Film Independent has announced the winners of its three Emerging Filmmaker Awards at its annual Spirit Awards nominee brunch held on Friday (1/6) at Hotel Casa del Mar. Spirit Awards Honorary Chair Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon, The Unknown Country) and Colman Domingo (Rustin, The Color Purple) served as hosts for the event and handed out the honors. Winners for the remaining categories will be revealed at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday, February 25.
“Understanding the enormous challenges independent artists are facing, it’s essential that they are provided the resources to move forward with their artistic visions,” said Josh Welsh, president of Film Independent. “The Emerging Filmmaker Awards provide vital support to these talented artists, enabling them to continue to develop new work and thrive as singular artists.”
The Someone to Watch Award presented by Stella Artois was given to Monica Sorelle, director of Mountains. The award recognizes a talented first-time narrative filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award, which is in its 30th year, includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant. The finalists for the award included Joanna Arnow for The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed and Laura Moss for Birth/Rebirth.
The Truer Than Fiction Award was presented to Set Hernandez, director of unseen. The award is presented to a first-time director of non-fiction features who has not received significant recognition. The award is in its 29th year and includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant. Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli for Lakota Nation vs The United States and Sierra Urich for Joonam were finalists for the award.
Finally, the Producers Award went to Monique Walton. The award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The annual award, in its 27th year, includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. Finalists were Rachael Fung and Graham Swon.
Differences bubble up between PepsiCo and Coca-Cola on diversity programs
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More