Diepriye Diri’s narrative feature project, “Baby Girl”, will be developed during the residency.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
Diepriye Diri, a talented filmmaker from Nigeria, has been selected to participate in the prestigious 2024 Global Media Makers (GMM) LA Residency, organised by Film Independent and the US. Department of State. Diri’s narrative feature project, “Baby Girl”, will be developed during the residency, bringing together 20 filmmakers from 12 nations.
Diri’s project, “Baby Girl”, tells the story of a young girl’s journey of self-discovery to understand why her mother loathes her. This gripping narrative will be further developed during the residency alongside works from other international filmmakers.
Running for five weeks through June 30, the GMM LA Residency connects international filmmakers with the US entertainment industry, fostering a multi-regional network that supports creative economic development and freedom of expression through global storytelling. Participants will engage in various filmmaking tracks, including screenwriting, directing, creative development, and documentary filmmaking, and benefit from master classes, industry sessions, cultural engagement, and networking opportunities.
While speaking about the 10th GMM residency, María Raquel Bozzi, Senior Director of Education and International Programs, said, “This new cohort hailing from South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Arab World, and Ukraine expands our global community to over 180 filmmakers”.
The GMM Residency has a history of successful mentorship, featuring industry veterans such as Mollye Asher (Nomadland), Effie Brown (CEO, Gamechanger), and Lulu Wang (The Farewell). This year’s mentors include notable names like Amman Abbasi, Ruth Atkinson, and Iram Praveen Bilal.
Check here for a complete list of the 2024 Global Media Makers LA Residency participants and more details on their projects.