502 Film is launching the Front Porch Film Lab. The 10-day incubator lab will focus on short-form narrative filmmaking in the Louisville region. Supported by the Community Foundation of Louisville, the lab will take place Sunday, October 12 – Friday, October 24, in Louisville.
This program is the first of its kind in Kentucky and offers a new opportunity for filmmakers in the Kentuckiana region, including professional mentorship, project development, and direct access to industry decision-makers. 502 Film will pull focus on emerging creatives and storytellers from underrepresented social groups.
Founded by Soozie Eastman in 2021, 502 Film is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to nurturing a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative film industry in Louisville. They offer production attraction, infrastructure growth, and workforce development in partnership with Louisville Tourism. They also serve as the official film agency partner of Louisville Metro.
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“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,” Eastman said. “With three years of incredible growth of the film industry across our state, we are ecstatic that … we can expand our programming to nurture and support filmmakers from within our own city.”
The 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab is committed to nurturing inclusive regional storytelling. For its inaugural year, six to eight Louisville-based filmmaking teams will be selected. Special emphasis will be placed on including underrepresented voices in the film industry.
The selected teams — which will each consist of a director and a producer — will receive 10 days of mentorship from industry professionals, including screenwriters, directors, and producers, as well as accommodations and a $1,500 stipend for their team. Guest speakers will participate over the course of these 10 days to share knowledge about specialized topics like festival and distribution strategy, marketing and public relations and career advising.
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.
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Lisa Hasko, Head of Exchanges at the American Film Showcase, serves as Lab Consultant. Formerly the Director of Artist Development at Film Independent, Hasko brings more than 15 years of experience and an expansive network of collaborators 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,” Hasko said. “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.”
Financial support for the 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab is made possible by a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Louisville. Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation mobilizes people and social networks to inspire positive change in Louisville. The priorities of the Community Foundation are removing barriers to access of capital and resources and securing opportunities for underserved communities.
“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,” said President and CEO Ron Gallo. “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.”
Applications for the 502 Film Front Porch Film Lab are now open. 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 (maximum 30 pages). The application deadline is Monday, June 30. Acceptance notifications will be delivered in July.
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This article appears in May 23 – Jun 5, 2025.