The Sundance Institute has chosen six filmmakers for its first annual Trans Possibilities Intensive, a program founded to elevate trans storytellers of color.
Under the leadership of Moi Santos, Sundance Institute Outreach & Inclusion and Indigenous Programs Coordinator, the 3-day program will consist of virtual workshops, group exercises and mentorship sessions with creative artist advisors. Filmmakers Sam Feder, Yance Ford, Tourmaline and Ro Haber are among those who will provide creative guidance to the fellows.
The selected fellows for this year’s program are Ava Davis, StormMiguel Florez, River Gallo, Carol Grant, Mitchell (MiSha) Owens and Savannah Ward. They were nominated by the Institute’s allied organizations, including those working explicitly with emerging transgender artists of color and peers within the Sundance Artist Programs. Each artist brings with them a project that they are currently developing.
“This Intensive is the result of ongoing and evolving priorities through Sundance’s Outreach and Inclusion work and a year of thoughtful and intentional planning, heartfelt commitment, and a belief in supporting transgender storytellers of color and their stories,” Santos said. “We are honored that the Fellows have chosen to share their artistic journeys with us and look forward to continuing our relationship and building community together for years to come.”
This year’s Trans Possibilities Intensive kicks off with a free public event on Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. PT called “Beyond The Tipping Point” on Sundance Collab. Tourmaline (“Happy Birthday, Marsha!”) and Sam Feder (“Disclosure”) will discuss their filmmaking processes, the state of transgender representation, and the power of storytelling as an agent of cultural change.
