FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Seanna Hore, Ginsberg/Libby
seanna.hore@ginsberglibby.com

Gladys Santos, Ginsberg/Libby
gladys.santos@ginsberglibby.com
 

LOS ANGELES (April 6, 2021) —  Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, announced the five filmmakers and projects that formed part of a short film grant program in partnership with Netflix Film Club. The five short films are now live on Netflix Film Club on YouTube and Strong Black Lead on IGTV.

“As we collectively find ways to confront systemic racism in this country, Netflix was swift in taking action towards merging creativity and equity by partnering with Film Independent to amplify the voices of talented Black filmmakers,” said Lisa Hasko, Director of Artist Development, Film Independent. “Our five dynamic filmmakers created such distinct fiction and non-fiction works that speak to both the beauty and struggles of the Black community.”

In July of 2020, 45 Fellows from Film Independent’s Artist Development Labs and Project Involve program were invited to submit pitches under the banner of “Vision 2020.” The goal was to inspire and empower filmmakers to tell their stories amidst a pandemic and social unrest.

Five filmmakers were selected to produce their shorts, each receiving a $10,000 grant.

After months of writing, directing and editing, all five films became available to watch on both Netflix Film Club and Strong Black Lead.
 

Presenting the filmmakers and their projects:

 
Sheldon Candis (Queen Bess)
Baltimore native Sheldon Candis is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Candis’ feature directorial debut LUV was an official selection in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Competition. Candis directed the feature length documentary Baltimore Boys for the ESPN Films banner, and “Who Will Survive America” for the Sundance Now Doc Club original series Take 5: Justice in America. Recently, Candis wrapped production on When the Lights are the Brightest, the next chapter of the video game series NBA 2K.

Queen Bess – The allegory ascension of the first female African American aviatrix. Based on the true story of Bessie Coleman, the daredevil aerodynamic queen of the sky.
 
Jarrett Lee Conaway (My Brother Jesus)
Jarrett Lee Conaway holds an MFA in Film Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His feature directing debut, the teen comedy Mono, was released on Netflix in 2016. Conaway directed the horror comedy web series Bite Me, which earned three Streamy Award nominations and was viewed over 35 million times. 

My Brother Jesus – After an unorthodox painting of Jesus goes viral, the artist and his muse discuss its significance in the wake of BLM protests in Richmond, Virginia.
 
Ellie Foumbi (Home)
Originally from Cameroon, Ellie Foumbi holds an MFA from Columbia University’s School of the Arts in Directing. Foumbi made her TV directorial debut on BET’s hip-hop anthology Tales. She was a finalist of the 2019/2020 Venice Biennale Cinema College with her first feature, Our Father, the Devil, which will be presented at the 78th Venice International Film Festival and will participate in IFP’s 2020 project Forum.

Home – Moving is always hard, especially when the new neighborhood turns against you.
 
Nijla Mu’min (Black Prom)
Nijla Mu’min is an Easy Bay Area native and a 2013 graduate of CalArts MFA Film Directing and Creative Writing Programs. Her debut feature film, Jinn, won the Special Jury Recognition Award for Screenwriting at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival. She has directed episodes of Queen Sugar and Insecure, and recently wrote for the upcoming series Swagger. In 2019, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is currently developing her second feature film, Mosswood Park. 

Black Prom – A Black girl’s dreams of going to the prom are disrupted when she and her boyfriend are faced with a hostile police encounter.
 
Frederick Thornton (Injustice System)
Frederick Thornton is a Spirit Award-nominated and Gotham Award-winning Black filmmaker.  Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Thornton is a graduate of Chapman University, where he completed a BA in Psychology. His latest produced feature, Go Back to China, premiered at SXSW in 2019. He is currently in pre-production on his narrative directorial debut short film, October Mourning.

Injustice System – A mother struggles to deal with the unknown condition of her incarcerated son during the worst pandemic in over 100 years.
 
All five filmmakers will participate in a live, virtual conversation hosted by Film Independent on Thursday, April 8 at 12:00 pm PT, providing insight into how they pulled off the creation of these shorts in the midst of a pandemic, what inspired them to tell these particular stories at this time and what’s next on the horizon for each. The conversation is free and open to the public. Learn more here.

Film Independent Artist Development programs promote unique, independent voices by helping filmmakers create and advance new work through Project Involve; Filmmaker Labs (Directing, Documentary, Episodic, Producing and Screenwriting); Fast Track finance market and Fiscal Sponsorship; as well as through Grants and Awards, which provide over one million dollars annually to visual storytellers.

For more information on any of the Labs or the projects that have been developed in them, please contact Lisa Hasko, Director of Artist Development, at lhasko@filmindependent.org. Additional information and application forms can be found at filmindependent.org.
 

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is the nonprofit arts organization that champions creative independence in visual storytelling and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff and constituents is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a Member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional or a film lover.

In addition to producing the Spirit Awards, Film Independent produces Film Independent Presents, a year-round screening series for its members that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

Through annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent’s Artist Development program offers free labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.

For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org.