To support the next generation of cinematic storytellers, the annual Visions of the Black Experience Film Festival is introducing “Emerging Filmmaker Scholarships” to its programming.
The recipients of the awards will be honored at a ceremony at 4 p.m. Fri. Jan. 28 on the New College of Florida bayfront campus.
The finalists for the scholarships are:
- Keishen Lloyd, a 2018 graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, whose short film, Color of Love, is about an interracial relationship.
- Will Mauricette, a Ringling College of Art and Design student, and the director of Monopoly Money (a crime thriller about two friends trying to bring in money to provide for their families).
- Gospel Nwachukwu, a student at State College of Florida, who created a short psychological horror film entitled Free.
These scholarships are made possible by the collaborative effort of the Sarasota Film Festival, the Boxser Diversity Initiative, New College of Florida, the Multicultural Health Institute and Manasota ASALH, as well as by the generosity of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
The third-annual Visions series ran from November 12 to 21, 2021, and it included both in-person and online screenings and community events illuminating the historical, social and cultural aspects of Black life.
There were more than 40 feature, short narrative and documentary films showcased—focusing on themes such as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the growth of Black music. Adding the scholarships to the programming is important to the series organizers.
“We hope the awards will help the students in advancing their film careers—from buying equipment to making new short films,” said Paul Ratner, the managing director of the Sarasota Film Festival. “Our plan is to continue offering the scholarship next year and to help foster a new generation of filmmakers.”
For more information about Visions, visit visionsoftheblackexperience.com.
January 28 update: Filmmaker Will Mauricette was named the first-place winner, followed by Lloyd (second place) and Nwachukwu (third place).
Abby Weingarten is the senior editor in the Office of Communications & Marketing.