Film Independent Kicks Off 30th Anniversary Of Artist Development Programs; Filmmakers Selected For Project Involve

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, has selected 30 filmmakers for Project Involve 2023 and with a renewed partnership with Laika Studios expanded the stop-motion animation track into a two-year program, selecting five filmmakers. Your girl was selected as one of the Directing fellows…aaaaahhhhh!!!

My first @deadline article. Wow 😭 I’m quite overwhelmed and really…thankful. I am a directing fellow. I’ve applied on and off for the last ten years. Given up and finally applied saying “Why not, again.” To be a better writer, is to be a better director. Thanks to all my family and friends for continuously pushing me 🙏🏾

Project Involve is a free nine-month program for writers, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers, programmers and entertainment executives from diverse backgrounds. During the program, participants meet one-on-one with film industry mentors, create short films and attend master workshops taught by top film professionals and industry networking events. 

Now in its 30th year, Project Involve fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry. Alumni include Andrew Ahn (Fire Island), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Linda Yvette Chávez, Marvin Lemus and Aaliyah Williams (Gentefied), Effie T. Brown (The Inspection), Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and Justin Simien (Dear White People).  

“We’re elated to welcome the 2023 Project Involve Fellows and with this amazingly talented cohort of filmmakers begin our fourth decade of cultivating groundbreaking and inclusive storytellers. Project Involve has reached another milestone and the program will continue to build community and provide a platform for our stories to be told for many decades to come,” said Francisco Velasquez, Associate Director, Project Involve.