The ‘Proof of Concept’ initiative, with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett among its founders, is set to grant $50,000 to eight women, trans, or non-binary film producers to complete short films as “proof of concepts” for features or TV series.
Supported by Netflix’s Creative Equality Fund, the objective of the fund is to identify talented emerging filmmakers from the new generation whose stories promote the perspectives of women, trans, and non-binary people.
The ‘Proof of Concept’ initiative, with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett among its founders, is set to grant $50,000 to eight women, trans, or non-binary film producers to complete short films as “proof of concepts” for features or TV series.
Supported by Netflix, the program’s goal is to identify the next generation of filmmaking talent whose stories promote the perspectives of women, trans, and non-binary people. According to the latest annual report from Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, six percent 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 non-binary people.
“Providing tangible financial and career support for filmmakers who often get overlooked will not only give them a fantastic launchpad to success, it will also expand the future of film and television,” Blanchett said.
“This accelerator will help us to find and support the next Greta Gerwig”
Proof of Concept provides funding, mentorship, and exposure for up to eight filmmakers who 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. Throughout the process, they will receive one-on-one mentorship and guidance from industry leaders, culminating in a project showcase to spotlight their work. Participants will exit the program ready to enter the marketplace with their project and accelerate their path to larger scale filmmaking.
Dr. Smith, Founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, said, “I could not be more thrilled to be working with marquee storytellers Cate Blanchett and Coco Francini to launch this program with the generous support of Netflix. I have long wanted to see the numbers move and this accelerator will help us to find and support the next Greta Gerwig, Ava DuVernay, Chloe Zhao, Melina Matsoukas, or Lulu Wang. Led by the creative excellence of the team behind Dirty Films, I have no doubt that the Proof of Concept Accelerator is a key solution in the push toward greater inclusion in film.”
Applications will open in January 2024. Proof of Concept is supported by Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity, a dedicated effort to help train creatives for job opportunities on Netflix productions and set talent up for success in entertainment. Since its launch in 2021, Netflix has partnered with over 80 organizations in more than 35 countries.
Source: Indiewire