NYC Launches a $5 Million Film Grant for Projects That Are 'For and About Women'

The New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment plans to address the underrepresentation of women in Hollywood (aka, Operation Hire More Women) with the launch of a new grant initiative.

Deadline reports that $5 million dollars has been earmarked for film and theater projects that are “for and about women”:

“Women are not a niche market,” said MOME Commissioner Julie Menin. “It’s incredibly discouraging that while women comprise 52% of the city’s population, less than 10% of the top grossing films are directed by women. I hope that our efforts pave the way for others to follow suit, and look forward to seeing these initiatives make a substantive impact on filmed entertainment in New York City.”

The initiative also includes opportunities through a new screenwriting contest for NYC-based women that could lead to a series on NYC’s Channel 25, which is also committing a block of programming to women and their “perspectives.” They’re offering pitch workshops to women filmmakers and a conference for networking, connecting these filmmakers to people who can actually finance their work. The Office also plans to release reports on gender inequity for film directors.