The Sixth Winner of AT&T Presents: Untold Stories, “Color Book” Receives $1M To Turn Film Idea into Full-Length Feature

AT&T and Tribeca announced David Fortune’s “Color Book” as the 2023 winner of the Untold Stories event at the Tribeca Festival. David Fortune marks the sixth filmmaker to receive this award and will be offered a premiere spot at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, awarded a $1 million prize and year-round mentorship. Since 2017, AT&T’s Untold Stories program has employed more than 300 BIPOC crewmembers, created more than 1,500 hours of production and its films have gone on to appear on all major streaming platforms and more than 75 festivals around the world.

This year’s event took place at Tribeca Festival giving emerging filmmakers including David Fortune, Maria Mealla, Miguel Angel Caballero, Moon Molson and Selyna Warren and Marissa Read, the opportunity to present their stories to an expert jury comprised of renowned industry talents and professionals, such as: actor Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher (2002), Glory Road (2006) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)), actor/producer Mo McRae (A Lot of Nothing (2022)), The First Purge (2018) and Wild (2014)), Kellyn Smith Kenny (Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, AT&T), actress Michael Michelle (How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days (2003), Dark Blue (2002), New Jack City (1991)), and Nardeep Khurmi (2021 Untold Stories winner with “Land of Gold”).

While David Fortune took home the top honor, the other four finalists were also each awarded a $15,000 grant to further develop their ideas.

Why it Matters

A long-term collaboration between AT&T and the Tribeca Festival, Untold Stories is a mentorship program that connects rising, historically underrepresented filmmakers to greater possibilities by empowering them with the necessary resources and support they need to bring their unique stories to life.

“I’m honored and humbled to win this award and to tell a story that represents the city of Atlanta and the disabled community. Thank you, AT&T and Untold Stories, for believing in the power and vision of this intimate father-son story,” said writer and director David Fortune.