The AT&T Untold Stories Award stands as one of the filmmaking world's most significant accolades, offering a substantial $1.2 million grant alongside invaluable mentorship and support. This annual prize empowers emerging filmmakers to transform their ambitious projects into reality, culminating in a competitive pitch session at the Tribeca Festival before a panel of judges and a live audience.
David Fortune, the recipient of the 2023 award, channeled his prize money into producing his 2024 feature, "Color Book." The film, now available on Netflix, tells the poignant story of a single father navigating life with his son, who has Down syndrome, as they experience their first baseball game together. It's a project that perfectly embodies the award's mission: to support nuanced narratives, particularly those that offer fresh perspectives on underrepresented experiences, such as Black single parenthood.
During a discussion at IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking Summit, presented by AT&T, Fortune offered candid advice to aspiring contestants, emphasizing the critical role of preparation. "You can’t control if you win or lose, but you can control how you prepare," Fortune stated. "I wanted to be the most prepared person in the room."
His commitment to preparation took an extreme turn. To steel himself against the pressure of the live pitch, Fortune engaged in an unusual regimen. He recounted jumping into an ice-cold shower, using the shock to simulate intense stress. "I had to pitch with hypothermia!" he said with a laugh. "Because if you can’t pitch in a chokehold, how are you going to pitch on stage?" This method ensured he could deliver his pitch flawlessly, regardless of external pressures.
The summit also featured insights from Lilian T. Mehrel, the 2024 AT&T Untold Stories Award winner, who is using her grant to create her debut feature, "Honeyjooon." Mehrel shared a different, yet equally effective, approach to her pitch, focusing on connecting with the audience emotionally. "I knew if I could make audiences laugh and cry and feel emotional... then I would win. And I did!" she recalled, noting that her film went on to play at over 50 festivals.
Both Fortune and Mehrel's experiences underscore the transformative power of the AT&T Untold Stories Award, not just in providing financial backing but also in validating unique cinematic voices and equipping filmmakers with the confidence to share their stories with the world.