sundance x chicago 2024
Chicago Media Coalition Soft-Launch + Featured Community Partner Program
On June 29, we invited our community to meet the Chicago Media Coalition during Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 ekend of programming.
In the Chicago spirit of collaboration and solidarity, the newly formed Chicago Media Coalition — founded by Sisters in Cinema, Full Spectrum Features, Mezcla Media Collective and OTV — is an effort to leverage support general operations and strategic partnerships as a development & management commons for BIPOC storytellers in Chicago.
In addition to hosting a private brunch for funding partners and community amplifiers we hosted a series of rapid panel discussions around independent film financing and funding — all before closing the day off with the grooviest of happy hours.
Lights! Camera! Collaboration! — a series of rapid discussions that dive deep into the innovative relationships between filmmakers, funders, and orgs!
Convo #1: Individual Investors Partnering With Filmmakers
This panel featured filmmaker and investor parings that explored their partnerships to better understand how they formed their collaboration and navigated the industry together to create films that resonate with audiences and push boundaries. This conversation featured Alex Thompson, Eddie Linker, Haroula Rose, Mark Glassgow, Whitney Spencer and Chaz Ebert.
Convo #2: Public Funders Partnering With Filmmakers
This panel featured a discussion with filmmakers and the funders who provide grant support. They discussed the funding landscape, how they work together to achieve shared outcomes, and how to braid funding to bring the stories to life. This conversation featured Yvonne Welbon, Ashley O'Shay, Jason Matsumoto and Meida McNeal.
Convo #3: Emerging and Youth Filmmakers Partnering with Universities
This panel featured a discussion with emerging and youth filmmakers and the organizations that have provided support to them. We discussed collaborations with universities that have amazing networks to draw from to programs that foster the development of careers. This conversation featured Zanah Thirus, Summer Cortes, Addison Belhomme and Brianna Lawrence
