Jordan PeeleIt is Monkeypaw ProductionsThe Toronto International Film Festival and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group have announced the first class of emerging filmmakers for their “No Drama” initiative.

Born from the mind of Peele (as well as the “Get Out,” “Us” and “Nope” director’s long-term deal at Universal), “No Drama” asks artists to consider this question: ” What is your biggest fear? ? What monsters hide deep in your thoughts?

Five filmmakers were selected to create proof-of-concept or short films that explore horror across cultures, eras, environments and society. Chandler Crump, Charlie Dennis, Helena Hawkes, Jared Leaf and Ariel Zenogotita will each receive a $50,000 grant from TIFF to produce their projects during the non-exclusive, year-long program.

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome the first class of “No Drama” filmmakers to the Monkeypaw family. Chandler, Charlie, Helena, Ariel and Jared each bring a unique instinct to genre storytelling. I am inspired and chilled by their approaches to examining fear,” Peele said in announcing the participants. “Thanks to the generous support of Universal and TIFF, Monkeypaw and I are excited to empower and elevate the talents that will define the next generation of great filmmakers.” I can’t wait for audiences to see the monsters they’re cooking up.

The program began last month with an intensive four-day program on the Universal Studios lot. TIFF, Monkeypaw and Universal’s Filmmaker & Content Strategies team have developed a year-long program in which selected filmmakers will participate in panel discussions and workshops focused on “improving their creative processes and increasing their knowledge of the studio system” while they produce their proof of concept. and short films.

“With ‘No Drama,’ we’re setting up filmmakers for success by providing them with studio resources that enable them to create impactful content with strong production values, as well as an incredible creative partnership with Jordan and the team at Monkeypaw “, said the president of Universal Pictures. Pierre Cramer. “The bar has been raised by adding the prestigious brand and broadcast platform of TIFF to the initiative. I can’t wait to see what these five talented filmmakers bring to the table.

The program will conclude next fall when filmmakers will have the opportunity to screen their projects at TIFF (outside of the official selection) and participate in TIFF Industry market screenings organized by the festival. UFEG and Monkeypaw will have the exclusive option to purchase their projects once the initiative is completed.

“Congratulations to these five impressive filmmakers who channel their own wild visions through the genre. We look forward to unveiling their work on the global film industry gathered in Toronto this September for our 50th edition,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF.

Of the partnership with Universal, Peele and Monkeypaw on the program, which celebrates “the next wave of visionary storytelling,” Bailey added: “This collaboration marks an important milestone in TIFF’s commitment to fostering bold and diverse voices in cinema, and we look forward to witnessing the impact these films will have on audiences around the world.

(Pictured above: TIFF’s Cameron Bailey, Universal’s Peter Cramer, Helena Hawkes, Jared Leaf, Janine Jones-Clark, Monkeypaw’s Jordan Peele, Charlie Dennis, Ariel Zengotita and Chandler Crump.)

The biographies of the selected filmmakers are below:

Chandler Crump received his BFA in Film and Television from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Crump’s first short film, “Color Him Son,” had its world premiere at the Afrikana Film Festival, screened at the New York International Short Film Festival, and won Best Undergraduate Narrative Film at the Fusion Film Festival. She has locked in her second short film, “There’s Someone at the Door,” a one-piece feminist horror film. Crump’s resume also includes serving as a junior executive in television development at Billy Porter’s production company. Born and raised in San Francisco, she currently lives in New York.

Charlie Dennis is a writer-director from the West Midlands in the UK, working to improve accessibility in film and television to ensure that even the most gripping stories remain deeply human. His deaf-directed BBC short film ‘Silent World’ was later made into a TV series after winning the National Lottery Art Project of the Year, as well as nominations at the BAFTA, Academy film festivals Award and BIFA. Dennis recently directed Splinter. units for an upcoming Sky TV series starring Kenneth Branagh. It was also selected and shortlisted for the Cannes Lions and the 1.4 Awards.

Helena Hawkes is a native of New Mexico and the middle child in a mixed Hispanic family of ten children. Hawkes set foot on her first film in sixth grade, and since then, the screenwriter, director, painter, and occasional poet has honed her genre skills as an intern at Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions. Hawkes also worked as an apprentice to horror writer and director Leigh Whannell, while developing her own projects. As a writer, Hawkes explores women’s tales that deal with family dynamics, identity, transformation and self-image, all told through a genre-bending and sometimes surreal lens.

Jared Leaf is an award-winning writer, director, and producer (via his Ninety Third Story banner) based in Portland, Oregon. Leaf’s directorial approach is influenced by his experience as both a classically trained actor and a former college linebacker at San Jose State. He has written and directed numerous projects for Nike, including documentaries for Serena Williams and the Serena Williams Design Crew, as well as “Decolonizing Design,” a five-part documentary series on cultural appropriation in design. Since 2018, Leaf has directed eight short films across genres including romantic comedy, dark mystery, action, comedy and horror. His first feature film, a documentary about the black Seminoles of Florida and their struggle for freedom amid American expansion in the 19th century, is currently in production and expected to wrap in early 2025.

Ariel Zenogotita is an award-winning Puerto Rican filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His work tends to explore the space between psychological horror and black comedy. His films have been selected for festivals such as SXSW and Palm Springs International ShortFest and featured on websites such as Short of the Week, Director’s Notes and Vimeo Staff Picks. Zenogotita was also featured on Latinx Director, the first-ever database dedicated to showcasing prominent U.S.-based Latin American directors.