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Jacob Burns Film Center Announces Free Fellowships for Aspiring High School Filmmakers in Spring 2025

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February 10, 2025

The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) has announced the launch of two intensive fellowships for high school students in 10th and 11th grades as part of its Director’s Cut High School Fellowship program. These groundbreaking fellowships, offered at no cost to participants, provide a unique opportunity for young creatives and aspiring filmmakers to learn from industry leaders while gaining hands-on experience in either documentary or narrative filmmaking.

Director’s Cut: Documentary Filmmaking is presented in collaboration with NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Imagine Entertainment, while Director’s Cut: Narrative Filmmaking is presented in collaboration with NYU Tisch School of the Arts. In addition to Documentary and Narrative Filmmaking, we offer Director’s Cut: Emerging Screenwriters fellowships (English and Spanish language sections) in the fall.

Applications are now open for these competitive programs. Designed to identify and select the most dedicated and enthusiastic candidates through an application and interview process, each fellowship fosters the creativity, technical skills, and industry knowledge of participants, preparing them for the next stage of their filmmaking journey.

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Key Features of Both Fellowships:

Generous stipends to cover transportation and potential lost wages.
Access to industry-standard equipment and software.
Mentorship from NYU Tisch faculty and industry advisors from Imagine Entertainment.
Development of a professional-grade portfolio for use in college and scholarship applications.
50+ hours of hands-on, college-level coursework

The deadline to apply for both fellowships is Sunday, February 23. Full application details are available on the JBFC website.

Imagine Entertainment: A New Partner in Transformative Education

Imagine Entertainment, the acclaimed production company co-founded by JBFC Board Member Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, has joined forces with JBFC to provide unparalleled industry insight and real-world experience for students in the Director’s Cut: Documentary Filmmaking Fellowship. Known for producing iconic films and groundbreaking documentaries, Imagine Entertainment’s collaboration ensures students will engage with industry professionals at the forefront of storytelling and media creation. As part of the program, fellows will participate in virtual sessions and visit Imagine Entertainment’s offices, offering an inside look at the creative process and operations of a leading entertainment company.

Program Details and Highlights: Hosted on the JBFC campus at the Media Arts Lab (405 Manville Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570), both fellowships will be capped at 10 students and led by instructor Anthony Q. Artis, Adjunct Faculty at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Director’s Cut: Documentary Filmmaking

Dates: March 22 – June 14, 2025 (10 Saturdays)
Participants will create a collaborative short documentary, attend four Zoom sessions with Imagine Entertainment experts, and visit Imagine Entertainment offices for a production tour. The program culminates with a showcase screening and Q&A at JBFC Theater.

Director’s Cut: Narrative Filmmaking

Dates: March 23 – June 8, 2025 (8 Sundays)
Participants will collaborate as part of a crew to produce a short narrative film, learning essential skills through hands-on demonstrations, test shoots, and screenings. The program culminates with a showcase screening and Q&A at JBFC Theater.

Ron Howard, a longtime JBFC Board Member and passionate supporter of its education programs, shared his thoughts on the new partnership: “The Jacob Burns Film Center has always been a leader in providing transformative educational experiences, and I’m thrilled to see this new collaboration with Imagine Entertainment take shape. By connecting these talented students with Imagine, we’re expanding their learning opportunities and providing them invaluable insight into the industry. It’s exciting to think about the creative voices and future filmmakers that will emerge from this program.”

“This fellowship offers an incredible opportunity for high school students to learn from industry leaders,” said Mary Jo Ziesel, JBFC Executive Director. “With Imagine Entertainment’s decades of award-winning expertise and the renowned academics of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, students will gain unparalleled insights and develop professional skills to shape their futures in film and media. By making this program free and providing stipends to offset costs, we are removing financial barriers and ensuring access for the most dedicated and enthusiastic young filmmakers.”

Learn more about the Director’s Cut High School Fellowships and how to apply here.

About the NYU Tisch School of the Arts
For over 50 years, the NYU Tisch School of the Arts has drawn on the vast artistic and cultural resources of New York City and New York University to create an extraordinary training ground for artists, scholars, and innovators with course offerings in acting, dance, cinema studies, collaborative arts, design for stage and film, dramatic writing, film and television, game design, interactive media arts, interactive telecommunications, moving image archiving and preservation, musical theatre writing, performance studies, photography, public policy and recorded music. Learn more at www.tisch.nyu.edu.

About the Jacob Burns Film Center
The Jacob Burns Film Center is a nonprofit arts and education cultural institution located on a three-building campus in the New York Metro area. The JBFC brings the transformative power of film to the surrounding community through unique programming and discussion, support for working artists through residencies, and educational initiatives. Since opening in 2001, millions of people have enjoyed the best of current American and foreign cinema, unique film series, and special events at the five-screen theater complex. A pioneer in visual literacy, the JBFC offers educational experiences for school-aged students and adults at our state-of-the-art Media Arts Lab and Theater.

For more information, visit burnsfilmcenter.org, FB: @JacobBurnsFilmCenter, and Instagram: @JBFC_pville.

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