The Cheech Film Program Residency is a one year, hands-on mentorship opportunity for those seeking vital industry experience and exposure through stories that celebrate the Inland Empire’s culture, history, and landscape.

Residency application submissions will be considered on a project-basis; stipends will be awarded to productions rather than to individual filmmakers. 

The selection committee will choose three standout projects, each of which will be awarded a production stipend of up to $10,000. 

The Cheech Film Program will connect the filmmakers of each selected project with local and regional film industry resources to guide them through their production cycle, assist with publicity and marketing, and host a screening at the museum’s expense in the U.S. Bank Video Gallery

We are looking for people who are excited by the opportunity to gain filmmaking and content creation skills, want to learn more about pathways into the film industry, are seeking mentorship, or are interested in exploring filmmaking as a vehicle for storytelling.

We strongly encourage emerging filmmakers with connections to the Inland Empire who identify as any of the following to submit a residency application:

• A filmmaker/creator aged 18 – 24 who is seeking mentorship on a film set
• A filmmaking industry professional of any age residing and/or creating work in the Inland Empire who is interested in working on a set that prioritizes mentorship opportunities 
• A filmmaker who identifies with the Chicano / American Latino / Indigenous experience
• A filmmaker who can frame essential societal conversations about local communities

The Film Residency at The Cheech is a year-long production that will run from September 2026 to June 2027. Residency stipends will be awarded on a project basis rather than to individual filmmakers. 

Three stipends will be awarded: two Short Film Awards and one Feature Finish Award. To apply for the Short Film Award, a production must have a completed draft of the script, a director and at least one producer attached. To apply for the Feature Finish Award, a production must submit a complete edit of their film already in picture-lock. See How do I apply for more information.

Stipend recipients will meet with The Cheech Film Program team at least once a month to report on production progress, attend networking events and workshops, and participate in media events. 

Culminating events will take place in June 2027, in time to celebrate five years of The Cheech!

The short films will be screened in the U.S. Bank Video Gallery at The Cheech, and the completed feature film will screen to a private, invite-only audience to maintain eligibility for acceptance into major international film festivals. 

Recipients of the Short Film Award will receive
(1) personalized guidance from pre-production through post-production
(2) mentorship from the Cheech Film Program Team and local Inland Empire-based filmmakers
(3) a stipend of up to $10,000 to fund the production of a short film 2 – 7 minutes max in length
(4) guidance in applying to film festivals
(5) strategic media exposure (as applicable/possible).  

Recipients of the Feature Finish Award will receive
(1) personalized guidance and mentorship from The Cheech Film Program and local Inland Empire-based filmmakers
(2) a stipend of up to $10,000 to complete post-production on a feature film already in picture-lock
(3) guidance in applying to film festivals
(4) strategic media exposure (as applicable/possible). 

The application period opens July 1, 2026 and closes on August 15, 2026. Finalists will be contacted for an interview with the selection committee; stipend recipients will be notified of their selection by October 1, 2026. 

All applicants please submit the following materials to [email protected] and in the subject line indicate FILM RESIDENCY APPLICATION – [Applicant’s Full Name]

• Your contact information 
• A CV and/or link to a one-minute professional reel of your best filmmaking work
• A short statement from the director and/or producer(s) of the film explaining what  your project is about and why this story demands to be told  
  
• For Short Film Award applicants:
  • A completed draft of your script (2-7 pages)
  • A preliminary budget outlining how the project funding will be allocated (up to $10,000)
    
• For Feature Finish Award applicants:
  • A link to your edited film already in picture-lock
  • A preliminary budget outlining your remaining post-production expenses and how the project funding will be allocated (up to $10,000)

Selection: Finalists may be invited to interview with the review committee.

For questions regarding the residency program, please email [email protected] , and in the subject line indicate FILM RESIDENCY QUESTION.