#Tribeca2022: Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad Productions Celebrate Season Two of the Rising Voices Filmmaker Initiative
Emmy-winner Lena Waithe returned to the 2022 Tribeca Festival for a second season of the Rising Voices Filmmaker Initiative. Waithe, her company Hillman Grad Productions, and job website Indeed have again collaborated to bring BIPOC filmmakers to Tribeca.
This initiative highlights 10 short films made by 10 BIPOC artists. The central theme was how employment can impact peoples’ lives in tangible ways. Tribeca featured the World Premieres of each of these short films.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: (L-R) Chris Hyams, Lena Waithe, LaFawn Jones and Rishi Rajani attend Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
The purpose of this initiative is to highlight the universal truth that while talent may be limitless, opportunities are not always so. Each filmmaker is provided with a budget and access to resources to create their films. This year, their budgets were increased to ensure that all cast and crew were able to take appropriate COVID-19 measures.
Rising Voices Initiatives aspires to highlight the voices and experiences of marginalized artists. The goal is to ensure sustainable, long-term employment in the creative arts for those who do not have equal access to opportunities in this field. The focus of the art itself being on the importance of work is appropriate considering the context of this program. The further goal of achieving sustainable employment is a necessary one as too many artists begin in this industry but do not have the support to continue. This is especially true of artists from marginalized communities.
While each film featured this season shows immense talent, in the coming weeks, Indeed will select from these 10 featured filmmakers an artist who showed particularly profound aptitude in bringing their story to life within the designated theme. The winner will be awarded an additional $100,000 to create an original piece for Indeed as a non-exclusive filmmaker in-residence.
This is important work that aims to ensure more artists are able to enter the creative field of their choosing. It’s more important than ever that these diverse voices are able to have their chance in the spotlight.
Photos from the Season Two Premiere of the Rising Voices Filmmaker Initiative:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani attend Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: Rishi Rajani attends Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 16: Moderator Clayton Davis, (Top Row L-R) Travis Wood, Cara Lawson, Gbenga Komolafe, Justin Floyd, Leon Cheo, (Bottom Row L-R) Urvashi Pathania, Tara Motamedi, Shanrica Evans, Jalmer Caceres, and Georgia Fu participate in a panel discussion as Variety and Indeed celebrate Rising Voices at Spring Studios on June 16, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Variety)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 16: (Top Row L-R) Travis Wood, Cara Lawson, Gbenga Komolafe, Justin Floyd, Leon Cheo, (Bottom Row L-R) Urvashi Pathania, Tara Motamedi, Shanrica Evans, Jalmer Caceres, and Georgia Fu participate in a panel discussion as Variety and Indeed celebrate Rising Voices at Spring Studios on June 16, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Variety)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 16: Moderator Clayton Davis, (Top Row L-R) Travis Wood, Cara Lawson, Gbenga Komolafe, Justin Floyd, Leon Cheo, (Bottom Row L-R) Urvashi Pathania, Tara Motamedi, Shanrica Evans, Jalmer Caceres, and Georgia Fu participate in a panel discussion as Variety and Indeed celebrate Rising Voices at Spring Studios on June 16, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Variety)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: Chris Hyams speaks onstage during Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: General atmosphere during Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: LaFawn Jones attends Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: Rishi Rajani speaks onstage during Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: (L-R) Chris Hyams, Rishi Rajani, Lena Waithe and LaFawn Jones speak onstage during Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: Cynthia Erivo attends Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: Lena Waithe attends Indeed’s Presentation of Rising Voices Season Two on June 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for 2022 Tribeca Festival)
Check out all of the Rising Voices Season 2 Films Below!
