The annual ProMotion Pictures Film Competition at New York University’s (NYU’s) Stern School of Business is a joint effort by Stern and NYU’s Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television and sponsored by a different corporation each year. In this competition, Stern and Kanbar students develop short films based on the sponsor’s specifications regarding content, length, and brand message. The films are judged by a panel of advertising and marketing executives, and the winning teams are given access to the resources of partnering media, entertainment, and communications companies to assist in screenplay production. The finished films—which are debuted at New York’s Tribeca Film Center—may be used by the sponsoring brand as part of the parent company’s advertising campaign. The 2013–2014 competition sponsors were The Innocence Project and Subway Fresh Artists, and past sponsors have included Axe, Heineken, Johnnie Walker, Subway, Verizon, and Volvo. Winners can receive cash payouts, including $5,000 for “The Brand Prize” and $10,000 for “The People’s Choice Prize.” In 2014, two winning teams created apps for Spotify, and the winning filmmaker created a five-minute short piece for Armani Eyewear.
This competition is just one part of Stern’s Entertainment, Media, and Technology (EMT) specialization. The school also supports students interested in Entertainment and Media careers with the Media, Entertainment, and Sports Association (which sponsors a three-day career trek to Los Angeles) and an annual trip to the Cannes Film Festival. Those interested in EMT will find much that caters to their needs.
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