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film finance forum

The New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) calls for submission of film projects to be pitched during an afternoon of collaboration and networking at our MOME Finance Lab produced by Winston Baker on April 17, 2018 in New York City. This will be an opportunity for nominated participants to connect with fellow filmmakers and meet with potential financiers for their next project. During the three-hour networking event, 30 pre-selected producers will pitch their projects to the industry's leading film financiers.

The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film released results of its 2015 study showing that women made up just 7% of directors on the top 250 films, 18% of those directing independent narrative features, and 29% of directors working on documentaries. The MOME Finance Lab aims to cultivate films in New York City made by, about, and for women. To be eligible for the Finance Lab, the film project must include:

  • at least one team member that is a resident of New York City,
  • a finalized script for a film of 69 minutes or more by, about, or for women in the drama, comedy, thriller/horror, or documentary genre,
  • a director attached and producer attached that will make the pitch (director/producer can be same individual),
  • secured, or securable rights (including any underlying rights) in the proposed content,
  • the script must be registered with the Writers Guild of America East (http://wgaeast.org/script_registration)
  • and, a draft finance plan for the film.

Pitches will last 10 minutes total, including any media (trailers or other supporting video). The nominated filmmaking teams will be invited to attend a pre-pitch workshop that is not mandatory. The selection committee includes representatives from Writers Guild of America East, New York Women in Film & Television, Firelight Media, Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), Producers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, Asian Cinevision, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, Cinema Tropicale, Native Program Sundance Institute, Tribeca and Film Fatales. Participating financiers from our first Finance Lab included A24, Archer Gray, Big Beach, Black Bear Pictures, Cinereach, FilmNation, Gamechanger Films, Maven Pictures, Stay Gold Features, The Seelig Group and Vine Alternative Investments.

For more information about the lab, submit your contact information at http://www.nyc.gov/momefinancelab. Submission deadline is March 30th. Please include director/producer name(s), contact email, contact phone number, project title, logline, genre, and estimated budget for each film project.

 

 

MOME Finance Lab does not discriminate based on race or gender. All programs and activities of the MOME Finance Lab are open to all eligible applicants, without regard to race, gender, national origin or other characteristic protected by law.