Create The Writers Room Expands Roku Partnership with New “Five Film Fridays” Lineup

Create The Writers Room (CTWR), the incubator founded in 2018 to support under-represented storytellers, has deepened its ongoing collaboration with the Roku Channel. Selected short films and proof-of-concepts from CTWR’s quarterly “Five Film Fridays” series are now streaming to the platform’s roughly 100 million subscribers, giving emerging filmmakers broader exposure and a direct line to a large audience.

Variety Magazine

CTWR was launched by filmmaker Rickey Castleberry to provide exhibition opportunities, education, and industry insight that enable creators to retain creative control and build sustainable careers. The “Five Film Fridays” series curates five standout short works each quarter, pairing screenings with panels and fireside chats that focus on ownership, authorship, and navigating the evolving entertainment landscape.

Variety Magazine

The June 26 edition of Five Film Fridays featured five new titles: “See You Soon” (written and directed by Jay Pendarvis Jr.), “Halfrican” (created by Vic Mensa, directed by Edgar Esteves), “Bubble Pop” (written and directed by Aeryn Michelle Williams), “Mirage” (written and directed by Jhanvi Motla), and “Bukra” (written and directed by Alex Aljouni). These films, along with earlier CTWR titles such as “Sincerely Brad” and “The Errand,” are currently available on the Roku Channel.

Variety Magazine

In a statement, Castleberry emphasized that the partnership reinforces CTWR’s commitment to visibility, education, and long-term creative control for its participants. He noted that the collaboration with Roku not only expands audience reach but also supports the incubator’s broader goal of equipping filmmakers with the tools needed to navigate the business side of their art.

Variety Magazine

CTWR’s next Five Film Fridays event is scheduled for Oct. 16 in Los Angeles, with a special edition planned for New York City. Submissions for the upcoming cycle are open now and close on Sept. 25, marking the first time the program will accept feature-length films.

Variety Magazine