Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the LA Film Festival, has selected 30 filmmakers for Project Involve, the organization’s signature diversity mentorship program, that this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Project Involve Program fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry. Project Involve alumni include Effie T. Brown (Dear White People), Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation,Step Up 2: The Streets); Cherien Dabis (Amreeka, Empire), Javier Fuentes-León (The Vanished Elephant, Undertow), Kahlil Joseph (Lemonade), Mako Kamitsuna (Mudbound, Pariah), Tina Mabry (Queen Sugar) and Justin Simien (Dear White People).
Project Involve is a free nine-month program for writers, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and entertainment executives from diverse backgrounds. During the program, participants meet one-on-one with film industry mentors, create short films, attend master-workshops taught by top film professionals and industry networking events. Project Involve Fellows receive passes to the Film Independent Forum, Directors Close-Up and LA Film Festival. The 2018 Project Involve participants were selected based on the quality of their projects, their passion, vision, talent, and commitment to pursuing a career in the film industry.
“Film Independent is thrilled to welcome the 2018 Project Involve Fellows and celebrate 25 years of being a place where so many talented filmmakers from every facet of our multi-cultural community have been nurtured to grow and become the wonderful storytellers they are now,” said Francisco Velasquez, Senior Manager of Project Involve. “Our immense gratitude goes out to all of our sponsors, mentors, advisors and friends who, with their constant support, have made Project Involve the premier diversity program it is today and will continue to be for generations to come.”
Kiehl’s Since 1851 is returning for the fourth year as lead funder of the Project Involve Shorts. Kiehl’s is proud to continue to support this important arts education program that celebrates diversity in independent filmmaking.
Film Independent also announced the continued studio support of the program, with several donor-named fellowships for the 2018 Project Involve program: 21st Century Fox Global Inclusion will support two Fellows, one on the creative track and one on the executive track; Amazon Studios Film Fellowship, which will be presented to a visionary filmmaker; LAIKA Fellowship, which will support a director working in animation; the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television Fellowship, which will be presented to an LMU alumnus; the Participant Media Fellowship; and the 6th annual, Sony Pictures Entertainment Diversity Fellowship. Each Fellowship underwrites one Fellow’s participation in Project Involve and includes a $10,000 unrestricted cash grant for the filmmaker. In addition, the third annual Sony Pictures Executive Track Fellowship will provide a year-long paid executive training fellowship in development and production with Columbia Pictures along with participation and mentorship through Project Involve.
Past Project Involve Mentors include Ava DuVernay (Selma); Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight); Barry Jenkins (Moonlight); Spike Jonze (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich); Charles D. King (Fences, Mudbound); Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Memento); Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants); Christine Vachon (Carol, Boys Don’t Cry); Forest Whitaker (Arrival, The Last King of Scotland) and Bradford Young, ASC (A Most Violent Year, Selma).
This year’s Project Involve Fellows by track are:
CINEMATOGRAPHERS
Bruce Cole
Ante Cheng
Michael Dallatorre
Bongani Mlambo
Zamarin Wahdat
DIRECTORS
Sam Bailey
Marques Green
Faren Humes
Iesh Thapar
Daniel Willis
EDITORS
Shayar Bhansali
Autumn Dea
Ruben Navarro
Steph Zenee Perez
EXECUTIVES
Jamilah Alston
Sheri Bradford
Kimberly Han
PRODUCERS
Ashim Ahuja
Katherine Fisher
Melina Lizette
Mariyam Mahbub
Diego Najera
Yu-Hao Su
Diana Ward
WRITERS
Tasha Henderson
Sahar Jahani
Henry “Hank” Jones
Kase Pena
Jessica Shields
Film Independent Artist Development promotes unique independent voices by helping filmmakers create and advance new work through its Filmmaker Labs (Directing, Documentary, Episodic, Producing and Screenwriting), Grants Program which awards over $800K annually to filmmakers, the Fast Track finance market, and Fiscal Sponsorship Program.
For information on all past Film Independent Fellows, please visit our online Film Independent Talent Guide.
Film Independent’s Project Involve is supported by Artist Development Lead Funder Time Warner Foundation, Lead Sponsor Turner, and Project Involve Shorts Lead Funder Kiehl’s Since 1851. Principal Sponsors include 21st Century Fox Global Inclusion, EFilm | Deluxe, HBO, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television, National Endowment for the Arts and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The program is also supported by Amazon Studios, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Formosa Group, LAIKA, Participant Media, and The Camera Division.
