OAN Partner Profile: Tribeca Film Institute
Simply put, Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) offers year-round funding and support to help get movies made. Its mission includes the cultural and economic revitalization of New York City and Lower Manhattan through arts-based initiatives, and the creation of innovative programs that draw on the power of film to promote understanding, tolerance and global awareness. We’re glad to welcome TFI to our ever-expanding Open Arts Network.
Please give us a brief history of the Tribeca Film Institute.
The Tribeca Film Institute was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in the wake of September 11th to support the cultural and economic revitalization of New York City and Lower Manhattan. TFI’s first initiative was the Tribeca Film Festival, which quickly grew into a major cultural event focused on creating platforms for filmmakers to reach the best possible audience for their work. In 2003, the Tribeca Film Institute expanded to year-round programming and became a separate not-for-profit entity, independent of the Festival.
What services and programs do you offer to filmmakers?
TFI provides year-round fiscal and professional support of media artists; develops new audiences; and uses film as an educational tool for public school students. We support individual media artists who are creating artistically and socially significant work through our artist support programs: Tribeca All Access, TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund, Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, The Reframe Collection and the TFI Latin America Media Arts Fund.
What programs do you offer to young filmmakers?
We are a recognized leader in the youth media education field. TFI youth education programming fosters the artistic and personal growth of young people from culturally diverse backgrounds and in communities often bypassed by arts and media education initiatives. Through in-school arts education, hands-on film making training, screenings and pre-professional development, our programs seek to proactively redress the great “digital divide” which separates young people based on family income and resources.
What is one fact about your organization that you wish was more widely known?
Though the Tribeca Film Institute presents programming during the Tribeca Film Festival, we are a separate organization that serves filmmakers at all stages of their artistic development, year round.
Have you seen an increase in demand for any of your services in particular during these tough economic times?
We have consistently had large numbers of applicants for our funding initiatives, but certainly filmmakers are seeking out any source of funding as traditional models are changing.
What factors/forces do you see as having the greatest influence on film making today – Economics? YouTube? Styles of recently-made films?
Filmmakers are investigating a variety of methods for delivery of their stories. They are responding to the challenges of the changing technology. This provides opportunities for experimentation which did not previously exist.
When and how do you know that you are succeeding in your mission?
Our success is measured by the success of our program participants, from youth having opportunities to learn about film making and become more media literate, to filmmakers being given support which enables their work to be made. We succeed when our constituents succeed.
How can people get involved with the Tribeca Film Institute?
Filmmakers of all ages can find opportunities to develop their work within TFI’s programming. Please check our website for details about our initiatives and how to apply.
Tags: film, Open Arts Network
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