"RICKY" DIRECTOR, RASHAD FRETT, AND PRODUCER, SIMON TAUFIQUE, TALK ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE FILM & ALTERNATIVE DISTRIBUTION.
Director Rashad Frett and Producer Simon TaufiQue discuss the mission behind RICKY, the changing economics of independent film distribution, and the decisions that brought the film to audiences on its own terms.
RICKY'S FILM MISSION:
The film originated from Rashad Frett's personal experiences growing up between the United States and the Caribbean, where he witnessed friends, peers, and family members navigate the criminal justice system and the challenges of reacclimating to society.
“I never personally went to prison, but a lot of people around me did. When they're inside, it's like a part of us are inside with them as well.” RASHAD FRETT
Rashad's experience working on documentaries involving children of incarcerated parents further informed the story and his approach to filmmaking.
For Simon TaufiQue, that personal connection was essential to understanding RICKY and its place within independent cinema.This meant considering how the film would reach audiences, who would have access to it, and how its creative vision would remain intact throughout distribution.
“This had the personal element. This had Rashad's fingerprints on it,” SIMON TAUFIQUE
FILM'S JOURNEY: FROM SHORT TO FEATURE
RICKY began as an NYU thesis short, drawing support from a community of filmmakers and industry mentors. Spike Lee helped fund the short film, while filmmaker and NYU alumnus Cary Fukunaga provided a grant and creative feedback during its development. Rashad also collaborated with co-writer Lin Que Ayoung whom he met during the production delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project continued gaining momentum through the support and mentorship of the Sundance Institute, including its creative development programs. RICKY premiered as a short film at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Two years later, Frett returned to Sundance with the feature-length adaptation, receiving the 2025 Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic.
RICKY'S DISTRIBUTION:
Following RICKY's success at Sundance, Rashad and producers faced another important decision: how to bring the film to audiences while reaching communities that connected with its story, including those who might not otherwise have the financial means or opportunity to experience it in theaters
“One of the goals of distribution was opening up access.” SIMON TAUFIQUE
After meeting with several distribution companies, Frett and TaufiQue decided to pursue an alternative approach that would give them greater control over the film's release. The filmmakers partnered with Blue Harbor Entertainment for the theatrical release and Kickstarter for a pay-it-forward ticketing campaign, allowing supporters to purchase tickets for individuals who might otherwise be unable to attend.
For Rashad, the experience reinforced his belief that art, purpose, and faith are deeply connected. Reflecting on his time at the Sundance Labs, surrounded by filmmakers from around the world, he described a profound sense of belonging, as though the film had arrived precisely where it was meant to be.
“Everything felt divine.” — RASHAD FRETT
When asked why he continues to make films despite the struggles and uncertainty of independent filmmaking, Rashad returned to a conviction that has guided him since childhood. He shared that the path chose him before his birth. His purpose remains rooted in telling the truth, even when the journey demands perseverance in the face of doubt and rejection.
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Rashad Frett, an Award-Winning Caribbean American Filmmaker based in NYC, pursued the arts seriously after experiencing 9/11 as a U.S. Army Combat Medic.
Creating social impact through the power of media became his passion which recently earned him his MFA from the prestigious NYU Tisch Graduate Film Program.
Frett’s dedication to the craft has garnered many awards including a BAFTA - HBO scholarship, a Martin Scorsese Young Filmmakers scholarship, a DGA Student Film Award, a BET Blackhouse Foundation Fellow at Sundance, a two time King Wasserman Award Winner at NYU's First Run film festival, a Spike Lee Production Fellowship, a Cary Fukunaga Production Fund Recipient, a Ryan Murphy’s HALF Initiative Director Shadowing fellowship, and he was selected for Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” for 2023.
His recent Oscar Qualifying short film “Ricky” had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and he is a 2023 Sundance Screenwriters and Directors Lab Fellow.
Additionally, his work has screened in other prestigious festivals including SXSW, Berlinale, and American Black Film Festival. His work has also aired on Showtime, The Stephen Colbert Show, NPR Tiny Desk, Tidal, and his team was featured in Rolling Stone magazine.
Frett’s debut feature film, RICKY, premiered at 2025 Sundance Film Festival, winning the Directing Award in the U.S. Dramatic competition category.
He is represented by WME.
Rashad Frett website here.
RICKY FILM on APPLE TV here.
Simon TaufiQue is a British-Indian, Emmy-nominated, and multiple award-winning composer and producer whose credits include HBO/Max's award-winning Land of Gold, the Emmy-nominated documentary The Interpreters, HBO's The Weight of Gold, Imperium (Lionsgate/Universal), the Berlinale-winning She's Lost Control, and RICKY, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
A protégé of Grammy-winning composer David Torn, TaufiQue has collaborated with filmmakers and artists including M. Night Shyamalan, Mary Harron, Kevin Smith, Julian Casablancas, and Anja Marquardt. His work spans film composition, producing, and independent cinema, with a particular interest in supporting distinctive storytelling.
Beyond his creative work, TaufiQue has held leadership and mentorship roles within the Hollywood Radio & Television Society, the Producers Guild of America, and the Sundance Institute. He studied Political Science and Economics at New York University before pursuing a master's degree in Music Technology, also at NYU.
His experience across the creative and business sides of filmmaking informs his approach to independent film production and distribution.
Simon TaufiQue website here.
When I asked Rashad if he would be our guest at FiB Live, he simply said, "Yes"
He's the kind of soul that wants to give back, share, and spread the goodness. I believe this is why divinity guides his light. Thank you, Rashad!
Simon is a natural born leader and teacher. I could sit in a room and listen to Simon speak and educate for hours. He knows the business!!! I was blown away by the wealth of his knowledge. Thank you, Simon!
— Julissa Scopino, on behalf of Filmmakers in Boardrooms
