The Black Family Foundation has created a production fund of grants to be awarded annually to students whose film projects exemplify innovation in story, style and tone. The Foundation’s goal is to push the conversation of filmmaking forward and reward those filmmakers who can prove they have the vision and ability to do so.
The Black Family Film Prize will total $150,000 each year, and be awarded in three categories of filmmaking, as follows:
- A single prize of $100,000 to be awarded each year to one 3rd or 4th year student or eligible alumnus/a for a Feature film. Alumni who have graduated within five years of the application deadline are eligible.
- $30,000, in sums of ten thousand dollars to three short Thesis films
- $20,000 in sums of five thousand dollars to four 2nd Year films
The Black Family Film Prize applications will be announced each year in separate categories (Feature, Thesis and 2nd year) to students and alumni via email.
Announcing Our 2023 Black Family Feature Film Prize Winner
Hasan Hadi for The President's Cake
Hasan Hadi is an Iraqi writer/director based in New York. His short Swimsuit won an Oscar-qualifying award at Urbanworld and received distribution from HBO Max. Hasan's recognitions include the Tisch Dean’s Fellowship, the Gotham-Marcie Bloom Fellowship, the Sloan Foundation Production Award, and the BAFTA Newcomers Program. Hasan is a 2022 Sundance Institute Screenwriting and Directing Fellow and the recipient of the 2022 Sundance Institute/NHK Award, SFFILM Rainin Grant and was selected for NYU's 2022 Purple List for his feature debut, The President's Cake.
Synopsis of The President's Cake:
Kind-hearted and resourceful SAEED (9) is the only family of his grandmother, BIBI and lives with her in the historic Iraqi marshes. It’s April 26, 1991. Today is the “draw day” -- which means students will be selected for the honor of bringing items for the mandatory school celebration of President Saddam’s birthday. Despite severe sanctions on Iraq, citizens are expected to find the resources to honor the birth of Saddam or face the grave consequences. The President’s Cake is a journey through the harsh world of Saddam