TV/Film

The New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) hosted a night of collaboration and discovery at the first ever MOME Finance Lab on Friday, October 28, 2016 from 4-7pm at The Roxy Hotel in Tribeca, New York City. Produced by Winston Baker and in conjunction with First Time Fest NYC, this special invitation only event was an opportunity for filmmakers from 57 nominated film projects to connect and meet with potential financiers for their films. The aim of the MOME Finance Lab was to cultivate films in New York City made by, about, and for women.

Barbara Byrne, Vice Chairman, Barclays Investment Bank, delivered an inspiring keynote on raising money for female-led films. In 2016, she debuted as a co-producer of Equity, the first female-driven Wall Street film. During the three-hour networking event, the invited filmmakers pitched their project to some of the industry’s leading film financiers. Filmmakers were asked to keep their pitches to 8 minutes, including any media (trailers or other supporting video). They then answered questions from 2-3 financiers. After the pitches, filmmakers were invited to join a networking reception with all of the financiers, members of our selection committee, and other industry leaders.

Thank you to the Made in NY Media Center by IFP for hosting two workshops on film financing and how to pitch film projects for financing in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, to Winston Baker for producing this Finance lab and organizing the stellar group of financiers, and to the 30 financiers that participated in the inaugural Finance Lab. Special thanks to the selection committee for mining through many film projects:

FILM FATALES
Leah Meyerhoff

FIRST TIME FEST
Johanna Bennett, Founder
Mandy Ward, Founder

FIRELIGHT MEDIA
Marcia Smith, President
Mbali Ndlovu, Documentary Lab

MADE IN NY MEDIA CENTER BY IFP
Joana Vicente, Executive Director
Annie Laurie Malarkey, Senior Programs Producer

NEW YORK WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION
Terry Lawler, Executive Director
Katie Chambers, Community Engagement Coordinator

PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA
Patrick Gerety, Director of Programs
Rachel Watanabe-Batton, Women’s Impact Network Co-Chair

TRIBECA FILM INSTITUTE
Molly O-Keefe, Director, Scripted Programming

WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, EAST
Dana Weissman, Director of Programs
Jenna Bond, Member Services Manager

MOME FINANCE LAB PARTNERS: FIRST TIME FEST, THE ROXY HOTEL, and SCAD.

MOME Finance Lab does not discriminate based on race or gender. All programs and activities of the MOME Finance Lab are open to all eligible applicants, without regard to race, gender, national origin or other characteristic protected by law.