The Oscars honor artists at the peak of their creative powers, but at this year’s ceremony Belvedere Vodka and actress-musician Janelle Monáe stole a bit of the spotlight for the next generation of women creators. During Oscar weekend in Los Angeles, Monáe and Belvedere kicked off a two-year collaborative partnership with the goal of co-creating and sharing content meant to inspire new artists to follow their own creative passions.
The Monáe/Belvedere partnership begins with a new short film series, A Beautiful Future, announced with a new one-minute video that has already been viewed nearly 400,000 times in the first six days after it was posted to Belvedere’s YouTube channel.
The series will continue with work from up-and-coming filmmakers Janicza Bravo, Lacey Duke and Kirsten Lepore, according to a release from Belvedere. The three artists will continue the Belvedere-branded series with their own short films, each spreading the Belvedere brand identity and inspired by the question: “What does a beautiful future look like to you?”
Monáe and Belvedere also posed that question at a special invite-only power brunch on March 2 in Los Angeles to support Monáe’s “Fem The Future” organization. The grassroots group seeks to promote the inclusion of women artists and to create opportunities for women through the arts, music and education.
“I’m so hopeful about the future,” Monáe told The Cut at the brunch. “So many organizations are happening because women are realizing that we are indeed stronger together. We are more magical when we are aligned and uplift one another.”
Watch for more of these brunches throughout the country in the coming year as Monáe and Belvedere continue to spread their shared message.
"When I sat down with the Belvedere team, it was incredible to realize that they shared my passions of philanthropy, community and the desire to uplift others," Monáe said in a recent release. "I'm thrilled to be partnering with the brand on some very exciting initiatives, shining a light on the untold stories and inspiring voices of this talented generation."
"There was an obvious synergy between us," said Rodney Williams, president of Belvedere Vodka. "This collaboration is a convergence of our shared beliefs: optimism and the power of the we not me to bridge divides and make the world a more beautiful place. We're looking forward to launching this empowering campaign alongside Janelle."
“When I sat down with Belvedere and we talked about the initiatives I wanted to get off the ground and what they were working on, it was clear that we had a shared vision about uplifting women, about giving opportunities to women,” Monáe recently told Fast Company.
Breakthru Beverage is honored to partner with Monáe and Belvedere on this important and exciting initiative. A Beautiful Future will also be reaching consumers through a tour and festivals throughout 2018 with more plans for 2019 to be announced soon. Watch for events in your area and make sure your business is ready to capitalize on this groundbreaking partnership.