The Critics Academy, Indiewire’s initiative to assist aspiring film critics with the process of kickstarting their careers, continues to roll along. Launched at the 2012 Locarno Film Festival, the workshop was produced in partnership with the Film Society of Lincoln Center, which also co-hosted a local version that fall during the New York Film Festival. In January, the Sundance Film Festival will host a Critics Academy funded in part by the Roger Ebert Scholarship for Film Criticism. Earlier this month, we announced the finalists for the next Locarno Critics Academy, which begins August 6.
Once again, it’s not the last chance of the year for college-aged critics to take advantage of the opportunities provided by this project.
The second edition of Indiewire’s New York-based Critics Academy, a partnership with the Film Society of Lincoln Center scheduled to coincide with the 51st edition of NYFF, begins accepting applications today. Details for applicants can be found below.
For this year’s NYFF, which runs September 27 – October 13, six to eight participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a wide variety of international cinema while dealing with the practical challenges of covering a festival at the epicenter of New York’s film history, so we’ve decided to start the workshop in advance of the festival.
The 2013 NYFF Critics Academy will begin several days ahead of the festival, on September 23, with roundtable discussions continuing over the course of the next five days (participants will also have the option of attending press screenings earlier in the month). Participants will then work on covering the festival once it begins at the end of that week, with guidance from myself and members of the Film Society staff. The workshop will officially conclude on October 13, the last day of the festival.
In a very short amount of time, the multifaceted nature of the Critics Academy has allowed the workshop approach to have a direct impact on the way budding critics think about the opportunities to cover films around the world. In advance of this year’s NYFF, critics will engage in candid discussions with working critics, distributors, filmmakers and others directly impacted by their work to bring a greater context to its ongoing relevance. They will then provide written work for Indiewire’s Criticwire blog (a part of our Criticwire Network), the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s FilmLinc Daily, and other outlets to be arranged closer to the event. Film Comment magazine will also play a role in the workshop.
The Film Society continues to innovate with its multiple ways of impacting contemporary film culture — from festivals to first-run theaters and various educational initiatives, including this one. We couldn’t ask for a better partner in the task of continuing to assure that New York’s vibrant film culture continues to benefit from talented critics willing to take advantage of the cinematic riches it has to offer.
The application process begins today; the deadline is Friday, August 9.
Accepted critics will be notified by September 1. Emphasis will be placed on a diversity of voices, backgrounds and cinematic interests.
Requirements: Applicants must have completed a minimum of three years of undergraduate study or no more than two years of experience creating critical and/or journalistic content about movies. They must showcase a demonstrable interest in film criticism and/or film journalism as well as the ability to speak and write fluently in English. They must also live in New York City or the greater New York area. Applications must include the following:
• CV: A basic one-page resume
• Five writing samples about film. These can take the form of film reviews, scholarly papers, blog posts, college newspaper clips, podcasts or any other work that you think demonstrates your skills.
• A 500-word statement of intent. Tell us about your background and why you would make an ideal candidate for the Critics Academy. Make sure to note any particular interests (genres, national cinemas, etc.). Passion, strong writing skills and a deep knowledge of film history matter more than overall professional experience.
Please send applications to: CRITICSACADEMY@FILMLINC.COM
Questions? Please direct them to me at eric@indiewire.com.
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