The Shockwaves Podcast and Etheria are proud to announce open submissions for the 2020 Stephanie Rothman Fellowship for women film students who are, or want to, make horror, science fiction, action, fantasy, and thriller films. In its second year, the Fellowship is open to any identifying women in an undergraduate or graduate university or college film school program around the world. Applications are open now through April 1, 2020.

The brainchild of horror scholar and USC film professor Rebekah McKendry and festival pioneers Heidi Honeycutt and Stacy Pippi of Etheria, the world’s most respected annual showcase of new sci-fi, fantasy, action, thriller and horror films directed by women, the fellowship is meant to recognize and reward the creativity and passion of female film students with an innovative take on genre filmmaking. Those wishing to donate directly to the fund may do so via PayPal at RothmanDonations@yahoo.com.

The 2019 recipient was Issa Lopez, who used the funds from the Fellowship to finish post-production on her short horror pilot teaser EXORCISM 101. Lopez was selected for the Fellowship based on her strong horror comedy script and personal statement. “My goal was to be inclusive with my own gender and give them [the crew] the opportunity to show that women can fill out any position in the entertainment industry, from cinematography to gripping,” says Lopez of her film crew. “These women are an inspiration to continue movie forward into this project, with their dedication, devotion, and support.”

The recipient of the second Stephanie Rothman Fellowship will be announced in June 2020 at the Etheria Film Night showcase at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. In June 2017, Etheria honored director Rothman with the festival’s Inspiration Award for her body of directing work in horror, comedy, and thrillers such as The Student Nurses (1970), The Velvet Vampire (1971), and Terminal Island (1974). Rothman was hired by producer Roger Corman in 1966 to direct additional scenes for a horror film release, making her the first woman in history to direct a modern horror film. Rothman attended USC for film and was a co-founder of Dimension Films.

This fellowship will be awarded by passionate genre film professionals (who also happen to be genre film fans) looking to encourage and monetarily aid like-minded women filmmakers. The fellowship funds can be used towards any film school-related expenses or to fund a film. There is no submission fee. Qualifying students are encouraged to apply via Filmfreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/TheStephanieRothmanScholarshipForWomenStudentFilmmakers.

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Shannon McGrew

Founder/Co-Owner at Nightmarish Conjurings

Shannon is the Founder of Nightmarish Conjurings and a lover of all things horror and haunt related. When she's not obsessively collecting all things "Trick 'R Treat" related, or trying to convince everyone that "Hereditary" is one of the greatest horror films ever made, you can find her designing interiors for commercial restaurants. An avid haunt fan, Shannon spends the entire year visiting haunts and immersive experiences throughout the Southern California area and hopes to one day design her own haunted attraction.

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