pillars artist fellowship

The Pillars Artist Fellowship was launched in 2021 by Pillars Fund in partnership with Riz Ahmed’s Left Handed Films, and critical seed investments from Netflix and Amazon MGM Studios. This program is designed to support screenwriters and directors committed to working in and alongside Muslim communities, providing them with the mentorship, industry connections, and financial support to help advance their careers.

Built on multi-year research, published in partnership with Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and Ford Foundation highlighting the consequences of the lack of authentic Muslim representation in film and television, the fellowship seeks to empower creatives to tell their own stories—ones that reflect the full complexity and richness of their experiences.