Angelique Jackson Netflix has launched a new pipeline program aimed at launching the “next wave of marquee filmmakers” working in high-concept genres.The Emerging Filmmaker Initiative (EFI) gives three filmmakers the opportunity to develop, fund, produce and distribute their short films on Netflix, with a focus on stories in the sci-fi, action, horror and thriller genres.The initiative is inspired by the trajectory of rising star Stefon Bristol, who first teamed with the streamer on “See You Yesterday.” The high-impact time-travel tale went on to earn an Independent Spirit Award for best first screenplay and Bristol has set his second project with Netflix, “Gordon Hemingway & The Realm of Cthulhu.” Like “See You Yesterday,” Bristol will direct the upcoming film, produced by Spike Lee. “Stefon’s short opened a lot of doors, but for many up-and-coming filmmakers, it takes years just to get that first shot.

We want to change that,” Ian Bricke, VP of independent film at Netflix, wrote in a blog post describing the program.Through the initiative, Bricke explains, the chosen filmmakers will “gain priceless access to the film studio ecosystem early in their careers” and receive hands-on experience in development, casting, production, scoring, editing and more.

The filmmakers will also be paired with experienced director mentors; Ron Howard and Barry Sonnenfeld offered their guidance to this year’s filmmakers.EFI’s first class of filmmakers are Hebru Brantley (“Erax”), Ashley Eakin (“Forgive Us Our Trespasses”) and Marielle Woods (“Heart Shot”), whose short films launch globally on Netflix Feb.

Netflix Introduces Emerging Filmmaker Initiative (EXCLUSIVE)

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