Pillars Artist Fellowship

While Muslims are at the center of much of today’s news and entertainment media, few Muslims are in a position to shape those stories. New research from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative uncovers the unfortunate consequences this lack of access has on the narratives told on screen. As a partner on this research, Pillars Fund is making a commitment to invest in Muslim artists who can shift the lens through which our stories are told to one that is complex, accurate, and honest.

The Pillars Artist Fellowship—created by Pillars in partnership with Riz Ahmed and Left Handed Films—champions and mentors Muslim directors and writers whose presence behind the screen will be game-changing for the film and television industries. In addition to an unrestricted award of $25,000, each fellow will receive mentorship from industry experts on how to navigate the business of Hollywood, professional development and creative guidance in their fields, and access to a trailblazing advisory committee of award-winning Muslim actors, directors, producers and writers.