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

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT

July 2023 NEWSLETTER

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

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Mayor Adams Announces New MOME Commissioner

• Pat Swinney Kaufman was appointed Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) on July 1st, after serving as First Deputy Commissioner for Creative Sector Programs since October 2022. Kaufman brings with her years of experience in the film industry, serving as Executive Director of the New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development, Deputy Commissioner of Empire State Development and President of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI). Said Kaufman, “I am extremely grateful to Mayor Adams for trusting me with this enormous responsibility. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve the mayor, New Yorkers, and the creative community. I look forward to continuing the agency’s work of supporting, strengthening, and diversifying New York’s media and entertainment industries, which are integral to the city’s culture and economy. Collaborating with our industry partners and communities will be a core vision of this agency, and together, we expect great opportunities for New York and New Yorkers.”

• After serving as MOME Commissioner since April 2019, where she led the creative industries through two administrations and a pandemic, Anne del Castillo will take on a new role as Senior Advisor at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) starting July 10. Del Castillo will be missed by colleagues and so many throughout NYC’s media and entertainment community. Said del Castillo, “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as MOME commissioner during such a critical moment in the history of my hometown, and I look forward to continuing my service as senior policy advisor for creative sector strategy at the Department of Cultural Affairs. I want to thank Mayor Adams for his support, MOME’s dedicated staff for their hard work, my esteemed colleagues in government for their collaboration, and New York City’s creative community for all it does to make us a global creative capital.”

• For more information on these announcements, please see the press release here.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS

NYC Summer of Games – Now through September 2023

• 'NYC Summer of Games' — the citywide celebration of New York City's booming digital games community featuring marquee events, expos, tournaments, exhibits, workshops, and programs across all five boroughs, is happening now! Upcoming events include:

• PaleyGX Home Run Derby Watch & Gaming Party, July 10

• Games for Change Festival, July 14-21

• For more information about NYC Summer of Games, including the Games for Change Festival, please visit MOME’s Digital Games page here.

Movies Under the Stars – Now through September 2023

• Through Movies Under the Stars, MOME and NYC Parks are proud to bring more than 150 film screenings to parks throughout the five boroughs. Enjoy family-friendly entertainment in the city's parks and playgrounds, ranging from great new movies to all-time classics.

• These events feature chairs reserved for seniors and people with disabilities.

• For more information about movies and locations, please visit the NYC Parks website here.

“A New York Evening with…” Series – July 2023

• In partnership with MOME, the GRAMMY Museum presents four more intimate performances and conversations this July:

• Natalie Merchant, July 13 at the Greene Space

• Blondshell, July 20 at National Sawdust

• Emily King, July 28 at 92NY

• Aimee Mann & Ann Powers, July 30 at Lincoln Center

Asian American International Film Festival – July 26 through August 6

• Asian CineVision, proudly known as "The First Home to Asian American Cinema” presents the 46th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), the first and longest-running festival dedicated to showcasing the moving image work by media artists of Asian descent for and about the Asian diaspora experience.

• This year’s festival takes place in NYC, the second-largest Asian-American market in the U.S, and is focused on freedom of expression, encouraging artistic possibilities without boundaries and serves as a reminder to aim for progress instead of perfection.

• For more information about the festival and Asian CineVision (ACV), a nonprofit promoting Asian and Asian American experiences through storytelling and nurturing a community of filmmakers and enthusiasts, please visit the ACV website here.

International Puppet Fringe Festival – August 9 through August 13

• Organized by Teatro SEA, Grupo Morán (The Morán Group) and The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Education Center, and following the sensational success of the 2021 and 2018 festivals and the inaugural Puppet Week NYC, Puppet Fringe 2023 returns to honor the rich puppetry traditions and talented puppeteers with performances by leading puppet makers and troupes from around the world.

• The festival will include an award for the founder of the Village Halloween Parade, Ralph Lee. Lee is known for his visionary, surreal, life-sized puppets that have become a feature of New York City’s parades, theaters, and public celebrations. In honor of Lee’s vast contributions to the puppetry arts, the 2023 Puppet Fringe Festival theme will be “Halloween in August,” featuring spooky and silly puppets that celebrate this beloved holiday.

• For more information about the International Puppet Fringe Festival, please visit their website here.

A LOOK BACK

New York Music Month 2023

• That’s a wrap on the 6th Annual New York Music Month (NYMM), the official celebration of the City’s vibrant and dynamic music ecosystem which featured over 70 events including the annual music conference, live concert series and moments that celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop.

• This year, MOME proudly expanded NYMM's free rehearsal space program, which provided NYC musicians with free studio space and, for the first time, was available at studios in all five boroughs. More hours are available at the individual studios found here.

• Photos, videos and additional content celebrating New York Music Month can be found here.

Resources for Workers Webinars

• MOME has hosted three, free, live webinars to provide information and access to workers and small businesses affected by the WGA strike.

• These webinars are not only for the New Yorkers working in production, but also ancillary businesses indirectly impacted by the film and TV industry (dry cleaners, florists, lumber yards, delis, restaurants workers, bartenders).

• Representatives from NYS Department of Labor, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, NYC Small Business Services, The Entertainment Community Fund (formerly known as the Actors Fund), and The Freelancers Hub participated and were available to answer questions.

• All three webinars are available for viewing online here.

FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference

• Commissioner del Castillo participated in a fire-side chat at the FUTURE NOW Media & Entertainment Conference, an annual event that brings together college and graduate students and recent graduates who are passionate about pursuing careers in media and entertainment with today's top executives, thought leaders, and professionals.

• The conference was hosted by the FUTURE NOW Media Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, whose mission is to build future leaders in media and entertainment.

• For more information, please visit the FUTURE NOW Media Foundation website here.

Founder and CEO of the Future Now Media Foundation Margaret Kim, Commissioner del Castillo, FUTURE NOW alum (Alicia) Asca Akiyama.

TKTS / TFD 50th Anniversary

• Commissioner del Castillo was on hand to celebrate the 50th anniversary of TDF, a not for profit organization that runs TKTS, a mission driven program meant to break down the barriers for attending live performances – whether financial, physical or developmental.

• At the event, DCLA Commissioner Cumbo presented actor S. Epatha Merkerson with a proclamation from the City of NY.

• The event also served as a goodbye and thank you to the outgoing TDF Executive Director, Victoria Bailey, after 22 years of service.

DCLA Commissioner Cumbo, Actor S. Epatha Merkerson and Commissioner del Castillo

‘Made in NY’ Post Production Training Program Graduation

• The ‘Made in NY’ Post Production celebrated 16 graduates from Cycle 16, bringing the grand total of New Yorkers who have graduated from this 5-week training program to 231.

• Andrew Bly, Head of Studio NY / Partner, Crafty Apes, served as keynote speaker.

• Cycle 17 will run from September 11 - October 23, 2023, with registration information available on the Brooklyn Workforce Innovations website here.

‘Made in NY’ Alumni Film Festival

• MOME’s signature training programs, Production Assistant and Post Production, hosted their annual alumni film festival for the first time in 4 years at the Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn on June 30.

• The festival screened original work produced by alumni, including narrative short films, short-form documentaries, and music videos. Alumni also networked with peers from previous training cycles and brought guests who were interested in learning more about each program.

• The event was the largest in-person convening of "Made in NY" alumni since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Looking to hire a graduate? Please visit the "Made in NY" Production Assistant Training Program webpage for more information.

The Americas Film Festival New York (TAFFNY)

• Commissioner del Castillo attended and presented a proclamation from the City of New York at the closing night of the 10th anniversary of TAFFNY, which works to celebrate the creative voices of the entire Americas, and support their efforts to advance diverse representation and achievements in film.

• The event also featured the NY premiere of Fancy Dance from Seneca/Cayuga filmmaker Erica Tremblay.

‘Let the Canary Sing’ Documentary Premiere at Tribeca

• Commissioner del Castillo attended the premiere of the Cyndi Lauper documentary ‘Let the Canary Sing’ directed by Alison Ellwood.

• The premiere coincided with NY Music Month and took place at NYC’s iconic Beacon Theatre during the Tribeca Film Festival. The film, the location and the subject all highlight and contribute to NYC’s musical culture and identity.

Cyndi Lauper, film director Alison Ellwood and Commissioner del Castillo

MOME IN THE NEWS

• NY Video Game Critics Circle 6/13 - The Analysis: NYC Embraces Games In Education With A Minecraft Bang!

• PIX 11 6/20 - Concerts, free rehearsal space available during NYC Music Month

• The City 6/28 - How Hundreds of Production Assistants Got ‘Made in 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: @MadeinNY, Facebook: @MadeinNY, and Instagram: @Madein_NY.

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

nyc.gov/mome

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