WASHINGTON (January 29, 2019) – Fifteen film students will represent Howard University at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Under the Sundance Institute, and the BET Networks –Blackhouse Fellowship, students will be able to network to increase their chances of becoming prominent filmmakers.

Thirteen students among the group are undergraduates who raised $10,000 to attend and cover all of their expenses, joining members of the Sundance Institute for the first weekend. The co-president of the student-run Howard University Film Organization, Ajani Thomas, is excited about what this opportunity can be for them.

“It’s the first time that this many Howard students have been able to attend. We’re excited to go because this is the largest networking festival for people in our industry,” says Thomas.

The undergraduates attending include: Ajani Thomas, I'shanee Ford, Isaac Umar, Connor Simmons, Kennedy Mallard, Amber Paige, Lauren Bellamy, Milan Williams, Jasmine Hardy, Jade Hardy, Cole Mason, Isiah Turner, and Solomon Cazer.

Two Howard University MFA in Film graduates, present for the entire festival, are attending as fellows of BET Networks –Blackhouse Fellowship, Desirae Lee and Keith Nixon. This opportunity stemmed from Howard University Film Professor Montre Missouri Ph.D., who experienced various film festivals around the world. She noticed the lack of diversity and opportunities for emerging Black students in film.

“This is a big deal! I felt that Howard needed to be represented in a big way at these film festivals,” says Missouri, a professor of the only HBCU MFA in Film graduate program in the U.S. In 2018, she spearheaded the program with Blackhouse Foundation, who advanced the partnership with BET Networks, to develop a fellowship during Sundance. The first cohort consisted of 10 Howard film graduate students.

“Due to the success of the program, they’ve expanded this to not only include Howard University but New York University, University of South California, Columbia University and Chapman University.”

Blackhouse Foundation will offer exciting opportunities for fellows, such as meeting their newest partners, Oprah Winfrey and OWN Networks, as well as actor Michael B. Jordan.  

Missouri hopes to create a job placement cycle for those who are part of this fellowship. She is grateful for these opportunities at Sundance. As for Hans Charles, cinematographer of Wu-Tang Clan’s Of Mics and Men docuseries, she is proud of his work. He shadowed the steps of other alumni, suchas award-winning cinematographer Bradford Young.

“We have so much more to offer and we’re excited about the pipeline of minority filmmakers coming out of Howard.”

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(Pictured from left to right are the Howard University BET Networks –Blackhouse Fellows, Desirae Lee and Keith Johnson)

About the Master of Fine Arts in Film Program:

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in the Department of Media, Journalism, and Film in the School of Communications at Howard University offers a sound, balanced study of film.  The program places primary emphasis on the rigorous study of all aspects of film production with attention to vital areas such as film history, the role of film in society, film theory, and film criticism.

It is the only graduate film program at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and, for more than 30 years, it has provided students with a foundation in film production and film theory from an international perspective. What distinguishes this MFA film program is its comprehensive coursework in film practice and global film studies along with an emphasis on independent filmmaking. Alumni of the MFA Film Program have become award-winning producers, directors, cinematographers, and screenwriters working in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit: communications.howard.edu/concentrations/mfa-film  

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu

Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, Office of University Communications, Imani.popejohns@howard.edu