Julie Dash and Nina Menkes First Recipients Selected To Receive Funds To Bring Two Unique Feature Film Projects To Global and Underserved, Untapped Audiences
By Margarita Sophia Cortes
At the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, Eos World Fund announced its newly formed Global initiative to finance visionary female filmmakers around the world in an effort to galvanize innovative stories told by women.
Gwen Wynne, director / producer / writer, CEO and Artistic Director of Eos World Fund, is spearheading this multi-million dollar initiative launching with two filmmakers and their projects during its inaugural launch event.
The first two recipients are acclaimed directors and their projects are Cypher by Julie Dash and Minotaur Rex by Nina Menkes.
The launch event, hosted by The Blackhouse Foundation, includes Nina Menkes’ anticipated talk “Sex and Power: The Visual Language of Cinema.” Set alongside iconic film clips, the presentation discusses the ways the current crisis of sexual harassment and abuse along with the lack of women in leadership positions in industries around the world directly connects to the prevalent visual language of cinema.
Immediately following is “Women in Charge: Through a New Lens” with Julie Dash and Nina Menkes and moderated by producer, president of Contradiction and Struggle, and NYWIFT board member Rachel Watanabe-Batton. The discussion will include how to make the female point of view dominant in the visual language of cinema as well as how to activate more women taking leadership positions in the creation and business of cinema and storytelling throughout the world.
“Both of these powerhouse filmmakers embody the Eos point of view and are Eos
Gwen Wynne, CEO & Artistic Director of Eos World Fund
Women,” says Gwen Wynne, CEO and Artistic Director of Eos World Fund. “Both Nina and Julie are genuinely respected for taking cinema in new directions and it’s only fitting they be the first directors to receive Eos World Fund support. Audiences are hungry to see more films from them as they are both pioneers in feminist cinema and inspirations to filmmakers around the world.”
The launch event also brings an example of that leadership presented by Bridget Pickering (Moon Valley Studios) and Adetoro Makinde (Hyphenate Partners) who have joined forces in launching a women-led South African film studio, dedicated to empowering the new generation of African talent and the Diaspora. “As co-sponsors of this important conversation, we strongly believe in the vision of women owning their voice and leveling the playing field. The MVS and Hyphenate partnership is a step towards ensuring that vision with women drives the agenda of change.”
Talk about women taking charge! It’s a whole new ball game at Sundance.
The Eos World Fund Inauguration Launch will be hosted by Blackhouse Foundation and be held Friday, January 19th from 11:00am – 1:00pm in Park City, Utah.
Sponsored by:
Moon Valley Studios; Hyphenate Partners; California Institute of the Arts and New York Women In Film & Television
Margarita Sophia Cortes
Related Posts
State of the Industry: A Conversation with Film Festival Alliance
For many Americans, regional festivals are their gateway to independent film and filmmakers. How are local festivals continuing to connect artists to audiences during the pandemic? Lela Meadow-Conner, Executive Director, and Barbara Twist, Director of Membership of Film Festival Alliance update us on the rapidly changing industry.
READ MORENYWIFT’s Ekwa Msangi Tells Her Sundance Success Story
For Ekwa Msangi, the journey to Sundance was relatively fast. While her TV and movie-making career was moving along, it was arguably easier to get a footing for some of her East African-inspired TV projects in Kenya and South Africa than in the U.S. But thanks to the generous support of difficult-to-get awards from the Tribeca Film Festival, IFP and others, her career as a filmmaker catapulted into action when Farewell Amor, Ekwa’s feature film directorial debut, screened in the 2020 Sundance Film Festival U.S. dramatic feature competition. Ekwa talked to us about her experience at the fest.
READ MORECynthia’s Picks: Sundance Success, Online Shorts, Ledbetter Film
Sundance Success: Thanks to all who attended our two inaugural events at the Sundance Film Festival this year! Be sure to check out the photos...
READ MOREWhat’s in Your Toolkit: Adetoro Makinde
The trip to the Sundance Film Festival can be daunting - but NYWIFT Member and Women Independent Producers (WIP) President Adetoro Makinde has ventured to Park City eight times, so it is safe to say she is a Sundance pro! We caught up with her on the eve of the festival to try to glean some wisdom...and see what's in her toolkit both at Sundance and on set.
READ MORE
