Riz Ahmed’s Left Handed Films and Pillars Fund Announce Inaugural Fellowship Recipients (EXCLUSIVE)
Angelique Jackson In June 2021, Oscar-nominee and Emmy-winner Riz Ahmed and Pillars Fund’s Kashif Shaikh and Arij Mikati outlined the urgent need for more Muslim representation in the entertainment industry, both in front of and behind the camera, during an extensive interview with Variety.The trio announced plans to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative, dubbed the Pillars Artist Fellowship, with a mission to provide resources and mentorship to a group of talented Muslim artists to help them use their talents to change the game in the film and television industries. Today, Pillars Fund, Ahmed and his Left Handed Films banner unveil the inaugural cohort of fellows.“We spent months getting to know many talented candidates,” stated Shaikh, Pillars Fund’s co-founder and president.