UChicago film scholar Jacqueline Stewart awarded MacArthur Fellowship

$625,000 grant recognizes work that illuminates contributions of Black filmmakers. Prof. Jacqueline Stewart, a leading film scholar known for her work on silent films and African American cinema, has been awarded a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship. Given each year by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the prestigious grants recognize individuals from across disciplines who "show exceptional creativity in their work." As a MacArthur Fellow, Stewart will receive a no-strings-attached grant of $625,000 over five years to support creative pursuits. "I'm thrilled-I'm really surprised," said Stewart, who is appointed in UChicago's Department of Cinema and Media Studies. "I did not realize that I was under consideration for this, so it's amazing. It's just an incredible validation of my work." Stewart's scholarship has focused on films produced by and for African Americans, including what are called "orphan films," which exist outside of commercial filmmaking. Since 2019, Stewart has been the host of "Silent Sunday Nights" on Turner Classic Movies, which showcases films from the silent era.