FilmHouse Residency
SFFILM’s FilmHouse residency program provides Bay Area-based documentary and narrative filmmakers with artistic guidance, office space, a vibrant creative community, and support from established film industry professionals
Applications Reopen in 2025
Receive access to dedicated professional advisors, office space & editing suites, and specialized industry talks & mixers. Applications reopen in Summer 2025. Check back here for updates.
Where Bay Area Filmmakers Connect
FilmHouse provides an environment where local filmmakers can gather with their colleagues, collaborate on projects together, share resources, get peer-to-peer feedback, find new networks, and more
A Dedicated Support Structure
FilmHouse residents get year-round access to a strong network of support from professional advisors, SFFILM Makers staff, visiting industry professionals, and established artists from the Bay Area and beyond
Year-Round Filmmaker Programming
The SFFILM Makers team programs a robust array of timely and engaging filmmaker events at FilmHouse, including industry talks, table reads, work-in-progress screenings, pitch sessions, and more
Join Our Community
FilmHouse—the only year-round filmmaker residency program of its kind in the United States—supports narrative and documentary films by making office space available to independent filmmakers actively engaged in various stages of production. Located in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, FilmHouse is made possible by the generous support of the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, San Francisco Film Commission (FilmSF), SF Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. FilmHouse provides essential support to local and visiting filmmakers by fostering a thriving creative community that encourages collaboration, resource sharing, peer-to-peer feedback and networking opportunities. A major component of SFFILM’s Artist Development program, FilmHouse functions as a vibrant workshop and creative hub for filmmakers of all kinds.
FilmHouse currently holds around 20 filmmakers engaged in 12-month residencies, all working in all stages of production from research to post-production. Typically throughout the year there are roughly 10–20 visiting filmmakers from our other Artist Development programs that utilize the FilmHouse workspace
Not sure if full-time residency is right for you, but want to check out FilmHouse events? Sign up to the Filmmaker Interest List to get more information!
SFFILM Makers Creative Advisory Board
All residents have access to consultation from the SFFILM Makers Creative Advisory Board, as well as to a robust guest speaker series featuring lectures and presentations by leading industry professionals, resident-led workshops and work-in-progress screenings, invitations to SFFILM networking events, and numerous other community-building programs.
Current Advisors:
Maria Altamirano
Sydney Lowe
Rosa Morales
Joshua Moore
Masashi Niwano
Nico Opper
Taylor Wildenhaus
Tasha Van Zandt
FAQs
Do I need to live in the Bay Area?
Yes, all residents must reside full-time in the Bay Area.
When are applicants notified?
Applicants will be notified of their status by early-December
Do you only support Feature-length Documentaries and Narratives?
The residency program supports filmmakers working on documentary, fiction, and hybrid feature-length films as well as shorts and episodics.
What is a co-applicant? How do I know if someone on my team qualifies as a co-applicant?
A co-applicant in the case of the FilmHouse application, is a close collaborator like a co-director/writer or producer that will participate in the residency alongside you as a FilmHouse resident. A co-applicant is expected to actively participate in the residency to the same extent as the primary applicant and will be given full access to the residency. However, if you have a team member that is not sure they can commit to a full residency, they will still be allowed to attend meetings alongside you and work in the FilmHouse space as your guest.
What are the Accessibility Details for the SFFILM FilmHouse?
The SFFILM FilmHouse is ADA accessible and wheelchair accessible. SFFILM Filmhouse is located on the second floor of the building. There is an elevator in the rear of the building. Accessibility accommodations can be requested for various FilmHouse programs, both in-person and virtual.
Are there accessible bathroom stalls?
Yes. On the SFFILM Filmhouse level, there is a women’s and men’s restroom, both with ADA stalls. There is also an all-gender, ADA accessible restroom on the ground floor
What are the Public Transportation & Parking Details?
SFFILM Filmhouse is approximately a 20-minute walk from Civic Center BART station. Metered street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods, and is generally free after 6 pm PT and on Sundays.