The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has an initiative that seeks to nurture the talents of emerging women filmmakers.

Part of the Academy Gold global talent development and inclusion initiative, the Fellowship for Women is a one-year program that combines direct support, personalized mentorship and access to once-in-a-lifetime networking opportunities for emerging women filmmakers to further their pursuits in the field. The Academy currently awards two fellowships annually, one in the United States and one internationally, each with a prize amount of $35,000.

Erica Eng and July Jung were selected as this year’s U.S. and international recipients, respectively, of the 2023 Academy Gold Fellowship for Women.

“We are honored to advance the work of Erica and July – two extraordinary filmmakers,” says Academy Senior Vice President for Impact and Global Talent Development Kendra Carter. “The Academy’s Gold Fellowship for Women is a crucial part of the Academy’s goals to inspire up-and-coming artists, create engaging film industry opportunities for underrepresented communities, and develop the next generation of diverse and dynamic film talent.”

ERICA ENG

Eng is a fifth-generation Chinese-American director native to Oakland, Calif., U.S.A. and based in Los Angeles. Her 2021 short film “Americanized” screened at the Atlanta Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and Cleveland International Film Festival, among others, and won 25 awards, including Best Dramatic Short at Cinequest, Best Short Film at the Bentonville Film Festival, the Young Cineastes Award at the Palm Springs International ShortFest and Best Narrative Short at the San Diego Asian Film Festival.

The Academy’s Gold Fellowship for Women is a crucial part of the Academy’s goals to inspire up-and-coming artists, create engaging film industry opportunities for underrepresented communities, and develop the next generation of diverse and dynamic film talent.

Eng’s latest short film, “Off Fairfax,” premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and received a Grand Jury Honorable Mention at the Slamdance Film Festival. Her next film, “The Ghost,” will premiere on Disney+ as part of Disney’s Launchpad shorts incubator program.

JULY JUNG

Born in Yeosu, South Korea, Jung is a director and screenwriter who studied at Sungkyunkwan University and Korea National University of Arts. Her 2014 debut feature film “A Girl at My Door” screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 67th Cannes Film Festival and won multiple awards, including Best Directorial Debut at the Stockholm International Film Festival, Best Director at the Women in Film Korea Festival and Best Screenplay in the Wildflower Film Awards.

Jung’s second feature film, “Next Sohee,” produced in 2022, was the closing film of the 75th Cannes Film Festival Critics’ Week. The film won Best Director at the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Amiens International Film Festival and a Special Jury Award at Tokyo Filmex, among other awards.

For more information about the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, check out the Academy’s website at oscars.org.

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