AT&T and IndieWire hosted a Filmmaker Party at AFI Fest on Saturday, October 25, bringing directors and festival attendees together at Ovation Hollywood for networking and conversations about movies. The event also offered a complimentary headshot booth for guests looking to support their professional careers.
The party followed the IndieWire Future of Filmmaking Summit in Los Angeles, presented by AT&T, which brought together artists, executives and other entertainment-industry voices for a day of programming about Hollywood’s future. The two events were part of an October partnership focused on supporting filmmakers and helping bring untold stories to audiences.
Among those attending the party was Lilian Mehrel, director of “Honeyjoon.” She made her debut feature with the $1 million prize she received through the 2024 AT&T Untold Stories competition. Mehrel said the award gave her the opportunity to tell a story that might otherwise have struggled to find a place in the industry.
“Thank you to AT&T, to AFI Fest, and to everyone who champions filmmakers,” Mehrel said. “Because of you, more untold stories become told.”
Her remarks echoed comments from “Color Book” director David Fortune, who spoke at the Future of Filmmaking Summit about his experience with the competition. AT&T Untold Stories is a multi-year collaboration between AT&T and Tribeca Festival that provides $1.2 million in awards, mentorship and other support to emerging filmmakers seeking to bring their films to the big screen.
Sources: IndieWire.