Rabbit Hole and Jay Ellis Announce ‘Creative Spirit’ Filmmaking Contest at IndieWire’s Sundance Chili Party
Rabbit Hole, the Louisville-based Kentucky Bourbon and spirits brand, took to Park City and Sundance to announce a new contest that will help aspiring filmmakers get the equipment they need to make their dream movie.
Rabbit Hole executive Kaveh Zamanian and brand ambassador Jay Ellis (“Insecure,” “Top Gun: Maverick”) joined IndieWire’s annual Chili Party at the Sundance Film Festival and announced its “Creative Spirit Challenge,” in which it will reward three filmmakers with a professional-grade Canon EOS R5 C camera, with one additional grand prize winner also getting a 1-on-1 mentorship opportunity with Ellis in addition to the camera equipment.
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Starting February 4, those interested in applying will need to submit a brief, 1-2 minute video explaining their story and why they deserve to win. Submit your entries here.
“Rabbit Hole wanted to launch a giveaway for emerging filmmakers, for people who need a little bit of help trying to tell their story,” Ellis said at the Chili Party. “You have to make a video, 1-2 minutes, with all the reasons you want to make your film, what your film is about, the characters, the journey, why you want to do it, the passion that you have behind it, and why you want to tell the story.”
Ellis said he recently launched a short film initiative of his own, and he connected with the vision that Rabbit Hole shared with him about why they wanted to support such filmmakers.
“What we’ve really seen is that our filmmakers of tomorrow are making their first shorts today. Shorts give people the opportunity to get their first job, whether that’s in a writers room, make their first film, or direct episodic television, it really gives folks a chance to do something in this industry to do something they’ve dreamed of their entire lives,” Ellis said. “[Zamanian] talked about all the reasons why they want to support emerging filmmakers, the creativity, the artistry, the love of film, the point of view, being able to tell your own story, and also being able to create an opportunity for yourself.”
IndieWire’s annual Chili Party in 2025 was held at The Park venue at Sundance on Sunday, January 26 and attracted hundreds of guests. The party was hosted by Tan France and Poorna Jagannathan, with sponsorship from 1497, the non-profit organization that promotes the work of South Asian filmmakers.
The party was immediately preceded by a panel for the Hulu show “Deli Boys,” a new series premiering March 6 that follows a group of Pakistani American men who have to take over their father’s deli after he passes away. The series stars Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh, both of whom were in attendance, as well as Jagannathan and a guest appearance from France. Series creator Abdullah Saeed also participated in the panel and was in attendance at the party.
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