Sundance 2019 is off to a great start. According to a press release, the fest saw the introduction of the Programmers of Colour Collective (POC2), a group of women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ film festival programmers. Eighty-five people have already joined the collective, which hopes to spark discussion surrounding the underrepresentation of people of color among film programmers and festival staffers. The group will also “act as a catalyst for transformative change towards a more inclusive international programming pool.”
Founded by Tribeca senior programmer Lucy Mukerjee, Themba Bhebhe of EFM Diversity & Inclusion, Frameline Director of Exhibition & Programming Paul Struthers, and Sundance programmer Hussain Currimbhoy, POC2 has already outlined initiatives that will boost awareness of film programming’s pattern of exclusion. These include advocating for research on the current international festival programming pool, creating a programming pipeline for people of color via mentorship and education outreach, putting together an internal database and online repertory of programmers of color, and hosting regular meetings and events at major film fests around the world.
Members of POC2 gathered for a group photo at Sundance yesterday to celebrate the launch. “The collective chose to launch at Sundance where, contrary to the norm, diversity is the order of the day in the programming room,” the press release explains. “POC2 will strive for such inclusivity to become ubiquitous with curating films.”
“As a collective, we’re forward-looking and focused on connecting people with opportunities,” POC2‘s founders said in a statement. “Whilst we seek to diversify the current festival programming pool, we also want to create a network of new talent from all of our communities that feeds into those pools and creates its own programming activities. We want to be a portal where other collectives with similar interests can connect with us, offer advice, and who we ourselves can advise on festivals, programmers, and films.” They added, “Essentially, we’re a new door into the industry for other POC groups and filmmakers.”
Sundance Film Fest runs through February 3.
