NYC Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment Announces "Made in NY" Fellowships to Support Diversity

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"Made in NY" Media Center by IFP, in Partnership with NYC Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment, Announces Return of "Made in NY" Fellowships to Support Diversity Among Storytellers and Entrepreneurs

Fellows Will Have Access to Incubator Space, Mentoring Opportunities, and Networking Events to Foster a Collaborative Environment in Which to Create Media Projects

Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Julie Menin and the Made in NY Media Center by IFP today announced the return of Made in NY Fellowships, a year-long program to provide expanded resources and opportunities for New Yorkers to bring their media projects to the next level. Building on the strength of this exciting initiative that launched last year, the Made in NY Fellowship program aims to foster a diverse media industry, recognizing that different experiences, perspectives, and cultures are critical to advancements in innovation and creativity. Ten fellowships will be available to individuals and teams working on projects in documentary filmmaking, narrative filmmaking, gaming, post-production, animation, virtual reality, and media/technology.

"It’s vital that New York City’s booming media and entertainment industry represents a diverse array of perspectives," said MOME Commissioner Julie Menin. "The Made in NY Fellowship program offers the opportunity of a lifetime to New York’s storytellers and innovators from underrepresented backgrounds. I’m proud that MOME is a leader in creating opportunities for diverse, creative New Yorkers. We thank the Made in NY Media Center for their partnership, and look forward to seeing the results of the second year of this fantastic initiative."

"After seeing the success and impact our first Made in NY Fellowships, we are thrilled to be continuing this initiative with our partners at the Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment," said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of the Made in NY Media Center by IFP. "Ensuring that we continue to diversify our media workforce, is imperative to ensuring it remains innovative, inspiring and relevant."

"Our city’s strength lies in its diversity. The Made in NY Fellowship Program supports the next generation of innovators, providing New Yorkers of all backgrounds with the tools and resources to build on their creative talents right here in New York City. We have always been a hub for the media and entertainment industry and I thank MOME and the Made in NY Media Center for their dedication to continuing that legacy," said NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer.

Recipients of the Made in NY Fellowship will receive 12 months of incubator membership at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP. Located in DUMBO, Brooklyn, the Media Center is a co-working space and exhibition venue designed to connect the next generation of artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs through education, events, and industry resources. It was developed through a partnership between Independent Filmmaker Project, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Additionally, as part of this program, fellows will be mentored by industry leaders and knowledgeable IFP staff, participate in IFP classes, and have the opportunity to attend a variety of networking and industry events. They will also be provided with space at the Media Center where they can cultivate their work in a collaborative environment. Individual entrepreneurs as well as both for-profit and non-profit companies will be eligible to apply, including registered businesses.

To apply for a Made in NY Fellowship, visit http://bit.ly/MINYFellowship. Applications are due by 11:59pm ET on November 1, 2016. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to present in front of a review panel made up of IFP staff and industry leaders, including Joana Vicente; Sabrina Dridje, Director of the Made in NY Media Center by IFP; Marcelle Hopkins, Executive Producer of Interactive 360 at the New York Times; Charles E. Torres, Director of Perkin Coie’s New York Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice; and Jeremy Caplan, Director of Education for the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism.

The ten Fellowship recipients will be named on November 21, and the program will begin on December 1.