The ArtCenter recently announced some great news for Miami’s fledgling film community.
Since Governor Scott killed tax breaks for filmmakers, there are hardly, if any, major productions happening in Miami and Florida. Those cuts (at the beset of the Georgia based Koch brothers) have made Atlanta a hub for the industry. But guess what? With no offense to Atlanta, Miami is more beautiful on film. Our tropical paradise is more beautiful than Los Angeles.
Just look at Moonlight for a recent example.
Now, thanks to Miami’s ArtCenter, a new initiative to strengthen Miami’s growing indie film community is being launched. Their Cinematic Arts Residency will offer two Miami-Dade filmmakers $50,000 each to produce a micro-budget feature film.
According to their newsletter, “What makes this residency unique is the farm to table aspect of it: our filmmakers will be able to conceptualize, shoot and screen their features in a theater – without ever leaving Miami.
To us, this residency is filling a gap in our local filmmaking ecosystem. Many of our indie filmmakers have had incredible success taking their short films to some of the country’s top festivals – from SXSW to Sundance and others. We hope this Cinematic Arts Residency will help them make the leap into feature films, that tell authentic Miami stories and demonstrate the talent we have here.”
ArtCenter Wants Authentic Miami Stories
YAS!
This is also our main mission at The Jitney.
To tell real human Miami stories. Stories that you do not see in the mainstream media. Real Miami is trending and this only helps.
In addition, the connections running the initiative are top notch. Our longtime colleague from The Miami Herald’s Street days, Jason Jeffers is leading the program. And O Cinema’s Kareem Tabsch and Borshct alumni Andrew Hevia will work with residents throughout the whole process.
Good vibes all around.
Thank you, ArtCenter.
Let’s show the world that Miami is more than South Beach.
Applications are being accepted now through Sept. 18.
