Programming Fellowship
Feroz Mughal
Programming Fellow
Feroz Mughal is a software developer and film programmer based in New Orleans, LA. His passions in film are rooted in championing underserved communities and film as a shared language across cultures. Outside of the festival, he curates a local film screening series with Krewe Da Bhan Gras — showcasing South Asian stories while amplifying their social impact. You can also catch him daydreaming about 2000s-era Bollywood movies in his spare time.
Brian Henry Thompson
Programming Fellow
Brian Thompson acts as Community Partner Coordinator for the New Orleans Film Fest and is part of the New Orleans Film Festival Programming Fellowship focusing on Narrative Shorts and Documentary Features. He creates fine art portraits under the name Benry Fauna, where his influences in art history and traditional film processes pragmatically meet modern and multidisciplinary methods.
Applications are currently closed.
The Programming Department of the New Orleans Film Society offers a paid, seven-month fellowship (April–August) designed for Greater New Orleans-based aspiring film programmers to build skills and experience related to film programming and curation through one season of film review and selection for the New Orleans Film Festival.
Offering a flexible weekly schedule with a hybrid aspect, the fellowship demands on average 5-10 hours per week and comes with a stipend of $1500 and a complimentary pass to the New Orleans Film Festival. Festival attendance is expected.
Fellowship responsibilities include:
- Assisting in the review process of filmmaker-submitted projects, including viewing submissions, completing assessments, and taking part in programmer discussions about the submitted films.
- Meeting with programmers and industry leaders from film institutions to learn about a variety of programming approaches and curatorial practices.
- Taking an active role as part of a fellowship cohort, meeting regularly to discuss screening progress.
- Writing program and promotional copy for films as required
- Attending the New Orleans Film Festival to introduce films/filmmakers and moderate Q&A sessions as required, virtually and in-person
- Completing a post festival survey
No prior film programming experience is required. The fellowship is specifically for individuals based in the Greater New Orleans area and we strongly encourage applications from BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as members of the disability community.
The fellowship is ideal for candidates who possess the following traits:
- A willingness to commit a minimum of 5 hours weekly from April through July watching films and in conversation about those films with a screener group.
- A willingness and ability to describe and support your assessment of a given submission.
- Strict adherence to the confidentiality guidelines established by the NOFS.
- The ability to watch each film assigned in its entirety, without skimming.
- A commitment to watch and rate the films in a timely manner.
- An open-minded, generally positive approach to film and respect for the commitment, work, and vision of every filmmaker.
- An eagerness to diversify the stories we share at NOFF, incorporating more work by new filmmakers, women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.
- No involvement in any capacity with any of the submitted films in your category, including financial or production involvement in the film, or close relationship to filmmakers or producing team.
- Ability to analyze films with a critical eye and offer insight into how well a film might play with New Orleans audiences.