Netflix, Shondaland, Latinx House and Sundance Institute Reveal New Cohort of Filmmaker Fellows

The Adelante Directors Fellowship has revealed the three creatives selected for the second round of the program.

Barbara Cigarroa, Iliana Sosa and Michelle Salcedo snagged the fellowships, which deliver the chance to shadow an episode of a TV series, a grant to support them up to four weeks during the process, and a two-day orientation with masterclasses and support from The Latinx House. The fellowship — launched in 2022 as a partnership between the Latinx House, Sundance Institute, Netflix and Shondaland — is designed to support Latina and non-binary Latine directors on their industry journeys. The three fellows shadowed directors on Netflix’s Black Rabbit (directed by the likes of Jason Bateman and Laura Linney) and on the final season of Shondaland’s Station 19 for ABC.

Cigarroa, a Mexican-American filmmaker and Sundance feature film program fellow, was named by Filmmaker Magazine as one of the Top 25 New Faces of Independent Film. Sosa, based in Austin, previously won two awards at SXSW with What We Leave Behind. Salcedo is known for the Cuban period romance Cinnamon Skin and the female-driven action feature Switch & Bait.

“As a Latina filmmaker, I understand firsthand the challenges and barriers that exist within our industry. The Adelante Directors Fellowship, now proudly in its second year, was created to dismantle these barriers and cultivate an environment where Latine talent is seen,” said Olga Segura, creator of the Adelante program and co-founder of the Latinx House.

Added Sundance Institute episodic program director Jandiz Estrada Cardoso: “Each of these directors are seasoned filmmakers bringing years of independent film experience with them. It’s extremely fulfilling to witness these powerhouse producers and teams not only embrace them but advocate for them, at the doorstep of their TV careers.”

“At Shondaland, we believe in the importance of amplifying diverse voices. Partnering with the Latinx House on the Adelante Directors Fellowship allows us to support talented latine filmmakers on their TV journey. We are proud to continue building this program, fostering the next generation of Latine creators and pushing the industry to continue to open doors for diverse talent,” offered Shondaland’s head of creative production Tom Verica.