Newfest Announces Recipients of New Voices of Filmmaker Grant Partnering with Netflix to Support Emerging LGBTQ+ Filmmakers

LGBTQ+ Film and Media Organization NewFest has announced the first winners of the New Voices Filmmaker Grant, a new initiative to support LGBTQ+ filmmakers in partnership with Netflix, which will donate $100,000 in total.

A group of four filmmakers who have received a $25,000 grant for career advancement and new business will have access to networking opportunities through industry events and a NewFest-sponsored mentoring pathway. Netflix has committed to supporting this show for two years.

“We were surprised and excited by the volume and strength of applications received,” said David Hatkoff, CEO of NewFest. “With the challenges filmmakers face in both funding and creating their work, the opportunity to support and empower false voices by providing resources and leadership direction has the potential to change careers and lives. We are grateful for the trust and support of Netflix that has made this possible at such a scale. ”

“The four grantees presented examples of good work from a wide variety of genres and backgrounds,” said Nick McCarthy, NewFest programming director. “But what they have in common is their confident side, their concrete perspective, their commitment to new forms of LGBTQ+ storytelling, and their persistent spirit of working and telling and listening to their inspiring stories. We look forward to seeing the voices and work of Blanche, Livia, Niala and Rodney in the industry and the world, and above all, how brilliant and powerful stonework they will create next. ”

In addition to a $25,000 grant and the opportunity to connect with an industry advisor on their work, fellows will be able to view their work and attend the Newfest LGBTQ+ Film Festival in New York, one of the world’s largest stone festivals. world. . Members will also have the opportunity to travel to North American film festivals as guests of NewFest.

The New Voices Filmmaker Grant is licensed to LGBTQ+ filmmakers in the United States who have not made a feature film or have a public film (short, episodic, or feature film). Fellows’ work was reviewed by grant assessors made up of LGBTQ+ programmers, community leaders, filmmakers and industry professionals, and the final selection was made by a jury of Fulbright director and staff Tamar Barucci and award-winning artist and Docent Gonzalez & Institut. author. and actress Eva Rain.

This association is part of NewFest and Netflix Netflix Creative Capital FoundationIt seeks to help create more behind-the-scenes opportunities for lesser known topics in the television and film industry.

Applications for the next round of New Voices Film Directors Fellowship are expected to begin in January 2023.

New Voices Film Directors Scholarship winners:

Blanca Acong

Blanche Enaka Aconchong is a Cameroonian/American Keer Writer, Director, Actress, and Musician from Riverdale, GA. A first-generation American, his family immigrated to the United States from Mampe, Cameroon, in the late 1980s.

He studied music business at Steinhardt University in New York and graduated with a BA in music in 2017. With a lifelong passion for music and production, Blanche has worked for various music and television companies, including Showtime, Viacom, Spotify and Atlantic Records. Among the graduates, she received the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. He enrolled in the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Film Graduate Program in 2018 and is currently a dissertation student.

In 2019, he wrote, directed, produced, edited, acted and acted in his third short film, Mercury Afrograd. He received the NewFest Emerging Black LGBTQ+ Director Award in 2020 and received the Best Short Film honorary at the Woodstock Film Festival. Blanche’s work has been screened at NewFest, Blackstar Film Festival, Outfest, Woodstock Film Festival, Afrikana Film Festival, Inside Out Festival and Cucalorus Film Festival. Joined Gotham’s 2021 TV Series Lab (formerly IFP Episodic Lab) and Project Marketplace on Mercury Afrograde, which is in development as a series. His latest work, Chasing Amour, as a director and musical single, was published on Forbes. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the electric guitar and cycling. Blanche’s long-term goal is to create a comedy television show that chronicles black and LGBTQ experiences in a comedic, postmodern way.

livia huang

Livia Huang is a filmmaker from Baltimore currently living in New York. His shorts have screened at the Berlinale, IFFR, New Director/New Films and more (including NewFest!) and received the 2018 Flies Collective Film Grant. He holds a BA from Columbia University and a MA from Brooklyn College. .

rodney laveria

Rodney Laverias is a Dominican-American film director with a BA in screenwriting and directing from Columbia University. His short films were screened at Rotterdam, New Orleans Film Festival, Miami Film Festival, Max O’Farrell Film Festival, Outfest and Guadalajara International Film Festival.

Rodney is the co-author of the short film “Darling,” which won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival, with a special mention at SXSW and an official selection at TIFF. He also participated in the Berlinale Talents in 2021. Rodney received a production grant from Katrina Otto-Bernstein for his short film Tropicalia. Tropicalía is based on his project La Canícula, which will make his debut as artistic director.

Moon NYALA

Niala Moon is a filmmaker, writer and actress with a trans background. After working with a nonprofit and helping other trans and queer people prove their health, Niala believed and pursued her passion for film. Prior to attending Film School, Niala worked as a director, writer and producer in the independent LGBT film scene. Niala also contributed a poem to Bini’s anthology, Written on the Body: Letters from Trans and Non-Ceyniel Violence Survivors. Niala Moon has traveled to universities with the authors of her other anthologies and talked to college students about sexuality, gender identity, and sexual violence. In May 2020, Niala graduated from City College to produce MFA films. Last year, the student thesis film “One Last Deal” screened at NewFest, Inside Out Toronto, Outfest, and more. Niala was also an employee of QueerArt Film, mentored by Rodrigo Bellotti, director of TU ME MANQUES, from 2020-2021. Niala has recently finished writing, directing and starring in her upcoming short film “How To Become Not Become a Trans”. When Niala isn’t making movies, she watches anime, plays the wrong guitar, and participates in the Real Housewives series.