Film Independent Announces First Look Screening of 2024 Project Involve Shorts in Los Angeles
Film Independent, the nonprofit organization behind the Spirit Awards, will present the First Look screening of the 2024 Project Involve shorts on January 9, 2025, at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. The screening, open to the public, will showcase six short films created by the 2024 Project Involve cohort, including a LAIKA-sponsored stop-motion animation short.
The event will also introduce the 31 filmmakers selected for the 2025 Project Involve cohort. These emerging talents will receive extensive mentorship and resources during the 10-month program, culminating in the creation of new collaborative projects.
Additionally, the inaugural $25,000 Climate Entertainment Commissioning Grant, sponsored by Plot Shift Media, will support a new climate-focused fiction feature script. Another highlight is the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau’s $10,000 unrestricted grant awarded to writer Bushra Burney. Other program supporters include Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Panavision, which will provide a $60,000 camera rental package to a cinematographer in the program.
Francisco Velasquez, Associate Director of Project Involve, emphasized the program's lasting impact, stating, “Each cohort brings fresh energy, passion, and creativity that inspire us all. It’s truly a joy to work with such talented and driven artists.”
Now entering its 32nd year, Project Involve has cultivated the careers of over 1,000 filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Notable alumni include Lulu Wang ("Expats"), Jon M. Chu ("Wicked"), and Effie T. Brown ("The Inspection").
The 2025 cohort includes filmmakers in various tracks:
- Cinematographers: Robert Chuck, Iris Lee, Omer Lotan, Sade Ndya, Erin G. Wesley
- Directors: Alexandria Collins, Jacob Combs, Ritvik Dhavale, Peiqi Peng, Sylvia Ray
- Editors: Jazmin Jamias, Avo John Kambourian, Skylar Lin, Amy Rosenberg, Emiliano Styles
- Executives: Folasade Ade-Banjo, Tyrin Bell-Sinkfield, Jaycie Luo, Connie Qin, Ewea Teresa
- Producers: Eduardo Ayres Soares, Andrés Correa, Masora Fukuda, Casey Naranjo, Aishwarya Sonar
- Programmer: Zegan Doyle
- Writers: Jax Ball, Bushra Burney, Laura Hunter Drago, Brandyn Johnson, Montserrat Luna-Ballantyne
Past projects from Project Involve have garnered significant acclaim, including "Dear Mama..." (2023 NAACP Image Award Winner) and "Emergency" (2018 Sundance Special Jury Award).
Film Independent’s Artist Development programs, including Project Involve, provide crucial resources and opportunities for underrepresented filmmakers, fostering a culture of inclusion and creative independence.