Sundance Institute and The Walt Disney Company Announce First Cohort of The Muslim Artist Fellowship, Cultivating Diverse Voices in Film and Television
27/02/2024
Disney's support of the Muslim Artist Fellowship is part of Disney Future Storytellers, an initiative to deliver on the Company's commitment to empower the next generation of storytellers.
We are honored to join forces with the Sundance Institute to launch the Muslim Artist Fellowship - an initiative that reflects our shared dedication to fostering the next generation of filmmakers, expressed Mahin Ibrahim, Director of Creative Talent Pathways, Representation & Inclusion Strategies at Disney. Through this collaborative effort, we aim to amplify the diverse perspectives of these artists while empowering them to propel their careers and craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.
As part of this initiative, each selected artist is granted an unrestricted grant of $15,000, facilitating the advancement of their individual projects. Additionally, the fellowship offers personalized support from the Institute, tailored to the unique goals of each artist.
As a Sundance Institute grantee, the fellowship also extends exclusive opportunities for networking and community-building events, allowing artists to connect with fellow creatives and industry professionals.
Our partnership with The Walt Disney Company will help further opportunities to uplift Muslim artists and their narratives. Supporting these artists through a bespoke fellowship will not only elevate Muslim representation but also bring more visibility to their stories, said Hajnal Molnar-Szakacs, Sundance Institute's Director of Artist Accelerator and Women at Sundance Programs. We're thrilled to launch this new initiative to provide support to these four talented artists-Kamau Bilal, Razi Jafri, Sarah Mokh, and Jumai Yusuf-through this fellowship.
Meet the fellows selected for the Sundance Institute | The Walt Disney Company Muslim Artist Fellowship:
Kamau Bilal
About the Artist: Kamau Bilal is a Black American filmmaker based in the Midwest. His short film Baby Brother premiered at Sundance in 2018 and lives on the website of The New York Times. In 2018 he was named one of Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Film. Brick Thieves is his first feature.
Project: Brick Thieves is a feature film. When William's only son and business partner decide to leave their antiquated demolition business, William finds himself knee-deep in the black-market brick theft world to keep his family together.
Razi Jafri
About the Artist: Razi Jafri is a documentary filmmaker. His film, Hamtramck, USA, premiered at SXSW and aired on PBS. Recently, Razi produced Three Chaplains, which aired on PBS in Fall 2023. He is an alumnus of the Sundance Producing Fellowship and holds an MFA from the University of Michigan.
Project: Sanctuary, Purgatory is a documentary feature film that follows a refugee living in South Korea after fleeing the Yemeni civil war as he struggles to reunite with his family in the US, who are living in Michigan.
Sarah Mokh
About the Artist: Sarah Mokh is a writer and director interested in what our stories reveal about our deepest beliefs. She is a graduate of Harvard College and currently a graduate student at NYU. Her screenplays have been supported or recognized by the Sundance Institute, Film Independent, the Academy Nicholl Fellowship, and others.
Project: Diary of a Muslim Cynic tells the story of a woman desperate to escape her Midwest small-town life after a tragedy; a depressed teen's pursuits of love and big-city dreams are upended by the ghosts of her past and mystical encounters.
Jumai Yusuf
About the Artist: Jumai Yusuf is a director, writer, producer, and a Muslim, Nigerian immigrant who is passionate about telling BIPOC genre stories. Her screenwriting has been supported by MPAC Hollywood and the Black List. She has a B.A. in Neurobiology from Harvard and an MFA from USC.
Project: Layla and the Starship Afrotopia, follows Layla, a shy Black Muslim girl who discovers the power to create wormholes; she's whisked away from her small town to Afrotopia, a spaceship searching for a home planet. This is an afrofuturist coming-of-age animated series. The target audience is Family & Older Children (like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power ).
LINK: | https://www.sundance.org/blogs/sundance-institute-and-the-walt-disney-... |
See more stories from sundance |
More from Sundance Institute
26/07/2024
Talking Story and Building Community: A Conversation With Indigenous Program Alumni and Advisor Bryson Chun
by Ianeta Le'i I honestly don't remember the first time I met Bryson Ch...
26/07/2024
Magical Moments and Letting Your Brain Free: A Conversation With Lisa Steen, Director of Late Bloomers
(L-R) Louise (Karen Gillan) and Antonina (Margaret Sophie Stein) strike up an un...
24/07/2024
There Are No Heroes or Villains in Against the Tide
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 20: (L-R) Quentin Laurent, Sarvnik Kaur, and Koval Bhatia attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Against the Tide premiere at the Eg...
23/07/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Sean Wang, the Writer-Director of Ddi ()
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. Whi...
19/07/2024
Sundance Institute Announces Finalists in RFP Process
Six cities selected to move forward in the next phase of the process...
18/07/2024
2024 Trans Possibilities Intensive Fellows Announced
Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the artists selected to participate in the Sundance Institute Trans Possibilities Intensive, a three-part event...
17/07/2024
Glen Mazzara's Six Rules for Writing a Compelling TV Episode
by Sundance Collab team Showrunner Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead, The Shield) thinks that writing for TV has one rule: Cool people doing cool stuff every epis...
17/07/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Jeff Zimbalist, the Filmmaker Behind Skywalkers: A Love Story
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
17/07/2024
The Greatest Night in Pop, Girls State Lead 2024 Sundance Institute-Supported Emmy Nominations
With limited-edition summer merch out now and our Early Bird Ticket Sale happeni...
15/07/2024
Meet the Documentarians Selected for Sundance Institute's Documentary Edit Intensive
By Kristin Feeley, Documentary Film Program Interim Director When a film is wel...
13/07/2024
Skywalkers: A Love Story Takes Love to Unimaginable Heights
Jeff Zimbalist, Ivan Beerkus, Angela Nikolau, and Maria Bukhonina at the premiere of Skywalkers: A Love Story at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, on Januar...
11/07/2024
Little Miss Sunshine, Boyhood, and More Celebrate Birthdays in July
The Hoover family embarks on an eventful road trip to California for a junior beauty pageant in Little Miss Sunshine....
10/07/2024
2024 Women to Watch x Adobe Fellows Announced
Year-round Program Offers Pivotal Support to Women Filmmakers PARK CITY, UTAH, July 10, 2024 - The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the eight wom...
09/07/2024
2024 Sundance Film Festival: Asia Program Announcement
TICKETS ON SALE JULY 23: WWW.SUNDANCEFFASIA.COM TAIPEI, TAIWAN, July 9, 2024 - G2Go Entertainment and the nonprofit Sundance Institute reveal the lineup of 1...
08/07/2024
Is There Anybody Out There?: A Unique Quest for Community
Priscilla Miranda and director Ella Glendining attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Is There Anybody Out There? Premiere at Prospector Square Theatre on Jan...
06/07/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know 6 LGBTQ+ Filmmakers With Shorts at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Kate Jean Hollowell's Say Hi After You Die took home the Short Film Jury A...
03/07/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Alice Englert, the Writer-Director of Bad Behaviour
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about starting each year with th...
01/07/2024
Release Rundown: What to Watch in July, From Ddi () to Skywalkers: A Love Story
Daredevils Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus ascend to dizzying heights in Jeff Zimbalist's documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story....
29/06/2024
Enjoying the (Scooter) Ride: Catching Up With the Thelma Family as It Hits a Theater Near You
Fred Hechinger, June Squibb, and Clark Gregg at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival....
28/06/2024
The Gripping Fancy Dance Blends Tribal Tragedy With Heartfelt Family Bonding
PARK CITY, UTAH JANUARY 20: (L-R) Erica Tremblay, Crystle Lightning, Isabel Deroy-Olson, and Lily Gladstone attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Fancy Danc...
28/06/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know 8 LGBTQ+ Filmmakers With Shorts at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Kate Jean Hollowell's Say Hi After You Die took home the Short Film Jury A...
26/06/2024
Inside the Archives: Put Your Sundance Film History Knowledge to the Test
By the Archives team Let the summer games begin! While we wait a few more weeks for the Paris Olympics, we're introducing some Sundance Institute trivia to...
25/06/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, the Writer-Directors of La Mesas
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
24/06/2024
The Times of Harvey Milk Is Still Urgent and Essential Viewing
Rob Epstein (photo by Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock for Sundance)...
21/06/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Josh Margolin, the Filmmaker Behind Thelma
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. ...
20/06/2024
Get to Know Troy Lewis: 2024's Sally Menke Fellow and Editor of Daughters
I am still processing what it means to be part of the Sally Menke Fellowship and the Sundance Directors Labs, says Troy Lewis from a condo-turned-edit-bay at t...
17/06/2024
Thelma Introduces a Refreshing New (93-Year-Old) Action Hero
(L-R) Josh Margolin, Fred Hechinger, June Squibb, and Clark Gregg pose for a photo celebrating the premiere of Thelma on January 18, 2024, at the Sundance Fil...
14/06/2024
Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship Announce 2024 Cohort
Program Uplifts Emerging Filmmakers Ages 18 to 25...
14/06/2024
Jennifer Connelly Becomes Her Own Worst Enemy in Bad Behaviour
PARK CITY, UTAH JANUARY 21: Actor Jennifer Connelly attends the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Bad Behaviour Premiere at The Ray Theatre on January 21, 2023 in...
13/06/2024
2024 Sundance Film Festival: Local Lens Free Summer Screenings Program & Special Artist Event Announced
Top L-R: Skywalkers: A Love Story, Daughters, My Old Ass. Center L-R: Your Monst...
12/06/2024
Shaping the Future We Want to See: A Note From Shira Rockowitz and Kristin Feeley
This summer we're pulling back the curtain on Sundance Labs by sharing lette...
12/06/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Pedro Freire, the Writer-Director of Malu
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. Whi...
10/06/2024
YOUR MONSTER WINS AUDIENCE FAVOURITE AWARD AT SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: LONDON 2024
(L-R: Cast: Melissa Barrera, Director, Producer & Screenwriter: Caroline Lindy a...
10/06/2024
Sundance Institute Announces 2024 Producers Lab Fellows
PARK CITY, UT, June 10, 2024 - The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced the 10 producers selected to participate in its annual Producers Lab, being held...
07/06/2024
Ghostlight Finds Healing in Unexpected Places
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: (L-R) Tara Mallen and Katherine Mallen Kupferer attend the Ghostlight premiere at Prospector Square Theatre on January 18, 2024,...
06/06/2024
Release Rundown: Fancy Dance, Thelma, and More Open to Wider Audiences This June
(L-R) Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) and Jax (Lily Gladstone) prepare for a powwow and search for Roki's missing mother in Fancy Dance, which premiered at the ...
05/06/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Jules Rosskam, the Filmmaker Behind Desire Lines
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
03/06/2024
Inside the Archives: The 1980s Directors Labs in Snapshots
By the Archives team During a recent trip to the archives, our team came across several early Sundance Institute newsletters. The newsletters are always a fun ...
03/06/2024
2024 Sundance Institute Indigenous Film Tour Kicks Off in June
PARK CITY, UTAH, June 3, 2024 - The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the 2024 Sundance Institute Indigenous Film Tour, a 83-minute short film progra...
30/05/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Thea Hvistendahl, the Filmmaker Behind Handling the Undead
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
30/05/2024
CHOOSE CHICAGO, CITY OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCE PROGRAMMING DETAILS OF SUNDANCE INSTITUTE X CHICAGO 2024 (June 28 - 30)
Tickets are now available for the first-of-its-kind event in the United States f...
28/05/2024
In A Violent Nature: Festivalgoers Look Through the Eyes of a Murderer
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 22: Chris Nash attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival In A Violent Nature premiere at the Library Center Theatre on January 22, 202...
25/05/2024
Get to Know This Summer's Filmmakers Through These 12 Sundance Films
(L-R) Writer-director Hannah Pearl Utt and co-writer Jen Tullock star as sisters in Before You Know It, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival....
22/05/2024
Richard Linklater's Hit Man Asks, How Far Will You Go For Love?
Richard Linklater and Glen Powell (photo by George Pimentel/Shutterstock for Sundance)...
20/05/2024
The Tuba Thieves Asks What It Means to Listen
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 22: The cast and crew of The Tuba Thieves pose during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival The Tuba Thieves premiere at Prospector Squa...
16/05/2024
Power Provokes Vital Questions About the Role of Police
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 18: Director Yance Ford introduces the Power premiere at Library Center Theatre. (Photo by Chad Salvador/Shutterstock for Sundance F...
15/05/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Jianjie Lin, the Writer-Director Behind Brief History of a Family
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
14/05/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Stephen Maing, the Co-Director of Union
By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. Whi...
13/05/2024
Sundance Film Festival: London 2024 Announces Repertory Shorts Programme, Three Repertory Features And Three Public Talks
Tickets on sale now London, 13 May 2024 - Today Picturehouse and the nonprofit ...