Once again, The Blackhouse Foundation curated events of interest to Black creators attending the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. The festival has just wrapped up its first completely virtual year. The Blackhouse Foundation, an organization that helps Black creative voices gain a better foothold in the film and television industry, enjoyed a successful partnership this year with seven full days of programing of interest to Black creators. Virtual events included panel discussions, Q&A’s, entrepreneur discussions, screenings, and virtual parties.
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s Blackhouse Foundation Sundance 2021 events.
Facebook: Shorts Directors Roundtable
An in-depth conversation with the directors behind a selection of Sundance’s hottest Black short films speaking on their paths to Sundance. Directors included: Kris Bowers, Concerto is a Conversation; Redee Maria OSubu, Dear Philadelphia; Renaldho Pelle, The Fire Next Time and moderator Brickson Diamond,The Blackhouse Foundation.
POC Filmmaker Panel
A multi-ethnic, multi-racial panel discussion highlighting the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s Black, Indigenous people of color. Highlighting the importance of unity and authentic representation, panelists included: Alex Gambis, Filmmaker/Biologist; Debbie Lum, Director/Producer; Susan Youssef, Wrtier Director; Ciara Lacy, Filmmaker; Carey Williams, Director; Tabitha Jackson, Director, Sundance Film Festival
OWN: Art of Black Storytelling and Representation
OWN president Tina Perry moderated a lively panel discussion along with OWN series showrunners Dee Harris-Lawrence (Peabody Award-winning David Makes Man”) and Anthony Sparks (Image Award-winning “Queen Sugar”) as well as “(In)Visible Portrait’s” filmmaker/thought-leader, Oge Egbuonu, for an engaging conversation centered on the uniquity of OWN’s prestige programming.
HULU: The United States vs Billie Holiday
Accomplished director Lee Daniels (“The United States vs Billie Holiday”), Andra Day, award-winning singer, actress and star of “The United States vs Billie Holiday,” producer Jordan Fudge, actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph and moderator, Janaya Future Khan (Black Lives Matter Toronto, Founder), discuss the untold story of Billie Holiday’s activism and her legacy.
Facebook Presents: The Future of Black Stories in a Covid World
When the world opens back up, where will Black stories and storytellers find themselves? Do we risk losing ground and progress? Panelists included: Jen Louis Barrett, Head of Entertainment, Facebook; Kamala Avila Salmon, Head of Inclusive Content, Lionsgate; Nicole Schlegel, VP Digital Marketing, Universal Pictures; Melanie Hoyes, Industry Inclusion Executive, BFI
Color of Change: Looking Forward: The Future of Crime Television
Color of Change Hollywood hosted an engaging conversation about the future of crime TV, and how we can use storytelling to reflect the reality of the criminal justice system. Panelists included: Kristen Marston, Culture & Entertainment Advocacy Director, Color of Change; Melody Cooper, writer & story editor, Law & Order; Sunil Nayar, showrunner/writer; Terrance Paul Winter, Executive Producer, The Rookie.
A Conversation with Shaka King
An intimate conversation between Directors Shaka King and Steven Caple Jr. exploring their journey to major studio filmmaking status and the evolution of Judas and The Messiah, it’s critical acclaim, and the significance of a young black male director telling Fred Hampton’s story at this moment in history.
Sundance New Frontier: The Future is in Color
A panel of diverse creators of AR/VR/AI new media projects that envision the past, present, and future will share the urgency of radically focusing on Black Futures, the creative nuances of storytelling for the AR/VR/AI platform, and the path to developing, funding, and sharing your content to create impact. Panelist included: Stephanie Dinkins, Transmedia Arits; Idris Brewster, Producer/Director, Joe Brewster, Producer/Director; Tony Patrick, Director & Founder, Tenfold Gaming Initiative; Emma Osore, Co-Founder, BlackSpace Urbanist Collective
Movement for Black Lives: From Writer’s Room to Ratings
Examining the Impact of Patriarchal Violence Through the Lens of Black Creatives and Critics.Moderator: Chelsea Fuller, Deputy Communications Director, Blackbird. Panelists: Valerie Complex, Film/Culture Critic; Paris Hatcher, Founder & Director, Black Feminist Futures; Maori Karmael Holmes, Artistic Director & CEO, Blackstar Film Festival; Nikita Mitchell, Advocate “me too” Movement and Angélique Roché, M4BL Influencer Engagement & Partnership Strategist.
Sundance Review: ‘On the Count of Three,’ Jerrod Carmichael’s Directorial Debut
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