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TRIBECA FESTIVAL AND CANVA ANNOUNCE RETURN OF ‘KICKSTART WITH CANVA: A CREATIVE PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH TRIBECA’
Artist Program Celebrates Emerging Filmmakers and Storytellers in Entertainment, Awarding Five Winners with $20,000 Kickstart Award
2023 Winners Announced, 2024 Submissions Now Open
New York, NY, May 24, 2024 – Today, Tribeca Festival and Canva announced the return of Kickstart with Canva: A Creative Program in Collaboration with Tribeca for the second year. This artist program, aimed at empowering emerging filmmakers and storytellers across the entertainment industry, also unveiled the five winners from 2023, each receiving a $20,000 Kickstart Award.
Through a series of in-person and virtual workshops, Kickstart with Canva: A Creative Program in Collaboration with Tribeca empowers emerging writers, directors and producers across film, television and immersive storytelling to showcase and create buzz around their projects using Canva’s all-in-one visual communication platform. Workshops cover key areas, including creating dynamic pitch decks, designing film marketing assets, and receiving direct feedback from industry experts. By leveraging Tribeca's expertise in artistic development and mentorship and Canva's communication platform, Kickstart with Canva aims to support creatives within the entertainment industry who are driving creativity and innovation in storytelling.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide essential support to our artist community with year two of this program,” said Bryce Norbitz, Tribeca’s Director of Artist Programs. “From the fascinating in-depth workshops to our support of the Kickstart Award winners, it’s been a comprehensive and dynamic experience for creators that we can’t wait to continue.”
“Our partnership with Tribeca is a testament to our dedication to nurture the next generation of storytellers, and we couldn’t be more excited to be back for a second year,” said Kristine Segrist, VP Consumer Marketing at Canva. “Incredible creative work was unlocked in the first year of this program, and we’re thrilled to empower even more creators with resources and tools to help bring their visions to life.”
The 2023 program selected five winning projects out of nearly two hundred participants, with winners each earning a $20,000 Kickstart Award and receiving mentorship support from Tribeca Studios. Winners span categories from documentary shorts to scripted features, showcasing the program's ability to nurture a wide range of creative endeavors. 2023 winners include:
"Still A Go Between" – Documentary short directed by Sally Tran (New York)
A short mixed-media documentary chronicles 1990s Chinatown, New York City as Vietnamese refugees ruthlessly ascending through the criminal underworld, living their dark twist on the American dream."Dear Uncle" – Documentary feature directed by Marianne Amelinckx; produced by Julieta Messmer (Los Angeles)
After losing a beloved uncle, queer filmmaker Marianne Amelinckx decides that the only path to collective healing is to unravel the tapestry of hidden truths that binds her family together."Ibrahim" – Scripted feature written and directed by Terron Jones; produced by Okema T. Moore (New York)
Ibrahim, an undocumented African immigrant, spends his days busking in the NYC subways in the hopes of becoming a professional recording artist. When a coup threatens his homeland, Ibrahim must decide if he should sacrifice his dream to secure his wife and daughter’s safety."School of Hope" – Documentary short directed by Amy Martinez; produced by Chelsea Hernandez (Austin, Texas)
At the Mexico-Texas border, The Sidewalk School and its unwavering founders defy seemingly insurmountable odds to offer free education, safety and security to vulnerable child asylum seekers in Matamoros."Paper Trail" – Scripted feature written and directed by Rachael Moton; produced by Gia Rigoli and Vero Kompalic (Philadelphia)
In rapidly gentrifying North Philadelphia, two genius Black siblings at risk of eviction begin doing the coursework of local college students in exchange for cash. When one of their customers, a white student, goes viral from an essay they wrote, they’re forced to come to terms with her using their voices for personal gain.
Images for each project can be found HERE.
The 2024 program is now accepting submissions from independent creators, including writers, directors and producers across film, TV and immersive storytelling. To register, visit tribecafilm.com/canva. The first workshop will take place in-person at the Tribeca Festival on June 10.
Press Contacts
Annie Davis - adavis@tribecafilm.com
Emma Greis - emma@elementbrandgroup.com
Olivia Johnson - oliviajohnson@canva.com
ABOUT TRIBECA FESTIVAL
The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 23rd year from June 5–16, 2024 in New York City.
In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.
ABOUT 2024 TRIBECA FESTIVAL PARTNERS
Launched in 2013, Canva is a free online visual communications and collaboration platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design. Featuring a simple drag-and-drop user interface and a vast range of templates ranging from presentations, documents, websites, social media graphics, posters, apparel to videos, plus a huge library of fonts, stock photography, illustrations, video footage, and audio clips, anyone can take an idea and create something beautiful.
