Executive Director Jeffrey Sharp welcomed the presence of Gotham-supported filmmakers from two of the organization’s most recent initiatives – the previously announced Fellows of the new Documentary Development Initiative in partnership with HBO Documentary Films, as well as announcing the latest five graduate student winners in the Focus Features & JetBlue Showcase.

Focus Features & JetBlue Short Film Showcase

The program is designed to discover and empower a diverse group of emerging filmmakers and foster multi-platform distribution of their work. The winners of the fourth annual Focus Features & JetBlue Short Film Showcase will receive a $10,000 grant and have their films shown for twelve months on JetBlue’s seatback entertainment systems under the “Gotham Selects” movie category and on Focus Features digital streaming platforms. The winning filmmakers will also receive ongoing mentorship and workshopping opportunities from The Gotham and “Every House” Soho House worldwide membership.

The winning filmmakers and shorts were:

● Yingtong Li, The Silent Whistle, Emerson College

● Taylor Mannsman, Obscura, University of Texas at Austin

● Olive Nwosu, Egúngún (Masquerade), Columbia University

● Shannon M. Sutherland, They Flew Like Blackbirds, Florida State University

● Cheryl Wong, Stigma, Style, New York University

The Gotham Awards, one of the leading honors for independent film and television, provides early acknowledgment to groundbreaking independent films and television series. Selected by distinguished juries and presented in New York City, the home of independent film, the Gotham Awards are the first honors of the film awards season. This public showcase honors the filmmaking community, expands the audience for independent films, and supports the work that The Gotham Film & Media Institute does behind the scenes throughout the year to bring such films to fruition.

The Gotham Film & Media Institute celebrates and nurtures independent film and media creators, providing career-building resources, access to industry influencers, and pathways to wider recognition. The organization, under the leadership of Executive Director and award-winning producer Jeffrey Sharp, fosters a vibrant and sustainable independent storytelling community through its year-round programs, which include Gotham Week, Gotham Labs, Filmmaker Magazine, the Gotham Awards, Gotham EDU, Owning It, and Expanding Communities.