502 Film Launches Kentucky’s First Narrative Short Film Incubator with Support from the Community Foundation of Louisville
Authored by Soozie Eastman of 502 Film
May 14, 2025 — 502 Film, a leading Kentucky film industry advocate dedicated to nurturing a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative film industry through production attraction, infrastructure growth, and workforce development, is proud to announce the launch of the 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab. A first-of-its-kind in the state of Kentucky, the filmmaker incubator will focus on advancing short-form narrative storytelling in the Louisville region. Backed by the generous support of the Community Foundation of Louisville, the Lab will take place October 12–24, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Now open to applicants, this immersive, 10-day incubator lab marks a new chapter for regional filmmakers, offering emerging and underrepresented storytellers professional mentorship, project development, and direct access to industry leaders—all while planting deeper roots in Kentucky’s creative economy.
“502 Film was established to attract film and television productions to our region and develop workforce training opportunities to grow our local creative community, economy, and infrastructure. With 3 years of incredible growth of the film industry across our state, we are ecstatic that, through the generous support of the Community Foundation of Louisville, we can expand our programming to nurture and support filmmakers from within our own city,” shared 502 Film President Soozie Eastman.
The 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab is committed to growing inclusive, regional storytelling. For its first year, six to eight Louisville-based filmmaking teams will be selected for the inaugural cohort. Two additional spots may be added for filmmakers from Eastern Kentucky nominated through Lab partner Appalshop. Special emphasis will be placed on including underrepresented voices in the film industry in the Lab.
The selected teams—each consisting of a director and a producer—will receive 10 days of intensive mentorship from industry professionals, including screenwriters, directors, and producers, as well as accommodations, and a $1,500 team stipend. Additional guest speakers will join periodically during the Lab for masterclass sessions to infuse knowledge about specialized topics such as festival and distribution strategy, career and business advising, and marketing and PR.
The 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab will culminate in a live pitch session, where Fellows present their projects to a curated audience of community stakeholders, arts benefactors, and emerging film investors. This will run in parallel with a Film Literacy Masterclass, designed for local investors and benefactors interested in exploring the art and business of supporting local filmmakers and film productions.
Lisa Hasko, one of the nation’s foremost leaders in filmmaker support and current Head of Exchanges at the American Film Showcase, serves as Lab Consultant. Formerly Director of Artist Development at Film Independent, Hasko brings 15+ years of experience and a deep network of collaborators and institutions such as Netflix, CNN, and the Sloan Foundation. “I’m honored to collaborate with 502 Film in creating a space where bold, diverse filmmakers from the Louisville area can bring their visions to life. This new initiative is about championing their unique perspectives while providing meaningful support from industry professionals. It’s a place to celebrate creativity, foster community, and develop exciting new work that will help propel these artists forward in their careers,” said Hasko.
Financial support for the 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab was garnered through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Louisville. “The Community Foundation of Louisville’s support for the 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab reflects a shared commitment to nurturing creativity, fostering collaboration, promoting local talent, and uplifting underrepresented voices. As Louisville continues to grow into a dynamic cinematic hub, initiatives like these serve to create a future filled with innovation and storytelling through film,” said Ron Gallo, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Louisville.
“When choosing a name for our Lab, we drew inspiration from the front porch of the American South. This symbol of community and connection is the place where so many great stories are told, and is welcoming to all. We are honored to create this opportunity for artists to step into a space made to be both professionally challenging and nurturing to develop stories that are a reflection of our incredibly talented region,” Eastman added.
Application Details
- Applications open: May 14, 2025
- Deadline: June 30, 2025
- Notifications: Late July, 2025
- Lab Dates: October 12–24, 2025
Eligible applicants must reside in Louisville or one of the surrounding counties (Jefferson, Oldham, Spencer, Bullitt, or Shelby), be at least 18 years old at the time of the Lab, and have a short narrative script (max 30 pages). Selected teams must be available in person for the full duration of the Lab. For full eligibility requirements, FAQs, and to apply, visit www.502film.org/frontporch.