Today, Disney and Nissan announced they are launching a nationwide search for the next visionary filmmaker in celebration of the upcoming release of A Wrinkle in Time. The contest seeks to inspire innovative directors – especially female filmmakers – to step up and share their voice. Aspiring directors ages 18 and up must submit a two-minute video showcasing their journey as a filmmaker. Submissions will be judged on their unique storytelling voice, their creativity and originality and their depiction of one of the most powerful lines of dialogue in the film, “Be a Warrior.”
DuVernay wrote, produced and directed her first narrative feature“I Will Follow in 2010 on a budget of $50,000. What makes this filmmaking challenge unique is that the winner will receive the financial resources to make their own film, which is one of the biggest hurdles facing aspiring filmmakers.
“I’m thrilled to stand with Nissan and Disney to launch this dynamic contest with the goal of supporting an emerging filmmaker to think big, be bold and move forward bravely,” says DuVernay.
“Searching for the Next Visionary Filmmaker” will award one lucky winner $100,000 to create their own film, flights to Hollywood on JetBlue to attend the world premiere of A Wrinkle in Time and an all-new 2018 Nissan LEAF. Other sponsors include W Hotels, providing the winner’s stay in Hollywood and HP, awarding an HP ZBook 17 Mobile Workstation to assist the winner with their filmmaking process.
“We’re living in a time when we’re all obsessed with what’s next and, as the world leader in electric vehicles, we are thrilled the all-new 2018 Nissan LEAF, a car you can buy today, can be part of the forward-thinking vision of “A Wrinkle in Time,” says Jeremy Tucker, Vice President, Marketing Communications & Media, Nissan North America. “Creating a successful future will take collaboration, and Nissan is proud to support the visionary filmmakers working to imagine tomorrow, today.”
Official contest rules are available at AWITFilmChallenge.com.