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Empowering Voices: 2024 Sundance Women to Watch x Adobe Fellows Announced

ByMercedes Diane Griffin Forbes

In an exciting development for the film industry, the Sundance Institute has unveiled the eight talented women selected for the 2024 Sundance Women to Watch x Adobe Fellowship. This prestigious yearlong program is dedicated to nurturing and sustaining the creative practices of women filmmakers, with a strong focus on those from historically underrepresented communities. Launched in 2020, the fellowship is a testament to the shared commitment of Sundance and Adobe to elevate diverse voices at crucial moments in their careers.

A Comprehensive Support System for Women Filmmakers

The Sundance Women to Watch x Adobe Fellowship is more than just a grant. It provides a multifaceted support system designed to address the systemic barriers that women face in the film industry. Each fellow receives a $6,250 cash grant to support their projects, along with invaluable resources such as workshops, career development referrals, and a yearlong complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud. This membership allows them to create and share their work with cutting-edge tools and technology.

Additionally, the fellows gain access to the Sundance ELEVATE professional development track and Sundance Collab, a digital space for learning and global community building. These resources collectively aim to empower the fellows to overcome challenges and thrive as artists.

Meet the 2024 Sundance Women to Watch x Adobe Fellows

The selected fellows for 2024 are a diverse and accomplished group of filmmakers:

  • Francesca Canepa: A Peruvian director based in Mexico City, Canepa’s short film The Silence of the River premiered at the Berlinale 2020. Her feature La Otra Orilla was selected for the 2024 Sundance Screenwriters Lab and is in pre-production after winning the French CNC Production Fund.
  • Artemis Fannin: Known for amplifying marginalized voices, Fannin is the Managing Producer at 371 Productions and is involved in multiple projects. She is an alum of the Southern Producers Lab 2023 and the 2023 Sundance Producers Intensive.
  • Kristine Gerolaga: A Filipina American filmmaker and actor, Gerolaga is supported by Sundance’s Artist Accelerator Program and the 2024 Screenwriters Lab with her horror feature film Lamok.
  • Sylvia Khoury: A New York-based filmmaker and playwright, Khoury is a 2024 Sundance Directors and Screenwriters Lab Fellow. Her feature script, I’m Heather, was developed through this program.
  • Jane Casey Modderno: Modderno, who wrote The Birch and The Girl in the Woods, has had her shorts featured worldwide and is recognized for her work in both directing and writing.
  • Gabriella García Pardo: A nonfiction director and cinematographer, García Pardo’s notable works include La Bonga and The Bardia. Her career includes significant contributions to NPR and Nat Geo.
  • Jolene Pinder: Based in the American South, Pinder is a documentary producer and academic with extensive experience in social issue storytelling and regional filmmaker advocacy.
  • Jana Schmieding: A Lakota actor and writer, Schmieding is developing several projects, including the multicam Bonnie for CBS and the feature film Auntie Chuck.

Celebrating Past Achievements

The Sundance Women to Watch x Adobe Fellowship has a track record of supporting impactful projects. Recent highlights include:

  • Deidre Backs and Miciana Hutcherson‘s Fancy Dance, which premiered at Sundance 2023 and won Best Cinematography at SXSW.
  • Gabriela Ortega’s film Huella is seeking financing, while her short film Border Hopper premiered at Sundance 2024.
  • Keisha Rae Witherspoon and Aisha Bhoori have been recognized for their work at the 2024 Sundance Labs and their adaptation of Huma Abedin’s memoir, respectively.
  • Cris Gris directed episodes of the Max series Ugly, and Laura Moss’s directorial debut birth/rebirth premiered at Sundance 2023.

Supporting Bold Artists and Powerful Storytelling

The Sundance Institute, supported by Adobe and other key partners, continues to champion independent storytelling and provide a platform for artists to thrive. By investing in these talented women filmmakers, the institute helps pave the way for innovative and diverse voices in the industry. Support the Sundance Institute’s mission to uplift bold artists by visiting their website and joining their global community.

For more information on the Sundance Women to Watch x Adobe Fellowship and to support independent filmmaking, visit Sundance Institute and Adobe.

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