The UFO Short Film Lab has officially announced the three distinguished filmmakers selected to join its highly competitive Cycle IV, set to commence next month. Hana Elias, Katherine Clary, and Edward Nguyen will embark on an intensive 18-month program designed to cultivate and amplify early-career cinematic talent, each receiving substantial financial backing and unparalleled industry resources. Their selection comes from a record pool of 287 applications, underscoring the lab’s increasing prestige and vital role in fostering independent filmmaking. Concurrently, Daisy Friedman, Carin Leong, and Emilio Subía, who were part of the previous Spring 2026 selection, will continue their journey through the current cycle, further developing and directing new projects under the lab’s comprehensive guidance.
A Beacon for Emerging Filmmakers: The UFO Short Film Lab Mission
Established in 2023, the UFO Short Film Lab has rapidly distinguished itself as a pivotal force in the independent film landscape, committed to nurturing the next generation of storytellers. The program’s core philosophy revolves around providing a robust, multi-faceted support system that transcends mere financial assistance, aiming instead to empower filmmakers with the tools, knowledge, and network necessary to bring their unique visions to fruition. This holistic approach is critical in an industry often characterized by formidable barriers to entry for emerging artists.
The 18-month duration of the lab is meticulously designed to allow fellows ample time for profound creative exploration and project development. Unlike shorter, more intensive workshops, UFO’s extended timeline facilitates a deeper engagement with the filmmaking process, enabling participants to develop and direct two distinct original short films. This dual-project structure is particularly beneficial, offering fellows the opportunity to experiment with different narratives, styles, or genres, thereby broadening their artistic repertoire and demonstrating versatility to future collaborators and funders.
Central to the lab’s appeal is its significant financial commitment to each participant. A grant of $20,000 is awarded to each fellow, allocated at $10,000 per project. This direct funding is instrumental in covering essential production costs, from pre-production research and development to shooting expenses, post-production, and festival submission fees. For independent filmmakers, especially those at the early stages of their careers, securing adequate funding is often the most challenging hurdle. UFO’s direct investment alleviates this pressure, allowing artists to focus primarily on their craft rather than constant fundraising.
Beyond financial aid, the UFO Short Film Lab offers a suite of invaluable resources. Fellows benefit from complimentary rentals of ZEISS’s newest lenses, providing access to state-of-the-art cinematic technology that might otherwise be financially prohibitive. ZEISS lenses are renowned for their optical quality and cinematic aesthetic, enabling fellows to achieve a professional visual standard for their projects. This partnership underscores the lab’s commitment to equipping filmmakers with the highest caliber tools.
The educational component is equally robust, featuring seminar-style workshop sessions hosted at the iconic Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). BAM, a cornerstone of New York City’s cultural landscape, provides an inspiring and prestigious setting for these sessions. These workshops are not merely theoretical; they are designed to be interactive and practical, covering various aspects of filmmaking, from script development and directing techniques to distribution strategies and navigating the festival circuit. Facilitated by industry veterans and experts, these sessions offer invaluable insights and opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and networking.
Crucially, the program emphasizes one-on-one creative mentorship from the dedicated UFO team and a rotating roster of invited guests. This personalized guidance is perhaps one of the most impactful aspects of the lab. Mentors provide critical feedback, strategic advice, and emotional support, helping fellows refine their artistic voice, overcome creative challenges, and develop a sustainable career path. The relationship between mentor and mentee often extends beyond the program, fostering long-term professional connections and continued guidance.
A Track Record of Success: From Lab to Laurels
Since its inception in 2023, the UFO Short Film Lab has quickly established a formidable track record of success, with films produced through the program gaining significant recognition on the international festival circuit. This rapid ascent validates the lab’s model and the caliber of talent it attracts and supports. Films developed within the lab have graced the screens of prestigious festivals such including Sundance, South by Southwest (SXSW), True/False, Palm Springs ShortFest, and DOC NYC. These acceptances are not just accolades; they are crucial stepping stones for emerging filmmakers, providing platforms for exposure, networking, and attracting further opportunities for funding and collaboration.
A particularly shining example of the lab’s impact is UFO Fellow Arielle Knight’s "The Boys and the Bees." This powerful non-fiction short received the coveted Short Jury Award for Non-Fiction at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, one of the most prestigious honors for short-form documentary cinema. This award automatically qualifies the film for consideration for the 2027 Academy Awards, a monumental achievement that catapults Knight and the UFO Lab into the highest echelons of film recognition. Such a qualification not only brings immense visibility to the film and its creator but also serves as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of the UFO Short Film Lab in identifying and nurturing Oscar-contending talent. The success of "The Boys and the Bees" sends a clear message about the lab’s commitment to fostering impactful, high-quality storytelling that resonates with global audiences and industry professionals alike.
Introducing the Cycle IV Fellows: Diverse Voices and Visionary Projects
The three new fellows for Cycle IV, Katherine Clary, Hana Elias, and Edward Nguyen, represent a compelling cross-section of contemporary filmmaking talent, each bringing a distinct perspective and artistic methodology to the lab. Their projects span both non-fiction and scripted narratives, promising a rich and varied output.
Katherine Clary (she/her)
An Arizona-born, New York-based filmmaker and writer, Katherine Clary’s work is deeply rooted in philosophical inquiry and a profound interest in how personal loss can reframe our perception of the landscapes, institutions, and histories that define our existence. Her previous work has garnered critical attention, screening at esteemed festivals such as the Camden International Film Festival, DOC NYC, Telluride, and the Athens International Film + Video Festival. Her inaugural short film, "A DESERT IS AN OCEAN," made its premiere at the Woodstock Film Festival in 2023, signaling her arrival as a compelling voice in non-fiction cinema.
For her UFO Short Film Lab project, Clary delves into the stark and poignant landscape of the Arizona desert. Her non-fiction short film will explore the striking overlap of two profoundly different sites: a potter’s field, where the unclaimed dead find their final resting place, and an airfield serving as a crucial training ground for the U.S. Air Force’s most advanced fighter pilots. Through meticulous observation of the land itself, the human labor that sustains it, and the diverse individuals who traverse its expanse, Clary’s film aims to illuminate the complex intersections of grief and state power within this singular desert environment. Her Instagram handle, @katherine__clary, offers a glimpse into her artistic world.
Hana Elias (she/her)
Hana Elias is a versatile filmmaker and journalist, whose practice bridges the vibrant cultural landscapes of Palestine and New York. Her artistic endeavors are characterized by an exploration of landscapes, archives, and inherited memory, investigating how the very act of storytelling can become a potent form of resilience. Elias has already achieved significant recognition for her work; her latest short documentary, "WHERE THE WIND BLOWS," secured the prestigious 2022 IF/Then x The Redford Center Nature Access Pitch. The film subsequently toured an impressive festival circuit, including DOC NYC, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and the Arab Film Festival, where it was honored with a jury prize for Best Short Documentary. Her prior accolades include a Firelight Media Documentary Lab Fellowship, a BRIC Film and TV Lab residency, and the Best Pitch Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival for her feature project, "IF THESE STONES COULD TALK," which is currently in development.
Elias’s project for the UFO Short Film Lab promises a deeply humanistic exploration of identity and representation. Utilizing the unique lens of a vintage large-format camera, the film follows photographer Adam Rouhana as he establishes mobile studios across various Palestinian cities. This documentary short poses fundamental questions about the nature of photography itself, examining how individuals engage with their own image and the boundless depths of their imagination. As participants step into Rouhana’s frame, moments of raw creativity and spontaneous expression transform brief encounters into a collective, intimate portrait of contemporary Palestinian life. Her Instagram, @hana.elias, provides further insight into her compelling work.
Edward Nguyen (he/him)
A Vietnamese-American writer-director, Edward Nguyen divides his time between the dynamic cultural hubs of New York and Austin, Texas. A recent alumnus of Yale University, Nguyen’s distinctive cinematic voice explores the intricate intersections of Vietnamese/diasporic experience and queerness. His narratives frequently incorporate elements of kink, folklore, and the surreal, drawing inspiration from Southeast Asian and slow cinema auteurs. His work grapples with themes of national collective memory and trauma, and boldly challenges conventional, often one-dimensional, depictions of queerness and contemporary Vietnam. Nguyen’s debut short film, "Mẽ HÁ»’I (SWEAT)," premiered to critical acclaim at BFI Flare in March 2026, marking a significant milestone in his emerging career.
Nguyen’s UFO Short Film Lab project is a scripted surreal, queer drama. The narrative follows a construction worker who ventures deep into the heart of the Vietnamese jungle, seeking anonymous sexual pleasure. However, his journey takes an unexpected turn as he stumbles into a phantasmagoric encounter with his own inner self, promising a visually striking and psychologically complex exploration of identity, desire, and the subconscious. His Instagram handle, @edwardqnguyen, showcases his unique artistic sensibility.
Continuing Their Journey: Daisy Friedman, Carin Leong, and Emilio Subía
The UFO Short Film Lab also extends its commitment to three fellows selected in Spring 2026: Daisy Friedman, Carin Leong, and Emilio Subía. These talented individuals will continue their participation through the current cycle, further developing and directing new films that build upon their initial work within the lab. While specific project details for their new films are currently under wraps, their continued involvement underscores the lab’s multi-cycle support structure, allowing for sustained creative growth and project realization. Their presence reinforces the sense of community and ongoing artistic dialogue that the UFO Short Film Lab cultivates among its fellows.
The Broader Impact: Nurturing Independent Cinema
The overwhelming response to the Cycle IV call for applications—287 submissions for just three coveted spots—is a clear indicator of the profound need for programs like the UFO Short Film Lab within the independent film ecosystem. In an increasingly competitive and commercialized industry, opportunities for emerging filmmakers to receive substantial financial, technical, and mentorship support are scarce. The lab fills a critical void, offering a lifeline to artists who might otherwise struggle to finance and produce their early works.
The success stories emanating from the UFO Short Film Lab, particularly the Oscar-qualifying achievement of Arielle Knight, highlight the immense potential of investing in diverse, early-career talent. Short films, often viewed as calling cards, serve as vital stepping stones for filmmakers to hone their craft, develop their voice, and gain the attention of producers, distributors, and funding bodies for future feature-length projects. By focusing on this foundational stage, the UFO Short Film Lab is effectively building a pipeline for innovative and impactful cinema, ensuring a vibrant future for independent storytelling.
Furthermore, the strategic partnerships with institutions like the Brooklyn Academy of Music and industry leaders such as ZEISS demonstrate a collaborative approach to talent development. These alliances not only provide tangible resources but also lend significant credibility and exposure to the fellows, integrating them into a broader professional network from the outset of their careers. The commitment to supporting both non-fiction and scripted projects, and embracing diverse themes such as diasporic experiences, queerness, philosophical inquiry, and social observation, reinforces the lab’s dedication to fostering a rich tapestry of cinematic narratives that reflect the complexities of the contemporary world. As Cycle IV commences, the film community eagerly anticipates the fresh perspectives and groundbreaking works that will emerge from this dynamic and increasingly influential program.
