Seven Filmmakers Selected for the First Epigraph Creator Fellowship by Macro & A16Z Cultural Leadership Fund
EXCLUSIVE: Macro and Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) Cultural Leadership Fund have announced the selection of seven filmmakers for the inaugural Epigraph Creator Fellowship. This fellowship aims to empower creators by ensuring they have direct access to advanced technology tools that shape contemporary storytelling.
As part of this groundbreaking program, the fellows will utilize cutting-edge AI tools from partners including OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Gamma, Promise Studios, Descript, Coactive, and Curious Refuge. They will receive comprehensive access to these platforms along with personalized guidance on integrating these tools throughout their creative processes.
The inaugural class of fellows includes Bianca Lambert, Chazitear Martin, John Burr, Justice Whitaker, Nick Barili, Sulayman Tahir, and Tedra Wilson. Their work has garnered recognition at esteemed events such as the Tribeca Film Festival, the American Black Film Festival, and the Essence Film Festival, and has been featured on major streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Paramount+, and Netflix.
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Over the course of eight weeks, the fellows will engage in hands-on instruction and access production resources, culminating in a public showcase of their original works at Macro’s Summer House Creator Summit in Los Angeles this summer.
“Storytellers have always led the way, setting the direction and shaping the culture,” said Stacey Walker King, Chief Brand Officer at Macro. “The Epigraph Creator Fellowship puts the power of today’s technology directly in their hands so they can expand and build the worlds they envision on their own terms. Technology doesn’t lead creativity. Creators do, and now they have the tools to go even further.”
“An epigraph frames meaning before the story even begins. We built this fellowship because creators and technologists are shaping storytelling in real-time—but too often in silos,” remarked Judene Small Jean-Louis, Partner at a16z Cultural Leadership Fund. “Epigraph brings them into the same room, creating real exposure on both sides and shifting how technology and culture come together.”
