2024 ANNUAL REPORT

Reel Works braids peerless arts education with workforce development, guiding young people from their first film to first job. Our success in 2024 has sparked remarkable growth across all our programs.

1,587 YOUTH SERVED

Data reflects only students who submitted demographic information. Some students opted not to disclose details about their race, gender, income, and other background characteristics.

“Reel Works gave me the skills and the confidence to create my first film. My instructors taught me everything: filming, interviewing, and editing. But most importantly, they gave me a community that believed in me.” - Carlos Paula | Dual Language Doc Lab Program & Career Discovery: PA Training Alumni

AFTER SCHOOL

Total Served
Badges Issued
Mentor/Mentee Matches

WATCH AWARD-WINNING STUDENT FILMS

DUAL LANGUAGE DOC LAB

Our inaugural Dual Language Doc Lab program, made possible by NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns, guided five English-Spanish speaking students in creating documentaries about their cultural identities.

The program's success was celebrated at the 2024 Reel Works Film Festival, where two of our bilingual filmmakers took home awards.

EXPERIENCE BILINGUAL STORYTELLING

In 2024, Reel Works in Schools served 675 students, received funding from 26 partners—including 14 City Council Member discretionary awards, the Civic Engagement Commission, DYCD, and Aim High—and distributed 1,549 badges.

WATCH STUDENT FILMS

MEDIAMKRS means jobs for historically marginalized
communities.

MediaMKRS offers underrepresented communities comprehensive training, work experience, networking, and unparalleled access needed for a thriving career in the media industry.

MediaMKRS graduates are talented, trained and ready for work - and employers are responding:

“No comparable program exists anywhere in New York. As a fashion industry veteran, I know the available resources - and without this program, there simply isn't a path forward.”

- Porsche Snowden, graduate of HBO's The Gilded Age / Local USA 829 Costume Department Training

Since MediaMKRS Launch in July 2019:

Participants
Internship Placements
Industry Trainings
Crafts

Listen to the voices of the next generation of media makers!

THE STUDIO AT REEL WORKS bridges education and industry by hiring young filmmakers for professional client productions. In 2024, we created significant career opportunities for 26 students and alumni through external projects, while producing 155 internal videos.

Clients include: