Introducing the 2020 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows

Creativity plays a crucial role in how we tell our stories, and it’s never been more important to elevate new voices, particularly in a medium like film. For the past six years, we’ve partnered with Sundance Institute with the common vision of inspiring creativity and bringing stories from the next generation of filmmakers to life. We are proud to be a founding partner of the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship program, empowering a new wave of emerging, diverse voices with the tools, mentorship and resources needed to tell their stories. Today we are thrilled to announce the 2020 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows. Meet the 10 emerging filmmakers, selected from over 1,600 submissions around the world, who represent the next generation of storytellers.

With support from Adobe, the Fellowship fosters the filmmakers both professionally and artistically. Each Fellow is matched with a Sundance Institute alumni mentor, is eligible for internships and program opportunities, and receives an artist grant to produce future work in addition to a complimentary subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. Later in the summer, several of the Fellows’ winning short films were screened as part of Celebration of Sundance Film Festival: London.

The future is bright for this new class of fellows. Fellows from previous cohorts – represented across 15 countries – have gone on to produce more work (98%), had their work commissioned, and have earned prestigious awards and recognition (60%). Beyond recognition, these filmmakers are bringing important topics to light and sharing diverse points of view. “We are so proud to partner with Sundance in the Sundance Ignite x Adobe program and look forward to working with the 2020 Fellows to help bring their stories, creativity and perspectives to the world,” said John Travis, Adobe’s VP Brand Marketing.

Learn more about the Sundance Ignite program and get ready to submit your short film to the 2021 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Short Film Challenge. Through the challenge, we’ll identify 10 new Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows, who will have yearlong access to powerful mentorships and professional development opportunities. The challenge is open now through April 6.

At Adobe, we believe creativity doesn’t just open doors—it opens worlds. Given the overwhelming number of submissions from young filmmakers around the globe, we’re expanding our support for those looking to hone their skills and explore filmmaking opportunities with 500 full-access scholarships to Sundance Co//ab—a platform providing emerging creators with online resources to create and share their stories.

“Our mission is to enable creativity for all. We believe that everyone has a story to tell and that those stories deserve to be heard. When we elevate a broader and more diverse set of voices, we can create change within ourselves, our communities and the world,” said Travis.

For more resources and opportunities to foster into your creativity, check out other scholarships, grants and career development programs from Adobe.