Commissioner, Small Business Services, Kevin Kim; Executive Director, NYC Hospitality Alliance, Andrew Rigie; Commissioner, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Anne del Castillo

On March 10, Mayor Eric Adams released "Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City's Economic Recovery," which outlines the mayor's vision for the city's economic recovery and the future of the city's economy — all built on equity and inclusivity. MOME, and initiatives that address issues in the media and entertainment industries, are specifically mentioned in the plan signifying the sectors’ importance to this administration.

Those initiatives include strengthening and diversifying New York City’s film and television industry; developing New York City as a leading hub for digital game development; establishing a ‘Culture at Risk’ response team that will provide targeted assistance to those entities facing threats of closure; establishing an interagency ‘public realm’ working group to coordinate citywide policy and program implementation around the use of public spaces, and more. 

89 projects, led by female-identifying creatives, received finishing grants in the third round of the NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre. The $2 million awarded in this round brought the grand total of funding to $5.5 million, allocated to a total of 246 recipients.

This groundbreaking initiative, intended to address the underrepresentation of women in film and digital media, music, and theatre, is administered by New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). The full lists of categories, awarded projects, and industry panelists who made the selections can be found at nyc.gov/nycwomensfund.

On March 23, New York’s flagship esports organization ANDBOX announced that it has rebranded as “NYXL,” New York’s next global entertainment brand. Dedicated to creating experiences and developing content that connects the worlds of esports, gaming culture, and lifestyle for the discerning modern gamer, NYXL’s rebrand solidifies its commitment to New York by building its headquarters, XLHQ, in Manhattan.

Said MOME Commissioner del Castillo about the announcement, “NYXL’s rebranding and new Manhattan headquarters signal their commitment to digital game development in NYC, the creative capital of the world. A major economic driver, employer, and content creator, the digital game industry in NYC supports more than $2 billion in economic output and $762 million in wages, serving as an important component of our city’s economic recovery plan.”

For more information, please see this article in Variety. 

March 21 was graduation day for the 12th cycle of the ‘Made in NY’ Post Production Training Program. In partnership with Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, this program trains New Yorkers for entry-level positions in editing, graphic design, motion graphics, and visual effects.  At the time of the graduation, 90% of the cycle 11 graduates had been placed in jobs. 

The Post-Production training program is just one of MOME’s signature ‘Made in NY’ workforce development programs, created to help underserved and underrepresented groups. These programs were developed in consultation with employers to ensure participants gain relevant skills to build a strong pipeline of New York City talent. 

For more information on how to sign up for the next cycle, please visit https://bwiny.org/made-in-ny-pa-training-program/overview/.  

MOME congratulates the 'Made in NY' winners from the 94th Annual Academy Awards. Ariana DeBose took home the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in West Side Story, filmed in and around NYC just prior to the pandemic; and Summer of Soul, which examines the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. These two Oscar wins, out of 11 nominations, brings the grand total of award wins for 'Made in NY' productions and talent to 18 for the 2022 awards show season.

Said Commissioner del Castillo, "I applaud the diverse and original storytelling honored at this year's Oscars and throughout this 2022 awards season, where 'Made in NY' productions and talent were recognized with a total of 18 wins. Ariana DeBose's win for her role in the 'Made in NY' production West Side Story marks the first queer women of color to receive an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, a groundbreaking moment that is sure to inspire future generations of young actors; while Questlove's documentary Summer of Soul reveals the little-known story of one of the most iconic music moments that came to define NYC as a creative capital."

For a full list of the 2022 ‘Made in NY’ awards, please visit MOME's website. 

Recording Academy Executive Director, Nick Cucci; MOME Commissioner, Anne del Castillo

MOME was on hand to kick-off the Recording Academy’s NYC GRAMMY Nominee party on March 28. The event celebrated those that contribute to NYC’s music industry, which generates $21 billion in total economic impact, $5 billion in wages, and supports almost 60,000 jobs for New Yorkers.

The GRAMMY Awards were held on Sunday, April 3 in Las Vegas. In total, NYC talent received 45 awards, including Album of the Year to Jon Batiste, Best Music Film to Questlove, Best Global Music Performance to Arooj Aftab and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album to Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.

In addition, NYC creatives MC-Lyte, D-Nice and Rigo “Riggs” Morales were honored for their contributions to the industry at the Recording Academy’s inaugural Black Music Collective ceremony, held at Resorts World Las Vegas on Sat, April 2, 2022, the evening preceding the 64thAnnual GRAMMY Awards.

For a full list of NYC GRAMMYs winners, please visit MOME's website.

On March 30, Kim’s Video officially reopened at the Alamo Drafthouse in NYC. MOME was on hand to welcome Mr. Kim and his collection back to NYC after a 12-year journey to and from Italy, having originated in Manhattan’s East Village in 1986. 

The occasion signified that NYC remains a town that loves film and recognizes the importance of the film and television industries, which together generate $82 billion in economic activity and 185,000 jobs for New Yorkers. A NYC institution, Kim’s Video will serve as a community center for NYC’s cinephiles to celebrate, discuss, and enjoy film. 

The return of the Kim’s Video collection to NYC is a boon to our creative community and helps to cement NYC as the creative capital of the world. For more information, please see this article in Deadline. 

On March 16, the Office of Nightlife (ONL) and NYC & Company hosted a webinar for the nightlife community to learn how to reach local and global audiences through the power of citywide marketing campaigns. NYC & Company explained the benefits given to members, which includes added exposure through media and digital channels. Watch the webinar here.

On March 24, Ariel Palitz hosted City & State’s Above and Beyond event, that recognized 50 remarkable women who are improving New York, exhibit exemplary leadership in their fields and have made important contributions to society in the sectors of business, public service, media, nonprofit and organized labor. For a full list of the night’s honorees, please visit City & State.  

UPCOMING

The ReelAbilities Film Festival, which kicked off on April 7th and runs through the 13th, offers virtual and in-person events. ReelAbilities is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expression of people with disabilities. Check out the lineup of films at ReelAbilities' website.

The festival is proud to host its first ever film industry Accessibility Summit this year, taking place on the afternoons of April 11 and 12, where panels and presentations will be focused on elevating diversity, inclusion and accessibility in film. Industry leaders will share first-hand knowledge and experience providing participants with the pathways to deeper inclusion. For more info check out ReelAbilities's website.

MOME is proud to support The Katra Film Series, April 19-21, 2022. This year's Spring edition will be taking place at Regal Cinemas in Times Square with nightly screenings, panel discussions, afterparties and an awards gala ceremony, and will provide a fresh opportunity for filmmakers and artists to connect and collaborate. The NYC festival is a gateway for the world to experience the best of what New York has to offer within the film and digital industries. Katra Film Series is proud to announce a new partnership with Digital Ocean for the 2022 Spring Festival. For more on information on the official lineup and schedule please visit their website.

Join us May 11–14 for the 2022 PEN America World Voices Festival. Over four days, 70+ writers from 20+ countries will be featured in engaging talks, panels, readings, and performances in New York City’s Village and greater Los Angeles. From lively debates that delve into the most pressing issues of our time to intimate conversations on the beauty and power of stories, the 2022 World Voices Festival convenes voices from around the globe to help bring about new understandings to this moment of uncertainty. 

Follow the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment on social media for the latest on our upcoming events, initiatives, and programs: Twitter: @MadeinNY, Facebook: @MadeinNY, and Instagram: @Madein_NY. 

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
nyc.gov/mome

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