Films produced by University of New Orleans film student Kelsey Scult and alumni Ben Matheny and Lizzie Guitreau are among 26 selected by the Independent Filmmaker Project for its 2020 labs.
The Independent Filmmaker Project, a nonprofit founded in 1979, is the largest and oldest not-for-profit dedicated to independent film.
The IFP labs assist first-time feature filmmakers through the completion, marketing and distribution of their debut features by providing support from its staff and mentorships from leading industry members. It hosts labs dedicated to narrative, episodic and documentary film productions.
Scult, currently pursuing an MFA and Matheny, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2011, are producers on a film titled, 鈥淢a Belle, My Beauty.鈥 It's a story about two recently married musicians adjusting to life in France when 鈥渢heir beloved ex, who abruptly disappeared from their relationship years ago, finally visits.鈥
Guitreau, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2014, is a producer on a film called 鈥淪hapeless,鈥 a story about a struggling New Orleans singer named Ivy 鈥渇ighting to hide an eating disorder,鈥 who 鈥渕ust face her addiction鈥攁nd the monsters that come with it鈥攐r risk losing everything.鈥
Both films were selected for the narrative lab that will be held later this month. Because of the COVID-10 pandemic, all of the labs will be held virtually.