Image courtesy of Deadline
The Amplifier Fellows for 2023 has been announced. Out of the six fellows that was announced by Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, Melissa Adeyemo and Sue-Ellen Chitunya are the two selected filmmakers of African descent on the list.
The 2023 Amplifier Fellowship, supported by Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity, runs for nine-months during which fellows will receive creative and strategic support to get their projects started. They will be paired with mentors such as a Netflix Executive, an industry advisor, and a board member from Film Independent.
Angela C. Lee, Director of Artist Development, Film Independent, said:
“The Amplifier Fellowship supports Black artists on the verge of career breakthrough with a bespoke program that includes impactful granting, mentorship and professional coaching that aims to build confidence both in their craft and in their capacity to build their business and brand.”
Each fellow will also receive professional coaching from Renee Freedman & Co, as well as financial and business advice and coaching from The Jill James. They will be awarded a $30,000 unrestricted grant to help with sustain and support their artistic efforts.
“This year’s Amplifier Fellows bring an incredible passion to entertain and create change through their films. We are thrilled to support this incredibly talented group of storytellers and help them build a foundation for longevity and sustainability through their work,” Lee continues.
Here are the 2023 Amplifier Fellows of African Descent and their projects:
Melissa Adeyemo
Melissa Adeyemo is a Nigerian-American producer and founder of Ominira Studios, a production company in the United States. Her debut feature, Eyimofe, premiered at the 2020 Berlinale. The film is available to watch on Criterion Collection, HBO Max, and Amazon International. Eyimofe has been nominated for an NAACP Award, and she has won five African Movie Academy Awards. Dusty & Stones, her first documentary feature, premiered at Doc NYC 2022. Adeyemo’s filmography includes Spike Lee’s Inside Man and Steven Spielberg’s Munich. She is a 2022 BAFTA Breakthrough fellow and 2023 EAVE Fellow.
Her project as an Amplifier Fellow is In My Father’s House, a fiction feature in development.
“Logline: In My Father’s House follows Anna (nee Anike), a disillusioned millennial quietly battling grief after the expected loss of her mother. She arrives in Lagos, Nigeria, from the United States to reconnect with her estranged father and unexpectedly discovers new life and purpose.”
Sue-Ellen Chitunya
Sue-Ellen Chitunya is a Zimbabwean filmmaker. She is a UCLA professional production program alumna and a 2019 Georgia State University 40 under 40 recipient. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. An Ebert, Chitunya has taken part in a number of initiatives for the growth of artists, including: WIF Emerging Producer Program, Film Independent Producing Lab, and Industry Academy. Her shorts have screened at several film festivals, including Rotterdam, BFI London, and Tribeca. She is known for her work as a Post Production Coordinator on Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Black Panther (2018). She also worked on the interactive rom-com Mr. Right and the feature documentary For Tomorrow, both of which can be found on Amazon Prime.
Her project as an Amplifier Fellow is Accidental Hearts, a fiction feature in development.
“Logline: A closeted lesbian realizes she’s about to lose her best friend, the love of her life, so she devises a master plan to win her back before the upcoming Christmas wedding.”
Film Independent Artist Development programs support independent voices by helping filmmakers creating new work through Project Involve; Filmmaker Labs (Directing, Documentary, Episodic, Producing and Screenwriting); Fast Track finance market and Fiscal Sponsorship, as well as through Grants and Awards, which will award over $1 million to visual storytellers annually.
