Indeed, Hillman Grad Productions, And 271 Films Announce Rising Voices Season 5 Filmmakers, Amplifying Underrepresented Voices In Entertainment

On Tuesday, December 17th, Indeed, the world’s #1 job site and a leading hiring platform, together with Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, and actor Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad, and Doménica and Constanza Castro’s 271 Films, announced the 10 filmmakers selected for Season 5 of Rising Voices. This groundbreaking initiative continues to uncover, invest in, and amplify the voices of emerging filmmakers across the United States, providing a platform for them to explore their unique perspectives on the future of work. Over the past five years, Indeed has invested over $10 million in the Rising Voices program, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to increasing representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) stories within the entertainment industry.

The Season 5 filmmakers will premiere their short films at the Tribeca Festival in New York City in June 2025. As in past seasons, a 10-person advisory board from Indeed, Hillman Grad, and 271 films reviewed the hundreds of applications received and chose finalists based on the quality and themes of their scripts as well as past work samples. The selected filmmakers are:

Julian Doan
Jahmil Eady
Jasmine Johnson
Michael Lei
Oanh-Nhi Nguyen
Etzu Shaw
Tamara Shogaolu
David Telles
Sylvie Weber
Julia Weisberg Cortés

“Rising Voices remains a cornerstone of Hillman Grad’s mission to amplify the voices of underrepresented artists,” said Hillman Grad Founder Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad CEO Rishi Rajani. “This year’s filmmakers represent the future of storytelling, and we are thrilled to partner with Indeed and 271 Films to support their creative journeys. In a time of uncertainty, programs like Rising Voices are essential to ensuring diverse stories continue to thrive.”

“Indeed’s mission is to help people get jobs,” said Indeed CEO Chris Hyams. “The future of work is not yet written. Rising Voices is a platform for historically underrepresented filmmakers to bring a new lens to this story. We are proud to launch Season 5, and can’t wait to see how these extraordinary artists help us to envision a more equitable future for all.”

A recent study by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that women of color directed just 3.4% of the top-grossing films in 2023. Rising Voices aims to elevate stories that showcase unique perspectives—this season, 70% of the filmmaker cohort are women, marking a significant step toward equity in the industry.

“Rising Voices exemplifies our commitment to equity and inclusion in all spaces—especially in the arts, where representation can spark societal change,” said Indeed’s Chief People and Sustainability Officer LaFawn Davis. “We are inspired by the creativity of these filmmakers and proud to offer a platform for their diverse perspectives.”

Since its inception in 2020, Rising Voices has created more than 2,500 jobs and earned international recognition at film festivals, including Tribeca Festival, Sundance, and AFI Fest. Films from the first four seasons have received over 200 festival selections and awards in total. Alumni of the program have gone on to achieve remarkable success, including directing major TV series, winning prestigious grants, and contributing to the next wave of cinematic innovation.

Indeed’s investment in Rising Voices provides each filmmaker with a production budget of $100,000 to create their short film. Filmmakers also receive $10,000 for their writing and directing services and personalized mentorship from Hillman Grad. Justin Riley and Travis Ing oversee the program for Hillman Grad, while Constanza and Doménica Castro produce the films under 271 Films.

“It’s an honor to lead this initiative with Hillman Grad and Indeed. From the start, our goal went beyond producing ten films per season—it was about bridging communities and teams to elevate our industry,” said Constanza and Doménica Castro, co-founders of 271 Films. “We’re proud of the groundbreaking impact of the films and the work we’ve created, and it’s been a privilege to collaborate with all of the talented directors, cast and crew members throughout the years.”

“Rising Voices continues to be a bright spot in the industry,” said Justin Riley, Senior Vice President of Operations and Business Development, and Travis Ing, Director of Development, of Hillman Grad. “This program has had a transformational impact on the careers of past seasons’ filmmakers and has reinforced the power of investing in diverse storytelling.”

Season 5 also introduces a new sustainability component, partnering with Ad Net Zero, a global initiative to reduce the advertising industry’s environmental impact. Together, Indeed and Ad Net Zero are piloting green production practices, with one film receiving a dedicated budget to support sustainable operations during filming.

More people find jobs on Indeed than anywhere else. Indeed is the #1 job site in the world (Comscore, Total Visits, March 2024). With over 580 million job seeker Profiles, people in more than 60 countries across 28 languages come to Indeed to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies. Over 3.5 million employers use Indeed to find and hire new employees. Indeed is a subsidiary of Recruit Holdings, a global leader in HR technology and business solutions that is simplifying hiring and transforming the world of work.

Hillman Grad was founded by actor, producer and Emmy®-winning writer Lena Waithe and CEO Rishi Rajani to empower and provide industry access to underrepresented artists and amplify the stories of diverse, historically marginalized communities across all industries. Hillman Grad Productions, their development and production arm, currently have projects at Netflix, Disney, BET, Showtime, HBO, Universal, Amazon, and Focus Features. Current producorial projects include the Emmy-nominated documentary film Being Mary Tyler Moore and the 2023 Sundance Film Festival award-winning films A Thousand And One, which received the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, and Kokomo City which received the NEXT Audience Award and NEXT Innovator Award.

271 Films is a film, television, and commercial development and production company. Founded in 2020 by Mexican sisters Constanza and Doménica Castro, 271 Films tells stories that offer meaningful perspectives to audiences, connecting them to their humanity and emotional intelligence. 271 has produced award-winning projects featured on Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Mubi, The New Yorker Screening Room, Vice, BET, MTV, AD WEEK as well as prestigious film festivals including Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Festival, AFI Fest, Palm Springs, Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara and has been nominated for three NAACP Image Awards. In collaboration with Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions and Indeed, the company has operated the Indeed Rising Voices mentorship program, dedicated to empowering the next generation of diverse filmmakers.

- Keisha McCotry