Eight emerging film critics have been selected for the 50th New York Film Festival edition of Critics Academy.
Following the success of the program at this year's Locarno Film Festival, Film Society of Lincoln Center is again teaming with Indiewire, this time with the support of Film Comment magazine, to nurture these young journalists through a series of workshops, mentor sessions, and discussions with working critics, filmmakers and members of the film industry. The participants will also have the opportunity to write for FilmLinc.com and Indiewire's Criticwire Network, as well as support in pitching stories to other film outlets.
Eugene Hernandez of Film Society said, “The New York Film Festival and the Film Society of Lincoln Center have been at the center of film culture for nearly fifty years. Through this new Critics Academy initiative, in association with Indiewire, we're taking aim at preserving and supporting a critical dialogue about new films and classic cinema. Our search has yielded a talented roster of new voices who will immerse themselves in the 50th NYFF and benefit from the advice and experience of some of the city's talented critics.”
Eric Kohn of Indiewire added, “The Film Society of Lincoln Center has served as the epicenter for critical discussion on a vast range of international cinema for decades, so we couldn't be more excited to help keep that perception alive with this workshop. Indiewire's Criticwire Network was created with the belief that smart, effective film criticism is in a more vibrant state than ever before, and the current New York Film Festival lineup provides an ideal outlet for this year's talented workshop participants to sustain that perception.”
Without further ado, the eight New York-based critics that will take part in this year's NYFF Critics Academy are…
Forrest Cardamenis:
Music and Film Writer, No Ripcord Independent Music & Film Magazine. Presenter, Disappearing Acts IV film festival. Undergraduate student at NYU – Tisch.
Caitlin Hughes:
Freelance Film Coverage, IFC Films. Former Junior Publicist, Falco Ink. Former Film Programming Assistant, 92YTribeca. Former Volunteer Department Assistant, Tribeca Film Festival. Graduate of NYU – Tisch.
Alec Kubas-Meyer:
Associate Editor, Flixist. Undergraduate student at Sarah Lawrence College.
Peter Labuza:
Host, The Cinephiliacs podcast. Contributor, Indiewire, The Playlist, Press Play. Graduate student at Columbia University.
Blair McClendon:
Arts Department Head and Programmer, WKCR 89.9 FM. Contributor, Double Exposure Film Journal. Undergraduate at Columbia University.
Maxwell Nelson:
Co-Founder, Double Exposure Film Journal. Intern, Anthology Film Archives, Film Society of Lincoln Center. Undergraduate student at Columbia University.
Corey O'Connell:
Photographer. Former Development Intern, Second Stage Theatre. Former Contributor, New Jersey Newsroom. Graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Fariha Roisin:
Blogger, Huffington Post. Former Contributor, VS Magazine. Undergraduate at University of New South Wales.
Stay tuned for a more in-depth introduction to the eight participants and watch out for their bylines here on FilmLinc.com and over on Indiewire's Criticwire blog throughout the 50th New York Film Festival. Congratulations to the selected critics and our heartfelt thanks to the many, many more who applied!
