(PARK CITY, UT) – On Saturday, January 25, FWD.us sponsored and co-hosted and music lounge in the Blackhouse Foundation event space at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The event highlighted the devastating impact of incarceration on America’s families and documentary film Aggie, a film about collector and philanthropist Agnes “Aggie” Gund, and how she’s intersected art and justice, sold a beloved painting from her collection and founded the nonprofit initiative—the Art for Justice Fund. The Blackhouse event, which brought together dozens of advocates, artists, filmmakers, and creative industry talents, served as a backdrop for ongoing efforts to confront the United States’ incarceration crisis, and to help engage new voices in the fight to end it.
At the lounge, guests experienced performances from renowned composer and activist Samora Pinderhughes and playwright and actor Liza Jessie Peterson. They also experienced a discussion about the incarceration crisis, family incarceration, the Art for Justice Fund, and the Aggie film with Aggie producer Catherine Gund, visual artist Russel Craig, and FWD.us Director of Strategic Partnerships Carlton Miller.
“FWD.us is proud to partner with the Blackhouse Foundation to help uplift dynamic creative voices calling attention to our nation’s family incarceration crisis,” said Adina Ellis, FWD.us Deputy Communications Director. “Millions of families in America feel the devastating effects of incarceration in their lives every day, and we are honored to engage more storytellers in this fight.”
Since 1985, the Sundance Film Festival has been the ultimate gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. The Blackhouse Foundation works to increase diversity in independent film by growing the number of Black attendees and expanding the opportunities for Black films to be featured at major film festivals. Throughout its history, Blackhouse has maintained a dynamic presence at film festivals around the world, helping to push the industry to feature more substantial numbers of projects by Black directors, producers, writers and below the line crew aiming to put Black culture on screens.
