The Blackhouse Foundation will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary by joining the virtual lineup of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on Sundance Digital Main St. The organization will bring culture to independent film and content through three days of curated programming for the festival, Jan. 21-23. The Hollywood Reporter announced the news today. Additionally, the Blackhouse Foundation welcomes Meta as a presenting sponsor.

This year, the festival presents 35 black films in all categories out of 82 films programmed. Regarding The Blackhouse Foundation’s presence at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, Executive Director Jenean Glover commented:

“We are privileged to have a unique partnership with our returning sponsor Meta. Together, we are thrilled to host three exciting virtual activations. We are consciously inclusive in delivering transformative content to our audience of diverse digital creatives and festival-goers. As we transition to a digital festival for the second year in a row, we are excited to expand our audience in the same way that Blackhouse and Meta have increased our impact on our student filmmaker fellows tenfold in 2021.”

Before the festival, The Blackhouse Foundation will unveil a dynamic calendar of virtual activations, discussions, events and community gatherings. Virtual festival-goers can expect surprise guests and total cultural immersion. Among the events organized by The Blackhouse Foundation is the return of The Blackhouse Portrait Studio, during which illustrious photographer Erik Umphery will return to capture the essence of black house through unique, invite-only, one-on-one sessions.

Meta returns for its third year as presenting sponsor with an expansion of its SEEN program, an activation offering ongoing support to black filmmakers at every stage of their career, as well as Instagram’s We The Culture for Black Creators and Share Black Stories programs. The 2022 Sundance Film Festival marks Meta’s fifth year of partnership with The Blackhouse Foundation. In addition to spotlighting the festival’s best black films and directors, the partnership facilitates Blackhouse’s transition to the virtual world.

Meta joins Blackhouse at this year’s festival with the following lineup:

Meta and Blackhouse present “Being SEEN: The Black Filmmakers Journey”, – Friday, 01/21, 4:30 p.m. MT: At the Sundance Filmmakers Lodge

Featuring filmmakers JaSaun Buckner and Kaelo Iyizoba from Meta’s SEEN Black Filmmakers program, hosted by Blackhouse Executive Director Jenean Glover and includes Blackhouse Co-Founder Brickson Diamond and Meta’s Head of Entertainment Creative Boutique , Jen Barrett.

We culture – Friday 01/21, 6pm MT

Meta’s Black Creator Program, led by Michelle Mitchell (Meta, Media Partnerships) will engage in a candid conversation with Ms. Tina Knowles-Lawson –– star of the Facebook Watch show, “Talks with Mama Tina” and co-founder of WACO Theater Center, as well as impressive creators from its inaugural year. Together, this group of creatives will discuss their journeys and the role We The Culture has played along the way.

Instagram and #ShareBlackStories Present: The Land of Milk and Honey – Saturday 22/01, 10 a.m.

A vision of Alexander-Julian (AJ) Gibbson (Creative Director) and Shakeil Greeley (Brand and Editorial Director); panel moderated by Sarissa Thrower (Instagram Comms). This project was conceived as an audit of the American dream, in the form of a series of photo essays and video interviews with immigrant families of color. The United States is known as a “land of immigrants,” and this project explores and celebrates the ways in which immigrants are different and how their experiences vary, intersect, and deviate, all within the spectrum of the American experience. These families are photographed in their homes and communities, by photographers of the same origin, and dressed in clothing designed by members of these same immigrant groups. Finding ways to truly see yourself, to look deeply, and to embrace the kaleidoscopic experience of what it means to be an immigrant is imperative.

The Blackhouse Foundation stands out as a stronghold for the most influential and impactful black writers, directors, producers, crew and talent in film, television, digital media and beyond. Celebrating its 15th year, The Blackhouse Foundation continues to elevate these talents into the global spotlight via engagements at Sundance and beyond.