The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Locarno International Film Festival announced today the launch of a new joint initiative in the U.S., the Industry Academy International. After completing two successful 2015 editions in Mexico and Brazil, Locarno plans to extend the initiative to New York, where it will take place from March 20-23 at the Film Society.
As a result of a long-standing relationship between the two organizations, the initiative signifies the ongoing dedication they have to engaging a new generation of key players in the independent-film industry, helping them attain a better understanding of the industry’s challenges while also extending their network of contacts and building bridges across different markets. The program will focus on increasing diversity within the film industry and film culture – one of the greatest challenges facing the film business today – and support and nurture women and people of color who are looking to gain a foothold in the industry.
The New York initiative will be designed in the same spirit as in Locarno and will include six participants, from North America and Europe, in the fields of International Sales, Marketing, Distribution (online and traditional), Exhibition, and Programming. The names selected will be announced at the beginning of March, as well as more information about the content of the program, and guest speakers. The workshop will be produced with Industry Academy Project Manager Marion Klotz from the Locarno International Film Festival.
The four-day Academy will take place during the 45th edition of New Directors/New Films, a festival dedicated to the discovery of new works by emerging and dynamic filmmaking talent, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art. The festival will provide an ideal backdrop for these workshops, discussions and panels.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Locarno International Film Festival have previously partnered on several programs, including a George Cukor retrospective, a celebration of legendary Italian studio Titanus, and an upcoming Sam Peckinpah retrospective. Also 2015 marked the 4th collaboration with Locarno for the annual Critics Academy, a workshop for aspiring film critics that occurs during the festival.
