As sponsor, Kickstarter will introduce XL Lab filmmakers to the power and possibilities of crowdfunding
CHICAGO (July 26, 2025) — Creative Cypher, the media collective founded by filmmaker and industry trailblazer Troy Pryor, today announced that Kickstarter, the leading crowdfunding and launch platform for creative projects of every size, will sponsor this year’s XL Lab—a year-round accelerator supporting underrepresented filmmakers through mentorship, production, and distribution.
For the past 16 years, Kickstarter has been a critical resource for independent filmmaking, helping creators like Chloé Zhao, Matthew A. Cherry, Issa Rae, Andrew Ahn, Blitz Bazawule, and Karyn Parsons bring their projects to life on their own terms. Its legacy of filmmaker support continues today with new efforts that include a recently-announced strategic partnership with Tubi aimed at helping independent projects get access to funding and guaranteed distribution.
As sponsor of XL Lab, Kickstarter is expanding its support of emerging filmmakers. Taylor K. Shaw-Omachonu, Chicago native and Kickstarter’s Senior Outreach Lead for Film, will offer direct mentorship to participating creators, sharing insights on how to leverage crowdfunding to bring their films to life. On Saturday, August 16, Shaw will also host a featured onstage conversation at XL Fest with actor Woody McClain, star of Power Book II: Ghost, who is launching his own Kickstarter campaign for a romantic comedy feature film.
“At Kickstarter, we believe independent film thrives when creators are empowered to tell stories on their own terms,” said Shaw-Omachonu. “XL Lab is an inspiring example of what can happen when filmmakers are given the tools and community they need to succeed. I’m honored to support this year’s cohort and help more storytellers understand how crowdfunding can unlock creative freedom.” “I remember helping launch a streaming platform years ago and realized that running a platform wasn’t my lane,” said Pryor.
“However, the Cypher ecosystem is prime for supplying content across a variety of outlets. We are looking forward to this collaboration as we continue scaling our capacity to uplift storytellers. Kickstarter is an excellent partner because of their commitment to empowering creative entrepreneurs.”
Now in its third year, XL Fest has supported a growing roster of celebrated projects and creators. Z Cher-Aimé’s Captain Zero, featuring Keith David, was selected for the Tribeca Film Festival by Whoopi Goldberg. Dusan Brown’s GO was backed by Viola Davis. George Ellzey’s Cottage Grove and Patrick Wimp’s Mister Abbot both earned Telly Awards and widespread acclaim.
The Lab provides new creative voices with a real pathway from idea to execution—connecting them with industry mentors, funding opportunities, and distribution pipelines through curated partnerships. Find out more about how to participate in XL Lab here. XL Fest will take place August 14–23 in Chicago. Full programming, submission guidelines, and partnership updates can be found at XLFEST.org.
🎥 Watch Taylor K.Shaw-Omachonu discuss Kickstarter’s sponsorship of XL Lab on YouTube: https://youtu.be/X
🎧 Or listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SnTNDShUWdOQ0zKlxV0j8
About Creative Cypher:
Founded by Troy Pryor, Creative Cypher is a storytelling ecosystem that provides development, funding, production, and distribution solutions to rising creators, with a focus on underrepresented voices.
About Kickstarter:
Kickstarter is on a mission to bring creative projects to life. As the leading crowdfunding and launch platform, Kickstarter is home to the world’s largest backer community — 23 million strong and counting. Since 2009, the platform has fueled innovation across 15 categories, helping over 275,000 projects get funded and attracting more than $8 billion in pledges from backers. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Kickstarter is committed to equity and transparency, prioritizing the success of independent creators, diverse perspectives, and the strength of a global community that shapes and defines culture.
About XL Fest:
XL Fest is an annual experience celebrating excellence in storytelling, innovation, and culture. Held each August in Chicago, the event hosts workshops, screenings, performances, and the premier XL Content Lab pitch competition.
