIPOC filmmakers at all experience levels. 

  • Committed to co-create a safer, joyful, and equitable film ecosystem.

  • It’s free!

Join The community!

Testimonials

A person with short curly hair smiling, wearing a dark grey collared shirt, standing in an indoor setting with warm lighting and a reflective wall.

“

After being in enough art spaces where I felt really small and othered, I knew I wanted to learn about filmmaking in a space that centered community, healing, and connection.


Rio Pérez, FilmSparks Fellow 2025

Connect with us!

Three women filming outdoors in a wooded area, one holding a camera on a tripod and two smiling women standing nearby.