The Roku Channel Expands Partnership With Create the Writers Room Initiative by Streaming ‘Five Film Fridays’ Selections
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- Create the Writers Room expands its partnership with the Roku Channel by featuring select 'Five Film Fridays' films on the platform, increasing exposure for underrepresented filmmakers to 100 million subscribers
- Rickey Castleberry, founder of Create the Writers Room, launched 'Five Film Fridays' to help creatives build community and understand the business of filmmaking, now amplified through Roku’s reach
- The Roku Channel streams CTWR’s curated short films including 'Sincerely Brad,' 'Trailer Trash Magic,' 'The Outtakes,' 'The Errand,' and 'The Distinguished,' with more titles scheduled to debut
- Five Film Fridays showcased 'See You Soon,' 'Halfrican,' 'Bubble Pop,' 'Mirage,' and 'Bukra' on June 26, featuring talent like Asante Blackk, Vic Mensa, and Emmy Raver-Lampman, with industry insiders selecting each quarter’s lineup
- Create the Writers Room opens submissions for the first time to feature-length films, with the next event set for October 16 in Los Angeles and a new expansion to New York City
- Maya Jackson, director of television development at 1Community, serves as head of programming for 'Five Film Fridays,' while Dwayne Davis joins as creative operations manager
Why it matters: By streaming CTWR’s curated films and accepting feature-length submissions, the Roku Channel gives underrepresented creators direct access to a massive audience, shifting leverage toward independent voices in an industry where distribution has long been gatekept. This expands not just visibility but pathways to ownership and sustainable careers.
