Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, two filmmakers who received MacArthur “Genius Grants,” founded an initiative at Arizona State University’s Sidney Poitier New American Film School to develop films that, according to the school, “challenge conventional narratives about the borderlands.”
This month, that initiative—called Borderlands Studios—named its first four filmmaker fellows, who will each receive a $50,000 grant to develop new films.
The fellows will also receive access to resources at ASU’s Tempe, Mesa, and Los Angeles locations for their work.
“I am honored to welcome the new Borderlands Fellows as they help fulfill the promise of The Poitier Film School to uphold the legacy of its namesake by disrupting the status quo and breaking down barriers to educational and cinematic equity,” Cheryl Boone Isaacs, founding director of ASU’s film school, said in a press release.
Here are the fellows, along with their bios shared in the press release:
- Cecilia Aldarondo: A Guggenheim-winning writer-producer from the Puerto Rican diaspora, known for her acclaimed documentaries “Memories of a Penitent Heart,” “Landfall” and “You Were My First Boyfriend.”
- Peter Bratt: A Rockefeller Fellow, Peabody Award winner, and Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose work includes the Sundance award-winning “Follow Me Home.”
- Aurora Guerrero: A Chicana activist and filmmaker, recognized for her Sundance-nominated debut feature “Mosquita y Mari” and her work on Apple+ series “Sanctuary.”
- Rodrigo Reyes: A Guggenheim Fellow and award-winning filmmaker whose most recent work, “Sansón and Me,” was featured in the prestigious documentary series Independent Lens.
According to ASU, only 2% of film and TV writers and directors are Latino, despite Latinos making up about 20% of the national population.
READ MORE: Hispanic Heritage Month puts diversity and culture at the forefront
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, especially during an election year where so much is at stake for Arizonans and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at The Copper Courier has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Arizona families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
5 Latino urban legends that will keep you up at night
Are you ready for Halloween and Day of the Dead? These supernatural stories will certainly get you ready. Like most Mexican American households,...
What 2 years of hosting Copper Courier poetry open mics has taught me
Hosting and performing poetry in this safe space has helped me process much of what has been going on in my own life, especially the death of my...
Hispanic Heritage Month puts diversity and culture at the forefront
The four-week period of Hispanic Heritage Month is about honoring the way Hispanic populations have shaped the US in the past and present. Huge...
VIDEO: Extreme heat in Phoenix leads to a heartwarming wedding proposal
@coppercourier Would you want to get proposed to during a heatwave WHILE hiking? 😕 💍 📹 : Associated Press #arizona #az #summer #hiking #trails...