WEEK IN WOMEN: New Proof of Concept Accelerator Program is accepting applications – Brandy McDonnell reports
Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett and Emmy Award nominee Coco Francini, along with Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, have launched the Proof of Concept Accelerator Program, which is now taking applications for 2024. Supported by Netflix, the program’s goal is to identify the next generation of filmmaking talent whose stories promote the perspectives of women, transgender and nonbinary people, according to a news release.
According to the latest annual report from Smith and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, 6% of directors across 1,600 top-grossing movies were women, and less than one-third of all speaking characters on screen in those movies were girls, women, trans or nonbinary people.
“Proof of Concept was designed to solve a very simple problem: audiences want to see large-scale work from filmmakers with daring and diverse perspectives, but there is not yet enough support to nurture these voices at earlier stages of their career,” said Francini, who is partner in Dirty Films with Blanchett.
“Despite the success of films like Barbie, The Farewell or Past Lives, it is as challenging as ever to launch audaciously authored work from new creators, particularly those who tell stories from the perspective of marginalized gender identities. Proof of Concept is an actionable step to create meaningful and sustainable opportunities for these filmmakers.”
This lack of inclusion behind the camera and on screen means there are limited career opportunities for women, trans, and nonbinary storytellers and those who want to bring their stories to the screen.
Proof of Concept is designed to challenge the three most significant barriers these directors face as they navigate the industry: funding, mentorship and exposure.
As many as eight filmmakers will be selected for the program’s inaugural cohort. Each of these filmmakers will receive $50,000 in funding to create a short film that can serve as “proof of concept” for a feature film or television series. Continue reading on THE WEEK IN WOMEN
