Color Congress is a new collective that supports people of color in documentary filmmaking. Described by a press release as “a national collective of organizations led and staffed by people of color committed to centering and strengthening nonfiction storytelling by, for, and about people of color across the United States,” Color Congress has launched with a fund of $1.35 million. All organizations serving or run by people of color will be eligible to apply for two-year grants that are unrestricted and open to all. This initiative will begin January 21.
Color Congress co-directors Sahar Driver and Sonya Childress will connect and support different organizations “to transform the documentary landscape toward one that strengthens people of color visibility, voice, and power, and in doing so pushes the documentary field to become a more powerful force for social change.”
The goal is to assist organizations in becoming self-sustainable, provide funding that will allow them to continue serving filmmakers, leaders and audiences of color, and build collective power among all the organizations.
“After spending the last two decades leveraging the power of documentary film, I understood the power — and the limits — of what a single film can accomplish. Today’s existential challenges require a sea-change in thought and action; so to truly catalyze social change we need robust cinema authored by people closest to the most critical issues of our time,” said Childress. “By supporting the organizations that nurture filmmakers of color, we can ensure impactful nonfiction storytelling will flourish.”
Color Congress’ mission was shaped by “Beyond Inclusion: The Critical Role of People of Color in the U.S. Documentary Ecosystem,” a report that surveyed 200 nonfiction film organizations serving or led by people of color. “The report pointed to decades of work — many of these organizations were developed in the 1960s and 70s during a similar moment of cultural turmoil — and structural and systemic barriers to authorship and support that still persist today,” according to the press release.
“What became clear through the research was that majority POC and POC-led organizations have consistently centered people of color in their programming. And despite being fragmented across communities, regions, disciplines, and priorities, I began to see this as a powerful ecosystem,” Driver explained. “They have persevered in a field that has consistently underestimated, undervalued, and overlooked filmmakers, leaders, and audiences of color. This ecosystem will ensure that POC storytelling is beautiful and nuanced and helps to transform culture. I am grateful for the opportunity to support, resource, and connect these organizations at a time when there is already so much energy and organizing afoot that deserves it.”
Color Congress will host two virtual public events at Sundance 2022: “Shifting Power from Within: The New Gate Openers” on January 21 and “Introducing Color Congress” on January 26.
The open call to funding applications will run from January 21 through February 21. Head over to Color Congress’ website to find out more.
Source: Women And Hollywood
