Two nonprofit organizations devoted to supporting emerging filmmakers and creatives have teamed with Adobe to launch career development programs.
Rideback RISE, the creative incubator established by producer Dan Lin in 2022, and Highways Lab have joined forces to execute the Highways Lab Directors Program and the Gloria Schoemann Program.
The director program will offer a $50,000 grant and other support to help emerging filmmakers complete a short film.
The Schoemann initiative targets mid-career editors who are bilingual in English and Spanish to receive mentorship and exposure in the industry. It’s named for the prolific Mexican editor who cut many of Mexico’s Golden Age movies in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s.
Highways Lab is an initiative created by actress and producer Olga Segura.
“As an independent filmmaker, I am uniquely aware of the lack of resources and opportunities that exist. With this program we wanted to offer advanced filmmakers a new avenue for funding to develop a short film based on their next feature film,” Segura said. “With Adobe’s invaluable partnership we aim to support filmmakers in bringing their visions to life and expanding the possibilities for independent cinema. It was also important to me to honor one of the most extraordinary editors in cinema, Gloria Schoemann, by spotlighting her remarkable contributions to film while also creating space for today’s bilingual editors.”
Rideback RISE operates a filmmaker incubator program out of its creative work space, a refurbished post office facility in the Historic Filipinotown neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The inaugural group of Highways Lab fellows and their projects include:
** Aitch Alberto (“Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” “Duster”)
“The Long Con”: A con-artist runaway bride and her grifter lover face off at a desert motel in a romantic noir standoff about trust, betrayal, and love
** Ana María Hermida (“La Luciérnaga,” “Alix”)
“Madrecita”: A reluctant pregnant biologist’s psychedelic journey forces her to confront the fear of motherhood.
** Omar Kamara (“African Giants,” “Mass Ave”)
“Calabash”: A culture-clash comedy in which a son of West African immigrants and his African American bride battle familial hijinks threatening to derail their wedding day.
** Aristotle Torres (“Story Ave”)
“The Co-Op”: After winning a coveted NYC housing lottery, Dre discovers his dream building conceals a dark ritual led by the co-op board.
The participants were selected by Highways Lab and Rideback RISE with consultation from filmmakers Jay Van Hoy (“American Honey,” “The Witch”), Helen Estabrook (“Whiplash,” “Tully”) , and Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry,” “Carrie”). In addition, filmmakers Isabel Castro (“Selena and Los Dinos,” “Mija”) and Yolanda Cruz (“La Raya”) who took part in a proof of concept program last year, will become part of the Highways Lab Directors Program and receive a development grant.
The Highways Lab filmmakers will attend the Sundance Film Festival in January to showcase their short films.
“At a time when visionary filmmakers are navigating unprecedented challenges, our exciting collaboration with Highways Lab and Adobe reflects Rideback RISE’s mission to empower creators with the resources, expertise, and community they need to thrive,” said Diana Mogollon, CEO of Rideback RISE. “Through this important partnership, storytellers can accelerate the path from idea to impact and open doors that have too often remained closed.”
For the Schoemann program, the fellows were chosen by invitation to take part in a wo-week masterclass series from Oct. 27-Nov. 7. Each participant received a $15,000 grant October 27 to November 7, led by experienced editors, directors, and Adobe experts. The initial class of Schoemann fellows includes:
** Daniel Chavez-Ontiveros (“Unseen,” “Sansón and Me”)
** Alma Herrera-Pazmiño (“All Up In the Biz,” “Selena y Los Dinos”)
** Salvador Pérez García (“Jagged Mind,” “Icebox”)
** Daniela Quiroz (“Going Varsity in Mariachi,” “The Strike”)
** Mónica Salazar (“Honey Boy,” “Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”)
Both programs are supported by the Adobe Film + TV fund that was established in 2024 to work with nonprofits help support the career development of creators and filmmakers from all backgrounds.
(Pictured: Aitch Alberto, Ana María Hermida, Aristotle Torres and Omar Kamara)