Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards, announced the 22 filmmakers and 10 projects selected for its 11th annual Fast Track program at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fast Track Welcome Luncheon on June 14, 2013 during the Los Angeles Film Festival. Fast Track is sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Millennium Entertainment and takes place during the Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs from June 13-23 in downtown Los Angeles. The program is an intensive, three-day film-financing market. During programmed one-on-one meetings, participants are connected with established financiers, production companies, agents, managers and other film industry professionals who can move their current projects forward.
“Film Independent is very proud of the efficacy of Fast Track in helping independent filmmakers get their films made. Out of the nine projects that participated in Fast Track last year, four have already premiered to critical acclaim, and another is in pre-production. This year’s Fast Track filmmakers are an exceptional group of diverse artists with vital stories deserving of support. We have high hopes for their success,” said Film Independent Director of Artist Development, Jennifer Kushner.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded the fourth annual Sloan Fast Track Grant, a $15,000 production grant to a project that fulfills the Sloan mission. This year’s Sloan Fast Track Grant was awarded to writer/director/producer Christopher Munch for his film Frank’s World: And Tales of the Fearless Brothers O. The filmmakers will also receive year-round support from Film Independent. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation seeks to create and develop new scripts about science and technology and to see them into commercial production with national and international distribution. Frank’s World: And Tales of the Fearless Brothers O. is about a visionary and energetic physicist who is diverging from the path of this iconic brother and emerges from the Red Scare after a decade of exile to build the most celebrated science museum in the world.
“We are delighted to partner with Film Independent in supporting Frank’s World, an original and affecting love story about two extraordinary brothers whose scientific careers changed the course of history and our understanding of science in radically different ways,” said Doron Weber, Vice President, Programs at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “Like the three previous Sloan-FIND Fast Track projects – Future Weather, Midnight Sun and Unmanned – we expect Frank’s World to attract a stellar cast and go into production soon, demonstrating yet again how science and technology furnish great stories and great characters that translate into great films.”
In addition, for the second consecutive year, supporter Millennium Entertainment awarded the Millennium Entertainment Fellowship, a $10,000 unrestricted production grant. This year’s recipients are producers Vincent Harris and Amy Hobby for their film “Third Girl from the Left.” “Third Girl from the Left” is the story of the other side of Hollywood in the Seventies, of what it means to be black, sexy, smart and full of dreams in a land where “Blaxploitation” is as literal as it sounds. As intense and serious as it is fun and fabulous, Third Girl from the Left, is a compelling saga of love, family secrets, and the ambitions of mothers and daughters.
“We’re so proud to be part of Fast Track and support new voices in independent film,” said Bill Lee, CEO, Millennium Entertainment. “Film Independent’s commitment to finding new creative talent is one of the driving reasons as to why we chose to become a sponsor. This is something we are deeply passionate about and believe that the team behind Third Girl from the Left have a very bright future ahead of them.”
The following projects and filmmakers have been selected for 2013 Fast Track.
Frank’s World: And Ta