Janelle Monáe is using her star power to provide financial backing for female directors whose work may not be seen due to lack of funding. In the photo above, Janelle is seen performing at the 2018 Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco last week (Aug. 12).
The 32-year-old singer/actress took time out of her Dirty Computer tour to partner with Belvedere Vodka to develop a campaign called Beautiful Future that provides financial support to female film directors.
Janelle personally handpicked the first four recipients of the Beautiful Future campaign: Megan Park, Janicza Bravo, Lacey Duke and Kirsten Lepore, who were instructed to develop short films inspired by the question: What does a Beautiful Future look like to you?
Two of the recipients, Janicza Bravo, left, and Tessa Thompson look-a-like Lacey Duke, are Black diectors who were influenced by trailblazers Shonda Rhimes, Jordan Peele and Ava DuVernay.
Check out Lacey’s short film below, titled A Beautiful Future: XO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_nHcR-NBag
Photos by MediaPunch / BACKGRID
