Hanelle Culpepper, Anya Adams, Mary Lou Belli, and Mairzee Alma Among Industry Mentors
Partners Include the Harnisch Foundation and Renee Freedman & Company
Alliance of Women Directors announced today the directors and mentors for the inaugural edition of the AWD Black Directors Advancement Initiative (BDAI). The AWD Black Directors Advancement Initiative aims to level the playing field for Black women directors and address the extensive barriers to entry in terms of access to information, relationships, and career-building opportunities. The program pairs participants, who are current AWD members, with Industry Mentors who will share their expertise and advise the directors on their career goals over the course of the six-month program. Industry Mentors for the first edition of the program include directors Hanelle Culpepper, Anya Adams, Terri J. Vaughn, Mary Lou Belli, and Mairzee Almas; and other industry leaders including Karen Horne, Jonathan Frank, and Kelly Edwards, among others.
“With this robust program, the Alliance of Women Directors continues its mission to promote the advancement of women directors and create a more equitable entertainment industry,” said AWD in a statement. “Thank you to the BDAI Industry Mentors, whose talents, leadership, and expertise know no bounds, and the Harnisch Foundation for their commitment to uplifting traditionally underrepresented voices and stories.”
BDAI participants were matched with their Industry Mentor based on the director’s interest in one of three areas: film, episodic, or general career advice. In addition to receiving guidance from an Industry Mentor, a professional coaching program has been made available to all of the directors in this year’s BDAI cohort. Current partners in this effort include the Harnisch Foundation and Renee Freedman and Company.
For more information on how to become a mentor or how to support the next cohort of AWD’s Black Directors Advancement Initiative that will begin in 2022, please email: bdai@allianceofwomendirectors.org.
The following are the industry mentors and AWD members named to the inaugural BDAI cohort:
List of BDAI Participants and Mentors in alphabetical order
BDAI Participants:
Alycia Cooper
Anastasia Washington
Angela Matemotja
Angie Comer
Arlette Tomas Fletcher
Bridgett Ladd
Camille Brown
Chaun Pinkston
Christianna Carmine
Danni Conner
Dionna McMillian
Elise Hines
Eliyannah Amirah Yisrael
Elizabeth Gray Bayne
Gleana Albritton
Jade Jenise Dixon
Jean Young
Jonterri Gadson
Kameishia D. Wooten
Katrina Mitchell
Kryzz Gautier
Lagueria Davis
Laila Petrone
Lande Yoosuf
Monique Younger
Mora Carew
Rae Shaw
Robin Cloud
Sandrene Mathews
Spade Robinson
Stacie Hawkins
Tijuana Ricks
Tomeka M. Winborne
Wanjiru Njendu
Industry Mentors Include:
Alexis Ostrander, director
Amy Adrion, director
Anya Adams, director
Barbara Crawford, FX Current
Bronwyn Cornelius, film producer
Colette Wilson, FX Current
Caron Williams, Creative Executive Disney Animation
Darnell Martin, director
Eleanore Dailly, independent producer
Glen Reynolds, Circus Road Films
Hanelle Culpepper, director
Hannah Settle, VP of Development & Production, Be Nice or Leave Productions
James Bamford, director
Janet Jeffries, film producer
Jen McGowan, director
Jonathan Frank, Executive Vice President, FX Current Series and FX Productions
Karen Horne, SVP, Enterprise Inclusion at WarnerMedia
Kelly Edwards, Edwardian Pictures
Kelly Park, director
Mairzee Almas, director
Mary Lou Belli, director
Michael Moss, Creative Executive Disney Branded Entertainment
MJ Basset, director
Rachel Goldberg, director
Rachel Lee Goldenberg, director
Rochee Jeffries, writer/director
Samantha Militanta, FX Current
Tara Miele, director
Terri J. Vaughn, actor / director
Tessa Blake, director
Wendy Mericle, showrunner
