Ghetto Film School

The GFS Fellows Program is 100% free for our students. Because we believe that finances shouldn’t be a gatekeeper to creativity. And we’re only able to achieve this feat through the support of our incredible partners and donors. GFS works with a number of established brands across the entertainment industry, but today we’d like to spotlight just three, our tremendous Benefit supporters: Sony, Amazon MGM Studios, and Disney. The GFS Benefit represents our largest single night of giving per year. And this year’s event, presented by Sony and sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios and Disney, was no exception. We garnered our largest one-time donation from MacKenzie Scott in the form of $5 million, and we’re so grateful to MacKenzie, her team, and the supporters who made our Benefit possible. Thank you to everyone for bringing up the future of film.

At GFS, our mission is all about access for our Fellows. Access to a university-level film curriculum, access to the latest filmmaking tools, and access to the same opportunities and environments as the pros. That’s why spotlight moments, like this one from our colleagues at Variety, are so vital to us. The more people who know about GFS, the more we grow, and the more we’re able to offer to our student Fellows and our alumni ROSTER members. Because film should be for everyone. And we all benefit when fresh, creative, new voices enter the mix. Check out the coverage from our recent Benefit Event last Thursday (10/10), at the home of our gracious hosts, Veronica Smiley Grazer and Brian Grazer. This year’s event was presented by Sony and sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios and Disney. And a hearty thank you to MacKenzie Scott for the very generous donation to continue our mission. Our 2024 Benefit Host Committee included: J.J. Abrams & Katie McGrath, Danielle Brooks, Quinta Brunson, Natasha Lyonne, Rooney Mara, Sandra Oh, Keke Palmer, Joaquin Phoenix, Jerelyn Rodriguez, Yara Shahidi, Tiffany R. Warren, and Chloé Zhao. https://lnkd.in/eMKC3aTy

Our partners at Wocstar Academy are accepting applications for their next cohort! Alongside access to office hours and one-on-one sessions with industry experts, the curriculum covers how investors think and offers insider tips on raising capital - providing invaluable resources and connections that help to grow your business. The next cohort starts on October 10, and applications are open until September 30. If you're serious about taking your business to the next level and accessing a VC network designed for you, apply now! https://lnkd.in/dV24RisK 📅Application Deadline: September 30 📅Program Dates: October 10 – December 5, 2024 Wocstar | B Corp Certified

Congratulations to two of our Wocstar GFS Academy graduates, Tia Robinson, founder of Vertical Activewear, and Arielle Brown, founder of Bea's Bayou Skincare, on their recent grant award from Black Enterprise! Love to see #wocstars crushing it!

GFS Alum David Mansour sat down with Matthew Hiltzik (President, CEO, Hiltzik Strategies / GFS Board Member) to discuss his impressive career, what he’s learned from numerous exceptional clients, and to explore what PR principles the public can learn to improve their ability to express themselves effectively. https://lnkd.in/eyB3sA5a

GFS New York recently had the pleasure of premiering the debut films from our inaugural “Setting the Stage” cohort, and we couldn’t be more proud. In 2023, Ghetto Film School launched “Setting the Stage,” an immersion into the art and craft of directing as a filmmaker. Fellows took part in a weekly program which combined Ghetto Film School’s award-winning visual storytelling curriculum with a novel, specially crafted curriculum that focuses on directing techniques and practical exercises working with actors. Fellows learned from industry experts, visited live sets and performances, and received free college consulting, all in service of honing their artistry and creating their own original films. At GFS, we’re big on promoting growth: whether that’s the development of an individual filmmaker’s capacity for creation, or the expansion of our offerings and programs overall. And our favorite moments always involve sharing the art of filmmaking with new friends and supporters. We are delighted to count “Setting the Stage” among our latest GFS NY programs, and congratulations to our STS Fellows on your first premiere of many! *To experience our premiere, visit: https://lnkd.in/eD6gHGTG *And apply for the GFS NY and LA Fellows Programs at: ghettofilm.org/fellows

FESTIVAL ALERT! Our GFS LA International Thesis Film "Stronger" has been accepted to the 17th annual National Film Festival for Talented Youth – NFFTY Big congrats to director Natalia Pacheco and the entire crew who travelled to Reykjavík to produce this heartfelt coming of age story set amid the colorful culture of Icelandic Strongmen. Special thanks to our Iceland Thesis partners Dell Technologies and Sensor TV for their invaluable support. This marks two years running that GFS LA Thesis Films have played the prestigious NFFTY (National Film Festival for Talented Youth) in Seattle, the previous being "Algorithm" in 2023. We are so excited to screen “Stronger” as part of their opening night gala on April 25th.

You might have heard the Fair Education Alliance are recruiting 15 new members to join our Youth Steering Group? 👥⚡Well, there is ONE WEEK LEFT to apply!   We know the start of the new year can be a bit of whirlwind so we've extended the deadline to apply until Monday 15th January at 11am. We hope this gives everyone a few extra days to find out more, ask questions, share and either write or record their application.   ⭐ Are you aged 14-25? 🏫 Have you experienced the education system in England? ✊ Do you want to work to make education fair?   If you answered yes, now is your chance join the Fair Education Alliance’s Youth Steering Group! For those of you in my network who work with young people who would say yes to these questions, please share this impactful opportunity with them.   You’d work with a fantastic group of passionate young people to bring about change in the education system by leading your own campaigns and engaging directly with decision makers. You also get the opportunity to develop transferrable skills, make friends and get access to paid youth leadership roles.   If you are still not sure, check out the pictures below to hear why our current Youth Steering Group members think you'd love it!   No previous experience required, and priority is given to applicants who have faced barriers to a fair education and/or are new to volunteering / youth social action. This year we are particularly keen to encourage applications from looked after young people, care leavers and those with experience of alternative provision.   ⭐️ Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/ecDyBkS8. 📅 Deadline to Apply: Monday 15th January 2024 at 11am.