As today’s filmmaking production struggles to find a place to land anywhere in the United States, the Trilith Institute is encouraging emerging filmmakers already based in Georgia to make their movies and TV stories there. And with funding, a stipend, and mentorship to boot.
The nonprofit Trilith Institute announced today that applications for its 2026 Emerging Creative Residency (ECR) will open October 10. (Applications on its website are now live here.) Now entering its third year, the flagship program provides filmmakers who live in Georgia with housing in the Town at Trilith, plus $100,000 in production funding, a living stipend, focused mentorship, and access to industry resources. Selected writers and directors working in independent film will be supervised and mentored from development through production and distribution.
The Institute’s first two residents have already found success. The 2024 ECR grantee, Ebony Blanding premiered the feature film “A Mess of Memories” at the BronzeLens Film Festival in Georgia, where it won multiple awards. The 2025 recipient, Christian Noél, is currently in production on an original half-hour comedy pilot developed through the program. The series, billed as “Caddyshack” meets “Parks and Recreation,” is Trilith Institute’s first TV project.
“With our first feature film and now a television pilot, we are truly realizing the mission of Trilith Institute: to foster and retain the next generation of storytellers here in Georgia,” said Jeffrey Stepakoff, president and CEO of Trilith Institute, in a press statement shared with IndieWire. “By empowering emerging writers and directors like Ebony and Christian with meaningful resources, mentorship, and industry access, we are building a sustainable creative pipeline that keeps talent rooted in our state while contributing fresh voices to the global storytelling landscape.”
Applications for the 2026 ECR are open now through November 7, 2025, at trilithinstitute.org. The selected resident will receive a year-long immersive experience, both living and working at Trilith while developing their original project with the guidance of industry professionals.
The nonprofit Trilith Institute is focused on building up a robust entertainment landscape in Georgia, through education and workforce development. The brand also includes Trilith Studios, located in Fayette County, which has hosted Marvel productions from “Loki” on TV to multiple “Avengers” films. Most recently, out of the DCU, James Gunn’s “Superman” shot at Trilith as well, plus “Agatha All Along” and “Thunderbolts.”
More details about the residency are here.