Blanche Akonchong
MFA Candidate Blanche Akonchong is the recipient of NewFest’s New Voices Filmmaker Grant, a new initiative in partnership with Netflix to support emerging LGBTQ+ filmmakers with $25,000 in funding to create new work.
Blanche is a queer Cameroonian/American writer, director, actor and musciian from Riverdale, GA. A first generation American, her parents immigrated to the U.S. in the late 80s, from Mamfe, Cameroon.
“The four grant recipients all submitted auspicious work samples from wide-ranging genres and come from varying backgrounds,” said NewFest Director of Programming Nick McCarthy. “Yet one commonality is their confident direction, palpable perspective, commitment to new forms of LGBTQ+ storytelling, and a tenacious spirit to make inspiring work and have their stories told and be heard. We can’t wait to share the voices and work of Blanche, Livia, Nyala, and Rodney within the industry and throughout the world—and, above all, see what brilliant and powerful queer work they create next.”
Read more at Deadline.