Film Independent Names 30 Filmmakers for 2012 Project Involve; Speakers Include Pariah's Rees & Cooper

Film Independent has selected 30 filmmakers for Project Involve, their program designed to foster the careers of emerging filmmakers from communities underrepresented within the film industry.  The program's guest speakers include producer director Dee Rees and producer Nekisa Cooper (Pariah), Stephanie Allain (Hurricane Season, Hustle & Flow), and others yet to be announced. Cooper is an alumni of Project Involve, as is Circumstance producer Melissa Lee. LA Film Fest's artistic director David Ansenand Zhiv Productions' Joyce San Pedro will serve as mentors.

New this year is Sony Pictures' Diversity Fellowship, which is granted to one participating filmmaker and offers year-round support (complete with a cash production grant and professional development).

Film Independent's Josh Welsh says the filmmakers coming out of Project Involve "continue to inspire us, and we remain committed to giving them the opportunity to further their careers."

More on the program and this year's participants below:

Project Involve runs annually for nine months, and selects filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and filmmaking tracks. During the program, participants create short films, receive one-on-one film industry mentors, access to production-based master workshops taught by top film professionals, career development training, industry networking opportunities and more.

The 2012 Project Involve participants were selected based on the quality of their projects, their passion, vision, talent, and commitment to pursuing a career in the film industry. This year’s filmmakers are:

•    Andrew Ahn, Director
•    Nicco Ardin, Producer
•    Christina Carrea, Cinematographer
•    Susana Casares Domingo, Writer/Director
•    Aaron Celious, Writer/Director
•    Naveen Chaubal, Cinematographer
•    Wonsun Choi, Industry Track: Acquisitions/Distribution
•    Danni Conner, Producer
•    Amparo de Miguel Viguer, Cinematographer
•    Rhys Ernst, Director
•    Ella Franklin, Producer
•    Teresa Gaviria, Producer
•    Rachel Goldberg, Writer/Director
•    Felipe Holguin, Director
•    Mel Jones, Producer
•    Susumu Kimura, Editor
•    Allison Lee, Writer
•    Erin Li, Director
•    Silka Luisa, Writer
•    Lucas Mireles, Director
•    Jesse Morrison, Producer
•    Tamir Mostafa, Writer
•    Victoria Page, Editor
•    Mason Richards, Director
•    Ben Rodriguez, Industry Track: Film Programming
•    Janine Salinas, Writer
•    Marlena Steiner, Cinematographer
•    Dana Turken, Director
•    Szu-Hua Wang, Editor
•    Ellie Wen, Industry Track: Development