LOS ANGELES -- (SPW) --

The U.S. Department of State and Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the LA Film Festival and the Film Independent at LACMA series, announced  that they are launching Global Media Makers, a new international film exchange program. Global Media Makers is an innovative mentoring initiative that will connect visual storytellers from around the world with leading U.S. entertainment professionals through specially tailored mentorships, workshops and master classes.

Program mentors include Effie Brown (Dear White People, Project Greenlight, EVP of Production and Development at Lee Daniels Entertainment), Kirby Dick (The Invisible War, The Hunting Ground, This Film Is Not Yet Rated), Jay Duplass (Transparent, The Puffy Chair, Cyrus), Ava DuVernay (Middle of Nowhere, Selma), Rodrigo Garcia (Mother and Child, In Treatment, Carnivale), Matthew Greenfield, EVP Production Fox Searchlight, Kelly Kulchak, Head of Current Programming, DreamWorks Animation TV, Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Head of Creative Affairs, Broad Green Pictures, Jeremy Podeswa (Game of Thrones, The Newsroom, Boardwalk Empire), Alan Poul (The Newsroom, Six Feet Under, Swingtown), Mary Sweeney (The Straight Story, Mulholland Drive) Robin Swicord (Little Women, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Nancy Utley, President, Fox Searchlight.

Mentors will work closely with Film Independent’s Senior Director of Education and International Initiatives Maria Raquel Bozzi and Director of Artist Development Jennifer Kushner to build a curriculum that reflects best filmmaking practices in their areas of expertise. Mentors will advise Global Media Makers Fellows with the development of their projects and help them expand their professional networks with other media makers in the U.S.

“We are honored and thrilled to be working with the State Department on this important new initiative,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “We live at a time when the cultivation of strong, independent voices that can communicate across cultural boundaries has never been more important. This cross-cultural program allows us to serve talented filmmakers from around the world.”

“Film has the power to transcend traditional barriers and provide an opportunity for dialogue on shared issues,” said Evan Ryan, State Department Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. “Through our partnership with Film Independent, we’re investing in the development of international filmmakers and cultivating lasting professional networks.”

For the first year of this program, 12 film, television, and new media makers will be selected from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Turkey.  Global Media Makers Fellows will receive in-depth filmmaker education, business training and professional networking opportunities. Participants will travel to Los Angeles to work on projects with a team of American mentors and receive state-of-the-art training and industry access to support conceptual development of independent, authentic and compelling content for distribution in their home countries and foster creative cross-pollination between filmmakers from around the globe. 

Selected filmmakers will be recognized as Film Independent Fellows, and will receive career long networking, support and eligibility to apply for Film Independent grants.

About THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) builds relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs. ECA initiatives build connections that engage and empower people, and motivate them to become leaders and thinkers; to develop new skills; and to find connections that will create positive change in their communities. ECA incorporates 21st century diplomacy themes into effective projects and activities that engage the U.S. and international participants long after their exchange programs have concluded. 

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a nonprofit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff and constituents is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a Member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional or a film lover.

In addition to producing the Spirit Awards, Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.
 

Contact:

Alia Quart Khan
Film Independent
Tel: 310.432.1287
Contact Alia via email
 

Contact:

Jane Danese
U.S. Department of State
Tel: 202.632.6551
Contact Jane via email
 

Aubrey Plaza Returns To Host 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Film Independent announced today that Aubrey Plaza will return to host the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The Spirit Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, which cultivate...

2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners Announced

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Film Independent handed out honors today at the 34th Spirit Awards ceremony to If Beale Street Could Talk, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Suspiria, Eighth Grade, First...

2024 AICP Awards Tour Concludes with Stops in Dallas and Chicago

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Chicago speakers include, clockwise from upper left, Brian Billow, Paul Chick, Kelly McGuckin and Yvette Cobarrubias.

The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and post production companies. The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14th, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21st at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events at www.aicp.com. In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas. Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, Chief Creative Officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, Executive Creative Director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry. The Chicago stop starts at 6:00pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7:00pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8:00pm and concluding at 11:30pm. The Old Post Office is located at 433 W Van Buren Street in Chicago. The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards Curators and Winners from the marketer, agency, production and post production sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights... Read More

No More Posts Found

MySHOOT Profiles