Nonprofit Organizations Partner with Adobe to Support Emerging Filmmakers
Two nonprofit organizations dedicated to nurturing emerging filmmakers and creatives have collaborated with Adobe to introduce career development programs.
Rideback RISE, the creative incubator founded by producer Dan Lin in 2022, has joined forces with Highways Lab to launch the Highways Lab Directors Program and the Gloria Schoemann Program.
The Directors Program will provide a $50,000 grant and additional support to assist emerging filmmakers in completing a short film.
The Schoemann initiative is aimed at mid-career editors who are bilingual in English and Spanish, offering mentorship and industry exposure. It is named after Gloria Schoemann, a distinguished Mexican editor known for her work on many of Mexico’s Golden Age movies in the mid-20th century.
Highways Lab, an initiative spearheaded by actress and producer Olga Segura, is a key player in these programs.
Olga Segura expressed, “As an independent filmmaker, I am acutely aware of the challenges and limitations that exist in the industry. With this program, we aim to provide established filmmakers with a new avenue for funding to develop a short film that aligns with their future feature film projects. Through Adobe’s invaluable partnership, we strive to empower filmmakers to bring their creative visions to fruition and expand the horizons of independent cinema. It was also important for us to pay tribute to the extraordinary legacy of Gloria Schoemann, highlighting her significant contributions to the world of film, while also creating opportunities for today’s bilingual editors.”
Rideback RISE operates a filmmaker incubator program from its creative workspace, a renovated post office facility located in the Historic Filipinotown neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The inaugural cohort of Highways Lab fellows and their projects include:
** Aitch Alberto (“Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” “Duster”)
“The Long Con”: This project follows a con-artist runaway bride and her grifter lover as they confront each other at a desert motel in a romantic noir narrative centered on trust, betrayal, and love.
** Ana MarĂa Hermida (“La LuciĂ©rnaga,” “Alix”)
“Madrecita”: A story that delves into the journey of a reluctant pregnant biologist on a psychedelic adventure that forces her to confront her fears about motherhood.
** Omar Kamara (“African Giants,” “Mass Ave”)
“Calabash”: A culture-clash comedy that explores the challenges faced by a West African immigrant’s son and his African American bride as they navigate familial hijinks threatening to disrupt their wedding day.
** Aristotle Torres (“Story Ave”)
“The Co-Op”: This project follows Dre, who after winning a coveted NYC housing lottery, discovers unsettling secrets within his dream building, orchestrated by the co-op board.
The participants were meticulously selected by Highways Lab and Rideback RISE with input from esteemed filmmakers Jay Van Hoy, Helen Estabrook, and Kimberly Peirce. Additionally, filmmakers Isabel Castro and Yolanda Cruz, who participated in a proof of concept program last year, will also be a part of the Highways Lab Directors Program and receive a development grant.
The Highways Lab filmmakers will have the opportunity to showcase their short films at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Diana Mogollon, CEO of Rideback RISE, remarked, “At a time when visionary filmmakers are facing unprecedented challenges, our collaboration with Highways Lab and Adobe underscores Rideback RISE’s commitment to empowering creators with the necessary resources, expertise, and community to thrive. Through this partnership, storytellers can expedite the journey from concept to impact and unlock doors that have often been closed to them.”
For the Schoemann program, fellows were selected through invitation to participate in a two-week masterclass series from October 27 to November 7. Each participant received a $15,000 grant during the masterclass, led by experienced editors, directors, and Adobe experts. The inaugural class of Schoemann fellows includes:
** Daniel Chavez-Ontiveros (“Unseen,” “Sansón and Me”)
** Alma Herrera-Pazmiño (“All Up In the Biz,” “Selena y Los Dinos”)
** Salvador PĂ©rez GarcĂa (“Jagged Mind,” “Icebox”)
** Daniela Quiroz (“Going Varsity in Mariachi,” “The Strike”)
** Mónica Salazar (“Honey Boy,” “Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”)
Both programs are made possible with the support of the Adobe Film + TV fund, established in 2024 to collaborate with nonprofits in aiding the career development of creators and filmmakers from diverse backgrounds.
(Image: Aitch Alberto, Ana MarĂa Hermida, Aristotle Torres, and Omar Kamara)
