THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER AND INDIEWIRE ANNOUNCE PARTICIPANTS FOR SECOND ANNUAL NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL CRITICS ACADEMY

New York, NY (September 23, 2013) – The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Indiewire, in partnership with Film Comment Magazine, announced the eight participants for the second annual New York Film Festival’s (NYFF) Critics Academy, a workshop for aspiring film critics that takes place during the festival (September 27-October 13). The program is designed to nurture promising film critics and journalists as they attend and cover screenings and events at this year’s festival.

Eugene Hernandez, Director of Digital Strategy said, ”The Critics Academy is one part our broader strategy aimed at bolstering cinema culture. In the past year, the we have invested in both the expansion of FilmComment.com and in expanding our own editorial platform, FilmLinc Daily. Amidst changes in the business of journalism, we are committed to creating engaging content about film and this year the Critics Academy program returns to the New York Film Festival to mentor young critics and share their work with our online audience.”

Writers will participate in workshops and mentor sessions with noted critics, working journalists, filmmakers and members of the film industry, including writers and editors from Film Comment Magazine, with their coverage to be published on FilmLinc.com, Indiewire’s Criticwire blog and other outlets. Below please find the names of the eight people selected for the second annual NYFF Critics Academy:

Greg Cwik
Diana Drumm
Judith Dry
Vanessa Erazo
Shelley Farmer
Mark E. Lukenbill
Gus Reed
Graham Winfrey

First launched as an initiative during the Locarno Film Festival two years ago, the combination of candid discussions with working critics and other members of the industry — paired with experience covering cinema in a deadline-driven environment – has proven to be the right kind of fuel for the professionally-minded critic to begin sketching out a career plan.

The Critics Academy is one of two educational initiatives set to take place during NYFF, the other being the Artists Academy for young filmmakers. Just as that program shepherds along filmmakers who show tremendous promise, the Critics Academy aims to provide context and pointers for critics who are already showing great potential in their writing, sensibilities and professional motivation.

The 17-day New York Film Festival highlights the best in world cinema, featuring top films from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. The selection committee, chaired by Jones also includes: Dennis Lim, FSLC Director of Cinematheque Programming; Marian Masone, FSLC Associate Director of Programming; Gavin Smith, Editor-in-Chief, Film Comment; and Amy Taubin, Contributing Editor, Film Comment and Sight & Sound.

NYFF previously announced Paul Greengrass’s CAPTAIN PHILLIPS as its Opening Night Gala selection, Ben Stiller’s THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY as its Centerpiece Gala selection, Spike Jonze’s HER as the Closing Night Gala selection as well as the Main Slate Official Selections. The NYFF Tribute Galas honoring Cate Blanchett and Ralph Fiennes have also been announced as well as programs spotlighting documentaries and film restorations, as well as Views From the Avant-Garde. Additional special events and NYFF LIVE filmmaker talks will be announced in subsequent days and weeks.

General Public tickets are on sale now. For more information about becoming a Film Society Member visit Filmlinc.com/membership. More ticket information for the New York Film Festival will be available on Filmlinc.com/NYFF.

Film Society of Lincoln Center
Founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, the Film Society of Lincoln Center works to recognize established and emerging filmmakers, support important new work, and to enhance the awareness, accessibility and understanding of the moving image. Film Society produces the renowned New York Film Festival, a curated selection of the year's most significant new film work, and presents or collaborates on other annual New York City festivals including Dance on Camera, Film Comment Selects, Human Rights Watch Film Festival, LatinBeat, New Directors/New Films, NewFest, New York African Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival, New York Jewish Film Festival, Open Roads: New Italian Cinema and Rendez-vous With French Cinema. In addition to publishing the award-winning Film Comment Magazine, Film Society recognizes an artist's unique achievement in film with the prestigious “Chaplin Award.” The Film Society's state-of-the-art Walter Reade Theater and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, located at Lincoln Center, provide a home for year round programs and the New York City film community.

The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from Royal Bank of Canada, Jaeger-LeCoultre, American Airlines, The New York Times, Stonehenge Partners, Stella Artois, illy café, the Kobal Collection, Trump International Hotel and Tower, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Support for the New York Film Festival is also generously provided by Hearst Corporation, HBO®, Dolby, Paramount Hotel, ADK Packworks, WABC-7, and WNET New York Public Media.

For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com and follow @filmlinc on Twitter.

For Media specific inquiries, please contact:
John Wildman, (212) 875-5419
[email protected]

David Ninh, (212) 875-5423
[email protected]