Attention aspiring female film critics! Are you ready to break the glass ceiling that is the dudeocracy of film writers? Are you ready to change the dismal numbers of female film critics out there? Then you must apply for The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s 2016 New York Film Festival Critics Academy.
The stats don’t lie. According to a study called “Thumbs Down 2016: Top Film Critics and Gender,” conducted by Dr. Lauzen and the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film at San Diego State University, men outnumbered women in every film writing job title category considered. Men comprised 87 percent of contributors, 75 percent of freelancers, 74 percent of film critics, 72 percent of individuals with other titles (e.g., television critics, features editors, etc.), and 59 percent of staff writers.
So if you want to change these numbers and be a kickass female film critic at this year’s New York Film Festival, which takes place from September 30-October 16, then read through the info below, provided by The Film Society of Lincoln Center, and get your application in by August 1!
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is now accepting entries for the 2016 New York Film Festival Critics Academy, the fifth annual workshop for aspiring film critics offered during the festival (September 30 — October 16). The Academy is a co-presentation of Film Comment magazine, a publication of Film Society of Lincoln Center, and IndieWire, with support from the latter’s parent company, Penske Media.
The Critics Academy was designed to nurture promising writers and provide a valuable platform to launch their careers. It was started in 2012 at the Locarno Film Festival as an IndieWire initiative and subsequently produced for the New York Film Festival that year. Past participants have gone on to write for a wide range of print and online publications, including The Atlantic, Brooklyn Magazine, Film Comment, The Guardian, Hyperallergic, IndieWire, L.A. Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, National Review, New Republic, The New York Review of Books, Paper magazine, The Paris Review, Remezcla, Reverse Shot, Vice, The Village Voice, and Vulture, and several have become involved in film programming.
For the 2016 edition, 10 critics will work under the guidance of editors from Film Comment and IndieWire, as well as leaders at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Participants will have the opportunity to attend NYFF press screenings and cover the festival in a variety of ways, from quick-turnaround film reviews to more in-depth articles and interviews for potential publication onFilm Comment’s website and IndieWire. Participants will also partake in candid roundtable discussions with working critics and other members of the industry to put their work in context.
Though in the past the New York Film Festival Critics Academy has only been open to applicants in the New York area, this year the Film Society is pleased to announce the potential for limited slots for those from other parts of the United States. While there is no specific age limit for applicants, the ideal candidate should have completed at least two years of college or have concluded academic studies no more than five years ago.
The application process begins today! The deadline to send entries is August 1. Accepted critics will be notified by August 22. Emphasis will be placed on strength of writing and a diversity of voices, backgrounds, and film interests.
Requirements: Applicants must have completed a minimum of three years of undergraduate study or have no more than two years of experience creating critical and/or journalistic content about movies. They must demonstrate an interest in film criticism and/or film journalism as well as the ability to speak and write fluently in English.
Applications must include the following:
- CV: A basic, one-page resume
- Three articles or film reviews written in English. Please refrain from including lengthy academic papers or other scholarly materials that may not give an accurate reflection of the applicant’s capacity to succeed in this workshop.
- 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.org.
