The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Locarno International Film Festival have announced the launch of a new joint initiative, the U.S. edition of 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.
The result of a long-standing relationship between the two organizations, the initiative represents an ongoing dedication 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 supporting women and people of color who are looking to gain a foothold in the industry.
The New York initiative will include six participants from North America and Europe in the fields of International Sales, Marketing, Distribution (online and traditional), Exhibition, and Programming. The participants selected will be announced at the beginning of March along with 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. Last year also marked the fourth collaboration between the two organizations on the annual Critics Academy, a workshop for aspiring film critics that occurs during the Locarno International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.
