Flip the Script Film Fellowship is a game-changing accelerator for emerging filmmakers of color that began in Chicago at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
With more passion than money, and only 3 weeks, we equipped young creatives with the skills, funding, and industry access to write, direct, and produce their own short films.
In just five years, we cultivated bold, visionary storytellers—launched careers, built lasting creative networks, and proved that raw talent, when given the right resources, can shake the industry.
Our fellows made movies that made waves. Our films boast multiple festival laurels that helped our storytellers land major opportunities, and step into their power as filmmakers.
Flip the Script was the genesis of a movement, and we did that.
SEASON ONE
Season One of Flip the Script was all about testing, failing forward, and sheer faith. In just six weeks—at the height of the pandemic—we pulled off a virtual filmmaking competition LIVE on Facebook, proving that creativity doesn’t stop, even in crisis. We delivered three standout films, giving creatives, small businesses, and industry pros the boost they desperately needed. Talk about making magic in the madness!
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Written & Directed by Asha Chai-Chang
When a determined teen clashes with her mother’s fears over design school, an unlikely ally emerges to support her dream.
CHAPTER & HEARSE
Written & Directed by Chad Ayinde
A bumbling assassin accidently breaks into the home of his former teacher and gets a masterclass in excellence before finishing the job.
THE RIGHT SIDE
Written & Directed by Rita Usher
Amidst rising social unrest, a couple is forced to seek refuge with an elderly activist who rejects the path of violence.
SEASON TWO
With lessons learned and full creative control, we produced one film where our fellows stepped into key crew roles for the first time—gaining hands-on experience, industry skills, and lifelong creative bonds.
HARD SALE
Written & Directed by Keisha Boston-Gallagher
A retired sister is ready to sell the family home and find love, but her content brother refuses to leave their cozy routine—until her wild plans shake things up.
SEASON THREE
By Season 3, we had momentum and made a power move—shifting Flip the Script into a youth filmmaker experience for creatives aged 18-24. That fresh energy? It sparked a whole new level of creativity and proved without a doubt that our formula for success wasn’t a one-time thing—it was repeatable, scalable, and unstoppable.
Written & Directed by Gary Langfield, Jr.
In this psychological thriller, two ambitious men work themselves to death—literally—as a relentless demon, the embodiment of corporate grind, claims those who refuse to rest.
IT TAKES TWO
Written & Directed by Kennedy Horton
A journalist reunites with her former high school friend, now a rising music star—but beneath the smiles lurks a decades-old grudge. As the interview unfolds, so does a sinister revenge plot.
SEASON FOUR
Season 4 was all about leveling up! We expanded key crew positions and trained over 50 young creatives—some as young as 10—on every below-the-line role needed to make not one, but two dope films in a single summer. And we premiered in a real movie theater, complete with popcorn and industry panels.
The next generation of filmmaking? Yeah, we defined that.
Written & Directed by Kayla Onyeali
The daughter of an untouchable police chief struggles with mental illness as her split personalities battle over how to protect her from his abusive rage.
Written & Directed by Miles Guichard
When a babysitter loses her kid, a self-proclaimed hood detective jumps in to crack the case and return the community to safety.
SEASON FIVE
Season 5 was our milestone year and we went BIG—training almost 100 young creatives and tackling our most ambitious film yet with multiple locations, extras and a multi-day shoot. When that film premiered, something big happened—our core audience, the over-30 creatives, saw the magic and wanted in. The demand was loud and clear: it was time to expand the Flip the Script experience beyond youth and give seasoned storytellers their shot.
Written & Directed by La'Tia Owens
A sister in denial hatches a wild plan to save her brother, only to realize his struggles run deeper than she can fix. Stay explores the complexity of PTSD in youth and the weight of love that isn’t enough.