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My placement with the Claims Conference in New York’s film allocations department, was supervised by Film Associate, Abigail Prade. I was tasked with researching the distribution information pertaining to about 100 Holocaust films, all funded via grants awarded by the Claims Conference. I collected this data via internet research as well as interviews with filmmakers. I then organized it into a large document, as well as adding it to the organization’s database. At the same time, I compiled a filmmaker resource list of distributors, sponsors, grants and festivals that can be used as a reference for future filmmakers.

The goal was for the film department to have this information on hand to be able to easily review their catalogue; identifying how many people may have been able to see their funded films and, in effect, to assess their impact. I was also given the opportunity to participate in film application review meetings, learning a great deal about the rigorous process.

Although the internship was entirely online, it was the shift to remote work due to the Corona virus that enabled my placement in New York in the first place. Despite working in a different time zone in which most of the day I was by myself, my numerous afternoon meetings with my supervisor, as well as the whole department team, helped me to feel involved and engaged with the Claims Conference and the work I was doing.

Throughout my placement I felt very strongly about the value of my work, and was constantly learning more about the film distribution process and the inner workings of the film world, as well as considering film heritage’s importance in memory preservation and transmission.

 

Class of 2021. HUM Major.