From Pipeline to Premiere: How Netflix’s Artist-Support Programs Helped David Fortune Bring ‘Color Book’ to Life

Almost exactly four years ago, we debuted three short films from three up-and-coming directors selected for the Netflix and Ghetto Film School Content Creator Program . One of those films was Us , from writer and director David Fortune. Tomorrow, June 19, the filmmaker returns to Netflix in a big way with his first feature film, Color Book , based on his 2022 short.

Color Book follows a devoted father named Lucky (William Catlett) who, after his wife's passing, learns to navigate raising a son (Jeremiah Daniels) with Down syndrome as a single parent. While adjust­ing to their new reality, the two embark on a jour­ney through Metro Atlanta to attend their first base­ball game. It's a heartfelt story about love, family, and the communities we come from.

Fortune's journey to Netflix is just as inspiring. After the Netflix and Ghetto Film School Content Creator Program , he was selected for Film Independent's Amplifier Fellowship , a Netflix-supported program for emerging filmmakers. During the yearlong Fellowship, Fortune developed and workshopped Color Book , received impactful granting which he applied to create the pitch video that led to funding for the film, and received bespoke support to propel his career forward. Fortune then went on to win the AT&T Untold Stories competition at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, which includes a $1 million prize and year-round mentorship to turn their idea into a feature-length film. The resulting film, Color Book , racked up more than 30 honors, including the Audience Choice Award for Best US Feature at the Chicago Film Festival and the American Independent Award at the Denver Film Festival, and Fortune was named one of Variety's "10 Directors to Watch" in 2025. Following the successful festival run, Color Book will release on Netflix.

"It's a full-circle moment for audiences to be able to watch Color Book on Netflix," said Fortune. "They believed in me and this story since it was a short film called Us , and now they're helping bring it to their massive global audience. As a writer, I couldn't have scripted a better ending to this chapter of the journey."

Netflix's support of the Film Independent Amplifier Fellowship over the past five years reflects our ongoing efforts to invest in the next generation of talent. Over the past five years , Netflix has organized more than 1,000 training programs and events with programs reaching over 90,000 people across more than 75 countries, helping everyone from aspiring students to seasoned professionals connect, learn new skills and advance their careers.

"David Fortune fully embraced every opportunity within the Film Independent Amplifier Fellowship funded by Netflix, which provides grants and creative support that empower artists and their projects to thrive," said Angela C. Lee, Director of Artist Development for Film Independent. "We are immensely proud to have supported David and this unforgettable film, and we're thrilled that this journey has culminated with the release of the film on Netflix."

Other artists supported by Netflix-funded programs for emerging creators include Jabbar Raisani (a participant in Netflix's Series Director Development Program and now executive producer, director, and co-showrunner on Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender ) and Contessa Gayles (a participant in the Netflix-supported Film Independent Amplifier Fellowship whose Emmy Award-winning documentary visual album Songs From the Hole is available on Netflix).

Color Book premieres on Netflix and select theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, and Atlanta on June 19.