The New Orleans Film Society brought our 2024–2025 Emerging Voices Directors Lab cohort to the Tribeca Festival in New York for a powerful weekend of networking, learning, and all things cinema. As part of our year-round commitment to nurturing Southern filmmakers of color, this excursion is more than just a trip—it’s an industry launchpad.
Directors attended a series of high-impact panels and receptions, including the AT&T Untold Stories Pitch, Authenticity in Storytelling, Innovation in Accessible Storytelling, The Inquisitor Reception, and Follow the Funding with Documentary Producers. Additionally, the cohort took part in some incredible screenings, such as Wizkid: Long Live Lagos, The Inquisitor, Shorts Block: Hopes & Dreams, Hal & Harper, and Everything’s Going to be Great.
The Emerging Voices Directors Lab is a cornerstone of NOFS’ mission to amplify underrepresented voices from Louisiana. Through mentorship, workshops, and national exposure like this, we help build the professional foundation early-career filmmakers need to thrive.
As the year-round home for independent film in the Crescent City, the New Orleans Film Society is proud to be a cultural force that lifts up both local talent and global stories—whether it’s on screen at our Oscar® qualifying New Orleans Film Festival, under the stars at a free community screening, or on the ground in New York, supporting the next wave of Southern storytellers.