Ava DuVernay’s Array partners with Google for $500K film grant
The film grant is said to be a part of a partnership in hopes of amplifying "marginalized voices" and building toward "a more equitable and inclusive artistic community"
Ava DuVernay‘s Array is partnering with Google for a $500K feature film grant.
Reportedly available to up-and-coming creatives from “historically underrepresented communities,” the grant is titled The Array + Google Feature Film Grant.
Per Deadline, the grant will provide “funds allowing the recipient to produce their first full-length feature. The initiative speaks to ongoing efforts, on the part of Array and Google, to help amplify marginalized voices, thereby building toward a more equitable and inclusive artistic community.”
DuVernay shared an official statement regarding the exciting announcement.
“Having started my filmmaking journey by self-funding projects, this is a full-circle moment. I’m pleased to partner with Google and Array’s grant advisory committee to identify an emerging writer/director to bring their vision to the screen.”
She continues, “Inclusive storytelling is at the heart of Array’s mission and we’re proud to also provide access to Array Crew in order to further ensure that the set of the grantee’s film reflects the full array of the world around us.”
Google Assistant’s entertainment partnerships lead, Elle Roth-Brunet, also shared a statement.
“We’re honored to help Array showcase talented creatives from underrepresented communities and to add volume to more diverse voices. The Array x Google Feature Film Grant is intrinsically aligned with Google Assistant’s commitment to speak with a diverse set of voices, and connect with more people to help in their everyday lives.”
The recipient of the grant will be chosen by a “indie film advisory committee,” per Deadline, that is composed of “Gabrielle Glore (festival director & head of programming, Urbanworld), Francis Cullado (executive director for visual communications media, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival), Crystal Echo Hawk (Founder and Executive Director, IllumiNative), María Rauqel Bozzi (senior director of education & international initiatives at Film Independent), and Jio Mami (Artistic Director, Mumbai Film Festival).”
As theGrio recently reported, DuVernay recently received an honorary doctorate from Yale University.
The accomplished director, writer, and producer took to Twitter to celebrate the accomplishment with her followers.
She wrote in the tweet, “My thanks to the special committee at @Yale for this honor. My mom is over the moon and has taken to calling me Dr. DuVernay. Hope that wears off. But the joy of your high regard will not. A thrill to share this with the formidable Class of 2021 and my esteemed fellow honorees.”
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