Peter Anthony Andrews,
President of Table 21 Films

The Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) School for Business Media Management Program is thrilled to announce that its Annual Short Film Festival will return for a fourth year on April 4th and 5th.  Peter Anthony Andrews, one of the most accomplished producers in 20th century film and television, will be the keynote speaker of this year’s festival.  Mr. Andrews began his career at Harry Belafonte Enterprises and went on to be the Vice President of NBC Entertainment.  His tenure at NBC resulted in numerous Emmy award-winning hit shows for the network, including Little House on the Prairie, Columbo and Chips. Andrews was also a Senior Vice President at Columbia Pictures, Executive Vice President of MHM Studios and a production consultant on the 1989 film Glory, starring Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman.

Dr. Tilokie Depoo,
Dean, School for Business

“The festival has become an annual opportunity for students to get practical, hands‑on experience in the business and management of planning and producing a multi-day film festival with a global reach,” says Dr. Tilokie Depoo, Dean School for Business.  “We are truly excited to welcome Mr. Andrews to speak about his experiences in film and television and provide insight into challenges facing filmmakers and business managers in these rapidly changing times in media.”

The two-day conference themed “Reflections of a Dream” will include a moderated movie industry and filmmakers panel on April 4 followed by the screening of the selected short films the next day.  On both days, the events begin at 6PM.  The festival is a forum to celebrate both the business and creative aspects of the film industry, as well as a space for those involved to greater master and learn their craft.  The event grew out a classroom project, developed into a platform for burgeoning filmmakers, and provides real‑time project management experience for the school’s media management MBA students.

“Since last semester, students have been working on aspects of planning, branding, and promoting the festival through various class projects, as well as soliciting sponsors and film submissions from national and international filmmakers,” says Prof. Kristie Velasco, Coordinator of the Media Management MBA Program for MCNY.

In addition to his other credits, Mr. Andrews has represented several major clients in finance, distribution, marketing and packaging content for global exploitation in all markets and media and is the founder and former director of the Warner Brothers Women and Minority Writers Workshop, the longest running and most successful workshop for writers in Hollywood history.  He currently runs Table 21 Films, an independent film production company that develops and produces narrative and documentary films.

MCNY’s “Reflections of a Dream” Short Film Festival is free and open to the public.  Additional information, including winning films from prior years, is available on our website at www.mcny.edu/filmfestival.

Contact:  Camille Gray (212) 219-7121  Camille.Gray@uwgny.com