Sundance Institute and Islamic Scholarship Fund Grants $10,000 to Five Emerging Filmmakers – Variety
By Giana Levy
The Sundance Institute and Islamic Scholarship Fund have inducted five filmmakers into the third cohort of its Building Bridges Fellowship, a program designed to amplify U.S. Muslim storytelling.
“We are honored to welcome this third cohort of Building Bridges Fellows into the Sundance Institute community,” Hajnal Molnar-Szakacs, Sundance Institute director and artist accelerator, said in a statement.
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She continued, “Through the year-long fellowship and the Artist Retreat at Shangri La, these filmmakers are not only advancing their projects but also strengthening the collective landscape of authentic U.S. Muslim storytelling. We are grateful for the partnership with ISF and the visionary leadership of the Doris Duke Foundation to create meaningful pathways for the next generation of storytellers.”
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The selected filmmakers are Yusuf Ahmed (“Love Belt”), Tarek Albaba (“1948: A Nakba Story”), Omar Aldakheel (“The Washroom”), Mustafa Toby Eck (“All At Once”) and Sahar Jahani (“With Your Permission”).
Recipients will receive a $10,000 grant and participate in a retreat at the Shangri La Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, in October. The museum, which is home to philanthropist Doris Duke, will showcase her collection of Islamic art.
The cohort will also receive a year-long mentorship and advising from creative executive Tahirah Gooden, executive coach Kirsten Romer, as well as director, writer and producer Oualid Mouaness.
“Muslim stories are American stories, and each of these talented fellows has demonstrated their ability to craft narratives that resonate with people from across different backgrounds and walks of life,” Maurine Knighton, chief program officer at the Doris Duke Foundation, added. “We are thrilled to welcome these incredible filmmakers into our growing community of Building Bridges fellows and help their projects reach audiences around the country.”
The Building Bridges Fellowship offers financial and creative resources, mentorship and support to emerging filmmakers, with a focus on uplifting U.S. Muslim narratives and fostering dialogue around themes of identity, belonging and diversity.
Funded by the Doris Duke Foundation, the fellowship aims to reduce barriers for filmmakers working on U.S. Muslim stories, enabling them to hone their craft, receive mentorship from industry professionals and access valuable resources to create and connect with wider audiences.
In addition to mentorship, the cohort will also have access to a tailored Sundance Film Festival experience, a Sundance Collab Community Package and Sundance Institute’s Elevate program for year-round professional and project development.
The Building Bridges Fellowship is one of several initiatives of the Doris Duke Foundation Building Bridges Program.
Launched in 2007, the initiative was created to counter hate directed at U.S. Muslim communities in the aftermath of 9/11 and to promote mutual understanding.
The program, alongside the Building Bridges Completion Fund, is a part of Sundance Institute’s Artist Accelerator Program, which works with artists and industry to create a more transparent, equitable and sustainable independent film and television ecosystem.
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