Disney’s Launchpad is a new filmmaking program with a focus on building a more inclusive entertainment industry. The company is looking for directors, writers and more from underrepresented backgrounds with diverse and varied perspectives, including women, people of colour, the LGBTQ community, various religious groups, military veterans, people with disabilities and more.

Those chosen will be able to produce a short as part of the Disney Launchpad: Shorts Incubator program. The narrative focus of Season 2 will be “Connection”. On the official website, applications opened on 10 May 2021 and will close on 11 June 2021, with the program starting in December 2021.

The first season consisted of six short films, each centring on the theme of “Discover” which will launch on Disney+ on 28 May 2021. The program’s inaugural year features stories by Ann Marie Pace, Aqsa Altaf, Hao Zheng, Jessica Mendez Siqueiros, Moxie Peng and Stefanie Abel Horowitz.

“American Eid”

Writer/ director: Aqsa Altaf
Producers: Leslie Owen, Steak House
Executive producers: Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Mary Coleman,
Nicole Grindle, Vanessa Morrison
Logline: Ameena, a homesick Muslim Pakistani immigrant, wakes up on Eid to find out she has to go to school.
Synopsis: Ameena, a Muslim Pakistani immigrant, wakes up on Eid to find out that she has to go to school. Homesick and heartbroken, she goes on a mission to make Eid a public-school holiday, and in the process, reconnects with her older sister, and embraces her new home, while her new home embraces her.

“Dinner Is Served”

Director: Hao Zheng
Writer: G. Wilson & Hao Zheng
Producers: Shincy Lu, Steak House
Executive producers: Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Jessica Virtue,
Rachel Yeung
Logline: A Chinese student uncovers his true identity when trying out for a leadership role at a U.S. school.
Synopsis: A Chinese student at an elite U.S. boarding school realizes excellence is not enough when he tries out for a leadership position no international student has ever applied for.

“Growing Fangs”

Writer/ director: Ann Marie Pace
Producers: Genevieve Faye, Melody Sandoval, Steak House
Executive producers: Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Osnat Shurer, Halima Hudson
Logline: Val Garcia, a Mexican-American half human/half vampire teenager, struggles to fit in either world.
Synopsis: Val Garcia, a Mexican-American teen who is half human/half vampire, has had to keep her identity a secret from both worlds. But when her human best friend shows up at her monster-infested school, she has to confront her truth, her identity, and herself.

“The Last of the Chupacabras”

Writer/ director: Jessica Mendez Siqueiros
Producers: Nicole Crespo, Steak House
Executive producers: Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow
Logline: A lonely Mexican-American woman unknowingly summons a dark and ancient creature.
Synopsis: In a world where culture has nearly ceased to exist, one lone Mexican-American struggling to carry on her traditions unknowingly summons a dark and ancient creature to protect her

“Let’s Be Tigers”

Writer/ director: Stefanie Abel Horowitz
Producers: Sydney Fleischmann, Steak House
Executive producers: Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro, Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Grant Curtis
Logline: Grieving for her mother, Avalon finds comfort when she’s put in charge of a 4-year-old for a night.
Synopsis: Avalon’s not ready to process the loss of her mother, but when she’s put in charge of a 4-year-old for one night, she finds more comfort than she ever could have expected.

“The Little Prince(ss)”

Writer/ director: Moxie Peng
Producers: Carver Diserens, Steak House
Executive producers: Julie Ann Crommett, Mahin Ibrahim, Alyssa Navarro,Chris Caraballo, Jason Alvidrez, Adam Nusinow, Sarah Shepard,
Karen Chau
Logline: When Chinese kids Gabriel and Rob become friends, Rob’s dad questions Gabriel’s feminine behavior.
Synopsis: When Gabriel, a 7-year-old Chinese kid who loves ballet, becomes friends with Rob, another Chinese kid from school, Rob’s dad gets suspicious about Gabriel’s feminine behavior and decides to intervene.

You can check out the trailer for Disney+ Launchpad Season 1 below. In other related news, Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia is slated to launch on 1 June 2021.