2026 PRESS RELEASE
502 Film Opens Applications for Kentucky’s Only Filmmaker Incubator with Support from the Community Foundation of Louisville
Louisville, KY — May 27, 2026 — 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 second year of the 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab. A first-of-its-kind in the state of Kentucky, this filmmaker incubator focuses on advancing short-form narrative storytelling in the state of Kentucky. Backed by the generous support of the Community Foundation of Louisville, the Lab will take place October 11–23, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky.
This immersive 10-day incubator lab marks a new chapter for Kentucky resident 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. Following the success of last year’s inaugural Lab which focused on filmmakers from Louisville and Eastern Kentucky, we are excited to expand this opportunity to nurture and support filmmakers from across our entire state,” shared 502 Film President Soozie Eastman.
The 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab is committed to growing inclusive, regional storytelling. For its second year, 8-10 Kentucky-based filmmaking teams will be selected for the cohort. Special emphasis will be placed on including underrepresented voices in the film industry in the Lab as well as current and former Governor’s School for the Arts participants and residents from zips codes 40202, 40203, 40208, 40210, 40211, 40212, 40213, 40214, 40215, 40216, 40218, and 40258.
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.
Lisa Hasko, one of the nation’s foremost leaders in filmmaker support and current Director of Artist Development, Innovative Programs at the American Film Institute, serves as Lab Consultant. She has served as Head of Exchanges at the American Film Showcase, a program produced by USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and is former 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.
“The inaugural Front Porch Film Lab proved what’s possible when filmmakers are given meaningful support, creative rigor, and a strong sense of community. The talent and momentum that came out of Louisville last year were remarkable. I’m thrilled to continue working with 502 Film as the Lab enters its second year and expands this investment in regional storytellers and the future of filmmaking in Kentucky,” said Hasko.
Jen Arnold, writer/director/producer of Emily in Paris, American Horror Story, Shameless and lead Lab mentor, adds, “I feel so fortunate to have been a part of the inaugural Front Porch Film Lab. I loved getting to know the Louisville film world and I was blown away by the talent and creative energy of the cohort. I’m thrilled to return and I can’t wait to see how the Lab grows.”
“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 27, 2026
Deadline: July 6th, 2026
Notifications: Late July 2026
Lab Dates: October 11–23, 2026
Eligible applicants must reside in Kentucky, 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 https://www.filmlouisville.org/frontporch.
Behind-the-scenes still images of the 2025 Front Porch Film Lab and local film industry can be found here. Please credit the name on the folder for the BTS images and 502 Film for the Front Porch images.
About 502 Film
Founded in 2021, 502 Film is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to nurturing a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative film industry through production attraction, infrastructure growth, and workforce development. They are in partnership with Louisville Tourism and are recognized as the film agency of Metro Louisville.
About Community Foundation of Louisville
Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation of Louisville mobilizes people, networks, and capital to spark meaningful change in and beyond Louisville. With over $800 million in assets, over 2,200 charitable funds, and collaborations with hundreds of local partners, we connect philanthropic investments with relevant causes. The Foundation has addressed and continues to address a wide range of community needs. The key priorities of the Foundation’s mission are to remove barriers to accessing capital and resources and to open opportunities for all. Learn more at cflouisville.org.
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