Sundance Institute, Disney launch fund to support underrepresented directors
The Park City-based nonprofit Sundance Institute and The Walt Disney Studios have announced the establishment of the Project Advancement and Completion Fund, an initiative designed to provide grants to fiction directors from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. This fund aims to empower and uplift filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and genres, fostering a more inclusive cinema landscape, the two entities announced.
The Project Advancement and Completion Fund will support nine directors currently engaged in fiction features through Sundance Institute’s Esteemed Artist programs. These talented filmmakers, hailing from a range of traditionally underrepresented communities, including women, AAPI, black, indigenous/native, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, disability-identifying, and religiously marginalized individuals, will be granted the resources needed to bring their unique visions to life.
“After working with several Sundance filmmakers, we know how important it is for directors to develop their first independent feature films in order to take on larger projects at the studio level and we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with Sundance Institute in an effort to help them do just that,” said Mahin Ibrahim, director of creative talent pathways, representation and inclusion strategies at Disney Studios. “At Disney, we believe in the power of diverse voices and storytelling, and this initiative reaffirms our commitment to empowering underrepresented talent in the industry.”
As part of the initiative, each selected director will receive a $25,000 unrestricted grant, providing financial support to advance their projects. In addition to the grant, directors will benefit from a customized continuum of support, ensuring they have access to the necessary resources, mentorship and industry connections to navigate the filmmaking process successfully.