Learn more about: Dr. Sylvia M. Bugg Creative Voices Initiative | Accelerator Fellowship

APPLICATIONS FOR THE IGNITE FILMMAKERS PROGRAM OPEN EARLY-JANUARY 2027

PBS provides a service to all Americans by presenting programs that share a wide variety of perspectives. We also remain committed to opening doors for talented individuals from a range of backgrounds to innovate and deliver on our mission. 

The Dr. Sylvia M. Bugg Creative Voices Initiative supports filmmakers, producers, journalists, and other media professionals who have experienced barriers to entering the media industry.

The PBS Ignite Filmmakers Program puts this commitment into practice through a one-year, part-time, virtual experience for early-career professionals. Ignite Fellows receive $10,000 paid in monthly installments over the year. They work with experienced mentors, take part in professional development, and have the opportunity to produce an episode of a PBS digital series. The program supports each fellow’s growth and brings new voices into key editorial roles in the production process.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:  

 -Self-identify as an early career filmmaker
 

-Have been credited as producer or director on at least 2 short or feature length documentary / unscripted films that have been distributed publicly through a third party (accepted at a film festival, streaming/television broadcast or public event). This does not include films that were a part of a student production.

-Have experienced barriers to entering the media industry and can share how the barriers encountered have affected their access to professional opportunities or career development, as well as steps taken to navigate or overcome them.

-Be available for the full one-year length of the Fellowship.

Apply: Applications open early-January 2027
Deadline: January 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
Notification Date: Late March 2027 
Fellowship Dates: May 2027 - April 2028 (one year)

PROGRAM OFFERINGS

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MONTHLY WORKSHOPS

A staple of the Ignite program are its workshops. Sessions are led by public media professionals and cover the craft and business of the industry. Past workshops include writing  treatments and proposals, pitching, budgeting, funding strategies, story development, licensing, distribution, and standards and practices. In addition, Fellows complete assignments throughout the year and receive a monthly stipend for their participation.

MENTORING: Each Ignite fellow meets one-on-one with their mentor every month. The matching is deliberate: PBS uses detailed profiles from both sides to pair each fellow with an accomplished public media professional whose background and skills line up with what that fellow is building. Mentors bring years of practice and answer the questions that are hard to ask elsewhere. Over the course of the fellowship, those conversations become a steady place to think out loud, get specific guidance on fellowship assignments, and map what comes next.

NETWORKING: PBS provides meaningful opportunities for fellows to connect with senior leaders and executives across public media through both virtual and in-person gatherings. These conversations are designed to be approachable and candid, offering participants a chance to learn from lived experience, ask questions, and build genuine relationships that can open doors and support their next steps.

COHORT SUPPORT: In addition to monthly workshops, fellows meet virtual for facilitated cohort meetings designed to foster connection, shared learning, and collective growth. These gatherings create space for peer exchange, reflection, and encouragement, allowing participants to learn from one another’s experiences while building a supportive professional community that extends beyond the fellowship.

IN-PERSON GATHERINGS

The Ignite Filmmakers Program convenes at the PBS Annual Meeting, May 10-12, 2027, in Nashville, TN. Fellows are required to attend and will receive complimentary access, roundtrip travel, and accommodations.  There are additional opportunities for in-person gatherings throughout the year.

STIPEND

Ignite Fellows receive $10,000 paid in monthly installments over the year for their participation in the program.

TIME COMMITMENT

Fellows should be able to commit to up to 15 hours per month on meetings, assignments, and other activities.

MEET THE 2025 - 2026 IGNITE FELLOWS

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Ignite fellows reflect on their year within the program and how its shaped them.

MEET THE 2023 - 2024 IGNITE FELLOWS

THE IMPACT

Ignite fellows devoted hours of production work and brought fresh perspectives to every project, helping shape PBS programming for public media audiences, including producing and directing a new Digital Studios series called "The Story in Us."

INDEPENDENT EVALUATION

PBS partnered with consulting firm Brighter Strategies to evaluate the Ignite fellows experience through surveys and interviews conducted at three stages, concluding in a final assessment of program outcomes. From the outset, the firm collaborated closely with PBS to design a comprehensive evaluation protocol that captured both qualitative and quantitative insights. This included confidential, one-on-one interviews with fellows. The resulting report offered a thorough analysis and a set of evidence-based conclusions that continue to inform and strengthen the Ignite Filmmakers Program ongoing work.

Takeaways

When this began, I remember wondering what it might be like to work with PBS. Everyone I met back then described it as a family, a place where people are valued and seen. Through the journey we’ve shared, I’ve come to see exactly what they meant, and it’s been a privilege to experience it firsthand.

-Ignite Filmmaker

I’ve never come across another organization that cares for storytellers with the same level of thoughtfulness, care, and equity. I feel truly grateful for your trust.

-Ignite Filmmaker