Today, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Julie Menin, announced that launch of new initiatives to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting.

During a kickoff event at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, Mayor de Blasio announced renowned New York City entertainment leaders as MOME Ambassadors, including Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, John Leguizamo, Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal. Over the next 12 months, MOME’s Ambassadors will serve as representatives of NYC’s booming media and entertainment industries, promoting the contributions of artists, entertainers, and professionals to the City’s cultural identity and thriving creative economy.

At today’s event, MOME announced the launch of the following initiatives:

• 50 for 50: In celebration of the 50th anniversary, MOME will present 50 free events throughout the upcoming year that will provide an inside look at New York’s entertainment industry. All 50 events will be open to the public.
• Access Broadway: Over 1,000 free tickets to Broadway shows throughout the year for NYCHA residents.
• MOME Movie Matinees: A wide-ranging partnership to provide low-income New York City families in all five boroughs with over 1,000 tickets to attend feature films free of charge in theatres during the month of August 2016.
• Broadway in the Boroughs: In an effort to bring Broadway to new audiences, MOME will stage free performances in each borough this summer.
• ’50 Years of Magic’ mobile app: Free mobile app will provide up-to-date details on all of the 50th anniversary events throughout the year, as well as an interactive map featuring highlights from NYC’s expansive film and TV history.
• Industry Retrospective – 50 Years of TV and Film in NYC: New report highlighting achievements of NYC’s film and TV sectors, and their contributions to the City’s economy.

“Fifty years after the formation of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, the prospects for New York City’s film and TV industry have never looked brighter. The industry generates nearly $9 billion annually for the City’s economy – up 21 percent from just four years ago – and employs over 130,000 hardworking New Yorkers with good-paying jobs. We are thrilled to present this year of events and initiatives aimed at exposing New Yorkers from all backgrounds to everything that the media and entertainment sectors have to offer,” said Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Julie Menin.

MOME’s 50th anniversary initiatives and events all share the common theme of inclusion. Throughout the year, MOME will introduce initiatives and hold events that showcase a range of the City’s world-class entertainment offerings accessible to New Yorkers across the five boroughs.

A full breakdown of each new initiative follows below via press release:

“50-for-50” Free Events

In recognition of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting’s milestone 50th anniversary, MOME will present 50 free cultural opportunities throughout the five boroughs over the course of the year. These events will enable all New Yorkers to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations, and to gain exposure to all that the City’s media and entertainment communities have to offer. From film festivals to panel discussions and concerts, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Highlights of the 50-for-50 include:

• ‘Movies Under the Stars’ Decades Screenings: As part of the ‘Movies Under the Stars’ series, in partnership with the NYC Parks & Recreation Department, MOME is bringing 300 free film screenings to parks across NYC this summer, and will hold an additional 10 special pop-up events (two in each borough) featuring iconic films from each decade beginning in the 1960s. These screenings of films including West Side Story, The Wiz, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and I Am Legend will feature special guest appearances, family-friendly activities and giveaways.
• Variety Talks: “Made in NY” and Variety will present a series of free talks throughout the year with directors, producers and A-list talent from the worlds of television and film. These conversations, which will be moderated by Variety reporters, will focus on the role the city of New York has played over the years on the big and small screen. For those not in New York, these interviews will be available to watch onVariety.com.
• Ghetto Film School ‘The Roster’ Events: Ghetto Film School’s newest initiative, The Roster, is proud to partner with MOME on a series of events to promote diverse early career talent in the entertainment and media industry here in New York City, including programing during Independent Film Week and a showcase featuring Empire creator and renowned director Lee Daniels in Fall 2016.
• THR ‘TV Talks at 92Y: MOME will co-present a marquee “Made in NY” talk as part of The Hollywood Reporter’s “TV Talks” series this fall presented with the 92nd Street Y, featuring actors and showrunners from television’s most popular shows.
• PaleyFest – Made in NY: MOME will sponsor the Paley Center for Media’s fourth-annual PaleyFest, the ultimate TV fan festival giving audiences up-close, insider experiences with their favorite stars and creators of today’s biggest “Made in NY” TV shows through special screenings and cast discussions. Kicking off on October 6, 2016, MOME will support free access for New Yorkers to the festival’s viewing room.
• Summer Streets: In partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation’s ‘Summer Streets’ initiative – opening 7 miles of NYC streets for people to play, run, walk and bike during 3 Saturdays in August – MOME and NY On Location will be hosting free film walking tours, highlighting iconic films “Made in NY.
• “Made in NY” Talks: MOME will build upon its partnership with The Center for Communication with additional “Made in NY” Talks, a free panel series geared towards college students and individuals interested in careers in media and entertainment. There will be 10 panels over the course of the year, focusing on themes including media & tech; news in the 21st century; media and civil rights; and podcast production.
• ESPN 30 for 30: MOME and ESPN will co-present a free community screening of the newest30 for 30 film, “Doc & Darryl.” The event will take place on June 28 at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens and will feature a moderated discussion and audience Q&A with co-director Michael Bonfiglio and other specials guests to be confirmed.
• New York Comedy Festival: MOME will partner with the NY Comedy Festival to present ‘master classes,’ in which prominent New York comedians will return to their public high schools to speak with current students about topics including what it means to be a comedian, how they got their start, and challenges they’ve faced in their careers. There will be one event in each borough, and each event will be recorded to air on NYC Media.
• Industry Talks at Museum of the Moving Image: Starting in Fall 2016, MOME will co-present special “Made in NY” afternoon events at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, featuring conversations with leading film and TV industry professionals on the first Friday of each month—during which time admittance to MOMI is free and open to the public.
• Turner Classic Movies Presents an evening of Made in NY Films: On July 21, 2016, Turner Classic Movies will feature a night of on-air programming highlighting classic ‘Made in NY’ films, including Saturday Night Fever, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, and Dog Day Afternoon. Commissioner Menin will join TCM host Ben Mankiewicz as a guest programmer to discuss the films, the current state of the City’s film industry and the iconic locations that set New York City’s filmmaking history apart.

“50 Years of Magic” App

In tandem with the free programs and initiatives announced as part of the 50th anniversary, MOME will release “50 Years of Magic,” a new, free mobile app. The app will allow New Yorkers to engage with the anniversary celebrations in a variety of ways, including maps, listings and registration for 50-for-50 events throughout the five boroughs. The app also features an interactive map highlighting locations from “Made in NY” film and television productions, allowing users to learn more about iconic “Made in NY” scenes filmed in their neighborhood. Using the map, users can create personalized walking tours in their neighborhoods, and learn more about the City’s rich history in TV and film.

Access Broadway

As part of the anniversary celebrations, MOME will launch “Access Broadway”, a program that will provide 1,000 free tickets to low income New Yorkers to attend family-friendly Broadway shows. MOME has partnered with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and members of the Broadway League to provide 100 tickets per month to NYCHA residents for ten Broadway shows during the coming year. “Access Broadway” was made possible by the generous financial support of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 817, IATSE, and the Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Foundation.

“On behalf of the thousands of behind-the-scene workers we represent in the media and entertainment industries throughout New York, we congratulate the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting on their 50th anniversary. We thank them for the good work they do on behalf of our members and commend them for their continuous dedication in keeping the entertainment industry in NY a vibrant and critical part of the culture and economy,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb.

“Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 celebrates the 50th Anniversary of MOME. While we ourselves celebrate our 90th anniversary, our growth spurt didn’t really kick in until the creation of MOME. The members of Local 817 are proud to sponsor ‘Access Broadway’, bringing world class theatre to those New Yorkers and their families who ordinarily wouldn’t have the opportunity to enjoy,” said Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 President Thomas J. O’Donnell.

MOME Movie Matinees

MOME is proud to announce “MOME Movie Matinees,” which will provide low-income New York City families in all five boroughs with opportunities to attend feature films in theatres during the month of August 2016. In partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), movie vouchers will provided to NYCHA residents. Other partners for this initiative include Sony Pictures Entertainment, providing family-friendly films for the matinee screenings, and AMC Theatres, Bow Tie Cinemas, National Amusements, Inc., Reading International, Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group, whose theaters will host the free movie screenings.

Broadway in the Boros

For the first time, Broadway shows are being brought to neighborhoods across New York City through “Broadway in the Boros.” Featuring a showcase of vignettes performed by members of the current casts and orchestras from hit musicals including She Loves Me and Fiddler on the Roof, these lunchtime performances are free and open to the public. One performance will take place in each borough throughout the summer. The series kicks off at National Lighthouse Point Plaza in Staten Island at noon on Friday, June 24. Additionally, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway performances, many with live music accompaniment, will be featured throughout the City.

Industry Retrospective: 50 Years of TV and Film in NYC

In honor of the 50th anniversary, Boston Consulting Group will release a brochure highlighting the achievements of New York City’s film and TV industry, and its significant contributions to the City’s economy as a whole. The document will combine research and historical information on the history of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting; pivotal moments in the industry here in NYC; and a closer look into the recent TV and film boom in the City, including its economic impact on the City as a whole.

“I’m thrilled that Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment will be launching a number of initiatives to celebrate their 50th anniversary,” said Council Member James Vacca, Chair of the New York City Committee on Technology. “Between sponsoring events throughout the 5 boroughs, providing free Broadway and movie tickets for low-income new Yorkers, and developing a state-of-the-art mobile app, MOME is clearly going all out! I look forward to participating in events throughout the summer and thank Commissioner Menin for her leadership.”

For more details on all of the events described above, click here.