The Princess Grace Gala is a night to remember full of song, dance, and inspiring talents. However, for the award recipients, it is life-changing. Not only do the recipients receive financial support to pursue their dreams they become part of a legacy of successful artists that got their first start thanks to being recognized by a Princess Grace award endowed by the Louis D. Srybnik Foundations.
IRK Magazine spoke with this years recipient of the Louis D. Srybnik Film Award, Adewale Olukayode, who expressed his gratitude for being recognized by both the Princess Grace Foundation – USA and the Generously endowed funds provided by the FLARE and F.O.R.E. foundations for the Louis D. Srybnik Film Award. Adewale Olukayode expressed appreciation “It feels great to win the Princess Grace / Louis D. Srybnik Film Honor. I am elated and I want to pinch myself because this does not feel real.” Adewale Olukayode is using the award funds to make the first 25 minutes of his feature film “East New York”. A film close to this brooklyn raised film student about racial tension between two neighboring communities.
Adewale Olukayode knows that this award will not just help him fund his film “This award will help my work be seen. Being recognized by both the Princess Grace and Louis D. Srybnik foundations will make people see me differently. It will give me the credibility needed to be seen and taken seriously.” He also hopes this is just the beginning and that he will inspire future artists “I am proud to take up the mantle for future recipients. Next year's recipients will believe they will be successful because the people before them were successful.” The Foundations and the many donors who support the arts offer so much more than just money they provide hope and confidence. Adewale Olukayode puts it best “This honor is telling me we believe in you and what you are already doing and that gives me the confidence that my film 'East New York' will be a great film.”
Also, in the inspiring words of the 2019 Princess Grace Statue Award, Chionye Chukwu, we truly understand the impact this honor provides artists “Princess Grace has been integral to every single evolution in my artistic journey so far. The film grant was the first anything I had ever received for my filmmaking and for this child of Nigerian immigrants who just did not understand their daughter’s crazy film making thing, this support came just in time.” Chionye Chukwu was given her first award just ten years ago and fast forward to today she is the first black woman to win the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance with her film “Clemency”. Chionye Chukwu recognizes that “The Princess Grace Award is life-changing and sees the potential for greatness in so many people. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving.”
The Princess Grace Awards is a legacy, inspiring patrons of the arts and foundations such as Louis D. Srybnik to provide millions of dollars to empower diverse, inspiring, and extraordinary artists. Thanks to this noble support given to talents including Oscar Isaac, Sam Gold, Leslie Odom Jr., Kyle Abraham, Camille A. Brown, Gillian Murphy, Tiler Peck, Cary Fukunaga, Jon M. Chu, Greg Mottola, David Riker, Ian Olds, Iva Radivojevic they have become unstoppable in their pursuit of excellence and earning them the most distinguished honors of the performing arts – Academy Awards, Tony Awards, MacArthur Genius Awards, Pulitzer Prizes and more. The Foundations supports extraordinary young artists in theater, dance, and film. The awards program continues the legacy of Princess Grace (Kelly).
(Photos by Astrid Stawiarz & Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA)
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