MOME works to support and strengthen New York City’s creative economy and make it accessible to all.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT

December 2024 NEWSLETTER

MOME WORKS TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN NEW YORK CITY'S CREATIVE ECONOMY AND MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

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UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS

2025 Minecraft Battle of the Boroughs Submission Period – NOW through March 7:

• The submission period for the 2025 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs ESports competition is now open and available to any NYC Public School students grade K-12.

• The fifth annual competition includes in-person qualifying rounds in each borough, and the Mayor’s Cup Final in May, where winners will be declared for elementary, middle and high school teams.

• For the announcement, Commissioner Kaufman said, “The annual Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs competition is back, this time with an earlier entry date so that even more students across the five boroughs get an opportunity to enter, and take a meaningful step towards an education and career in NYC's burgeoning Digital Games Industry.”

• For more information on how to submit and compete, please visit the NYC Public Schools website here.

NYC Public School Film Festival Submission Period – NOW through March 7:

• The submission period for the 7th annual Public School Film Festival, presented by MOME and NYC Public Schools and designed to celebrate the diversity of student voices, is now open and available to all middle and high school students.

• The festival will take place for the first time at the Museum of the Moving Image on April 25, 2025, and feature multiple screenings, room for families, and panels on everything from high school and college admissions to pre-professional programs.

• For more information about the submission process, please visit MOME’s festival page here.

“Office Hours” Virtual Discussion Series – December 10:

• MOME has launched an extended version of the “Office Hours” signature virtual discussion series, part of the NYC Film Green initiative, covering topics essential to the craft of sustainable production.

• In regards to the series, Commissioner Kaufman said, "MOME is committed to keeping the spotlight on the topic of sustainable production, a key element of NYC’s multi-billion dollar film & production industry.”

• The next episode on December 10, which is free and open to the public, will explore best practices in Getting to Zero: Innovations in Waste Management.

• For more information, please visit the NYC Film Green website here.

GDC at The AI Summit New York – December 11-12:

• The Game Developers Conference (GDC), an event serving professionals dedicated to the art and science of making games, is joining The AI Summit New York to present the GDC Stage, a series of presentations and discussions around generative artificial intelligence (AI) in game development, and GDC Zone, an exhibition space with interactive demos and networking opportunities with top developers.

• GDC will be partnering with MOME, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and New York City Tourism + Conventions for the event, which takes place at the Javits Convention Center.

• In the announcement, MOME Commissioner said, "New York City has always been a global center of innovation, and this administration is laser focused on taking that to the next level by partnering with GDC as they join The AI Summit New York for the first time.”

• For the full press release and more information, please visit MOME’s press page here.

JanArtsNYC – January 2025:

• MOME’s signature month-long celebration of live performance kicks off on January 4, 2025, with the opening night of the Under the Radar Festival.

• For 12 years, JanArtsNYC has helped position January as “Performing Arts Month” in NYC, where the world’s best come annually to premiere the newest works in theatre, dance, opera music and performance.

• For a full list of events, including the APAP|NYC Conference, please visit the JanArtsNYC website here.

The NY Game Awards – January 21:

• The New York Game Awards is an annual award show produced by the nonprofit New York Videogame Critics Circle to recognize outstanding achievement in video games.

• The NYVGCC goals are to promote education within the worlds of video game writing and journalism in the New York City area.

• For more information and tickets to the event at the SVA theatre, please visit the NYVGCC website here.

32nd New York African Film Festival Submission Period – Now through January 24:

• The submission period for the 2025 New York African Film Festival is now open, with an early bird deadline of December 20 and a final date of January 24.

• Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their work for a chance to be showcased at some of New York City’s most iconic venues including the historic Lincoln Center.

• For more information, please visit the African Film Festival submission page here.

Seats on the Spectrum Initiative – NOW Through Early 2025:

• Seats on the Spectrum, a new accessibility initiative from the Lumberyard Center for Film and Performing Arts, has partnered with Roundabout Theatre Company, HERE Arts Center, and New 42’s New Victory Theater to pilot a program making mainstream performances welcoming to audience members on the autism spectrum.

• The undertaking, in collaboration with Theater Development Fund (TDF), aims to demonstrate to the field at large what more comprehensive inclusion might look like.

• For more information and tickets, please visit the Lumberyard website here.

A LOOK BACK

The New York Comedy Festival:

• On November 14, Commissioner Kaufman was on hand at Gracie Mansion, alongside Mayor Adams, to present a proclamation to the New York Comedy Festival, and founder Caroline Hirsch, for 20 years of making New Yorkers laugh.

Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman

Festival co-founder Andrew Fox, Caroline Hirsch and Mayor Eric Adams

The NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre

• On November 21, MOME announced the fifth and final round of recipients for the groundbreaking fund, and celebrated the $10 million total investment by the City of New York to bring equity to entertainment sectors.

• In the announcement, Mayor Adams said, "We're extremely proud of the recipients, and our efforts to extend the program — not once but twice during this administration — for a total investment of $10 million.”

National Apprentice Week:

• MOME Commissioner Kaufman and DCLA Commissioner Cumbo visited the Roundabout Theatre Company to celebrate National Apprentice Week and the 114 graduates of the Theatrical Workforce Development Program since its inception in 2016.

• Of the accomplishment, Commissioner Kaufman said, “We look forward to finding ways to expand and duplicate this successful model throughout the different sectors of the entertainment industry, and to support this administration’s mission to provide opportunities, apprenticeships, and good-paying jobs for all New Yorkers.”

MOME Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman and EDC NYC President Andrew Kimball

MOME IN THE NEWS

• Broadway World 11/22 - Recipients Announced for NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre

• The Bronx Daily 11/22 - 15K+ New Yorkers Now Able To Launch Careers Because Of Apprenticeship Programs

• Harlem World Magazine 12/3 - Let’s Go Harlem! Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos Launches Minecraft Education Esports Competition

• Games Heroes 12/3 - Game Developers Conference Joining the AI Summit New York

Follow the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment on social media for the latest on our upcoming events, initiatives, and programs: Twitter/X: @MadeinNY, Facebook: @MadeinNY, Instagram: @Madein_NY, Threads: @Madein_NY, and LinkedIn.

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

nyc.gov/mome

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