Salt Lake Film Society Launches Media Accelerator Studio with Goal of Keeping Top Artists in Utah

MAST to offer fellowship program, labs, contests, and mentoring for
post-graduate animators, game designers, and content creators

SALT LAKE CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In pursuit of its vision to inspire artists, achieve high cultural
impact, and add to the quality of life in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Film
Society (SLFS) announces the creation of MAST, a forward-thinking
content development program for post-graduate animators, game designers,
and content creators that will harness the power of tech-enabled and
animation storytelling. MAST will significantly grow the SLFS Film
Fostering & Education Initiative, which has fostered 150 screenwriters,
4 digital directors, and produced cultural film tours. The program is
made possible by an endowment from the Robin M. Woods Legacy Fund for
Future Initiatives.

MAST will offer a fellowship program, on-site and online labs, and
contests, alongside mentoring, networking, and collaboration
opportunities, empowering artists to create art where they are,
and shift Utah and Salt Lake City from exporting artists to
exporting art. There will be a special emphasis on supporting
artists and projects that highlight diversity and social conscience.

MAST programs, labs, and events will be complementary to other available
curricula and workshops and will put special focus on forward-thinking
approaches to producing, distributing, and monetizing content, on artist
brand and platform building, and on thriving as an artist entrepreneur.
Industry subject matter experts are being tapped as mentors and
instructors.

An exclusive cohort of 2019 MAST fellows will be selected by invitation,
and from among the winners of three initial contests: People
of Earth, for writers; Micro-docs,
for documentarians; and Voices
Seen for animators. Additionally, all winners will receive cash
awards, and the Voices Seen winners will go on to animate a scene
in a MAST short produced and directed by (to-be-announced) marquee
industry talent.

MAST is founded by Tori A. Baker (CEO of SLFS) and Miles Romney. Mr.
Romney will lead the program under Ms. Baker’s direction. Mr. Romney is
an entertainment and tech entrepreneur (co-inventor of DigiClay
Animation, co-founder of Radiate Media, former CEO of the film
distributor Yekra), Broadway fundraiser and co-producer (Anastasia,
Waitress, Be More Chill, Once On This Island), and
award-winning writer.

A program advisory board has been recruited from among industry and
local influencers, and includes (alphabetically):

Jon Beutler (Alumni Manager Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business
Program, Director of Park City Business Resource Center);

John Dahlstrom (Executive VP and General Counsel of Wasatch
Properties, Executive Board and Board of Governors of the Salt Lake Area
Chamber of Commerce);

Kelly Loosli (Animation Program Director at Brigham Young
University);

Richard Scott (Dean of Salt Lake Community College’s School of
Arts, Communication & Media);

Sterling Van Wagenen (Co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival,
Founding Executive Director of the Sundance Institute, Partner in Pearl
Farm Entertainment, Professor of Film & Media Arts at the University of
Utah).

Additional advisory board members have been selected and will be
announced as the details of their involvement are finalized.

More information on contests and the program’s mission is available at www.MastStudio.org.
More details about the 2019 fellowship and event schedule will be
announced as they become available.

About Salt Lake Film Society

Salt Lake Film Society (SLFS), Utah’s home of independent cinema, is a
nonprofit (501 C-3) founded in 2001 with a mission to educate, advocate
and inform about, and through, cinema. As the premier film establishment
in Salt Lake County, SLFS presents a diversity of film exhibition and
related cultural events 365 days a year at their two art cinemas;
Broadway Centre Cinemas (300 S. 111 E., SLC), and Historic Tower Theatre
(900 S. 876 E., SLC). SLFS fosters local film talent and strengthens
film appreciation and participation under two initiatives. SLFS programs
and venues ensure that potent ideas and voices in film are accessible to
everyone in our community. SLFS is a Salt Lake County Zoo Arts & Parks
funded organization. For more information about how you can be a part of
Salt Lake Film Society, its programming and events please visit www.slfs.org.

Contacts

Media contact:
Miles Romney
(801) 305-3466
MastMediaContact@saltlakefilmsociety.org