Now Presenting: Fiscal Sponsorships with Filmmaker's Mixtape

The OTV team was introduced to Filmmaker's Mixtape early last year. It launched with a splash, an intimate cohort of intersectional filmmakers creating one film a month over an entire year! Filmmaker’s Mixtape is dedicated to empowering filmmakers by fostering a hands-on, fast-paced, and practical approach to filmmaking. Through its unique challenge-based model, the program mentors participants in creating short films with readily available resources, encouraging them to embrace constraint as a catalyst for creativity. Reminiscent of our Brave Futures program, OTV was deeply connected with the ethos and values that the initiative placed on community storytelling and resources-sharing.  By focusing on process over perfection, Filmmaker’s Mixtape cultivates an environment where filmmakers can build confidence, sharpen their skills, and grow as artists and human beings.

Briana Clearly

The program comes from the brilliant mind of Briana Clearly, a filmmaker and mentor who has long been in #OTVMultiverse who we have collaborated with many times over the years. Check out the Briana Clearly Collection here. The first cohort was comprised of OTV fam as well, Ahlaam Delange, Felton Kizer, and Kin Marie.  

We are thrilled to announce that this year OTV is the proud fiscal sponsor of Filmmaker's Mixtape! We could not be more honored to be a part of this powerful effort and to kick off our brand new Fiscal Sponsorship program with Filmmaker’s Mixtape second cohort (left to right below): Jellystone Robinson, Ashley Tyler, Sydney Hart, JAH, and Brenden Mahoney.

This cohort has been releasing short films on the 28th of every month starting in February 2025 and going through January 2026. Meet them at their very first showcase: The Filmmaker’s Mixtape Summer Showcase at the Chicago Cultural Center on June 4th.

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary and take a pause this year, we want to emphasize that while our marquee programs are on hold, our commitment to artist development remains unwavering. We are thrilled to amplify Filmmaker’s Mixtape as part of this ongoing dedication. This project represents the first of many initiatives aimed at fostering a more circular, generative economy for artists within our community. Our focus is on expanding knowledge, nurturing growth, and holding the door open for the next generation of intersectional storytellers.

Stay locked to our socials for more activations with Filmmaker’s Mixtape.

If you have an artist development initiative that would benefit the OTV community looking for Fiscal Sponsorship, please consider applying here.