YouthFX
Empower * Inspire * Create
17 Wilbur Street * Albany, NY 12202
www.youthfx.org

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 2, 2017

Contact:
Bhawin Suchak
Youth FX Program Director
518-526-5586
bhawin@youthfx.org
www.youthfx.org

Youth FX Special Screening of As You Are 

A little more than a year after premiering to rave reviews and winning the Special Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, As You Are will premiere in the place where it all started, Albany, NY.

As You Are was directed and co-written by Albany native, 24-year-old Miles Joris-Peyrafitte. Joris-Peyrafitte has been heralded as a new talent by the film community, who says he promises to be a filmmaker to watch for many years.

As You Are will open in Albany with a special screening event on March 3, 7pm at Spectrum 8 Theaters. Joris-Peyrafitte, co-writer Madison Harrison and producer Joseph Mastantuono, all Albany natives, will participate in a Q&A after the film. The trio will be joined by cast members Mary Stuart Masterson (Benny & Joon, Fried Green Tomatoes, Some Kind of Wonderful) and Owen Campbell (The Americans, Boardwalk Empire). As You Are will be showing at the Spectrum 8 Theaters for a full week. As You Are opened in New York City last week and in Los Angeles and Seattle this week.

This special event will be a benefit for Youth FX, the teen filmmaking program that helped during the Albany shoot.

At the age of 13, when Joris-Peyrafitte was just a budding filmmaker, he was mentored and provided resources and guidance by his then-teacher, Bhawin Suchak, who would go on to form the Youth FX program to help teach filmmaking to other young people in Albany. After he convinced his producers to shoot in the Capital Region, thanks in part to the 40% tax credit program offered by New York State, Joris-Peyrafitte was determined to get the Youth FX program involved to give back to the place he got his start.

The screening is also sponsored by Film Albany, the local film commission, a program under the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Film Albany is helmed by Debby Goedeke. As You Are participated in the NYS Film Tax Credit Program administered by the Empire State Development Corporation.

"In addition to the incredible locations, welcoming atmosphere of the film community in the Capital Region, and affordable amenities, the 40% tax credit was a huge incentive for the low-budget, indie film production," said Debby Goedeke, Albany Film Commissioner. "With Governor Andrew Cuomo's continued support, New York State has a very robust Film Tax Credit Program and provides incentives to qualified production companies that produce feature films, television series, relocated television series, television pilots and television movies, and/or incur post-production costs associated with the original creation of these film productions."

The NYS Tax Credit has been instrumental to many filmmakers like Joris-Peyrafitte, and filmmakers continue to contribute to the state economy. In fact, according to a recent study by Camoin Associates, the film industry created 70,000 jobs, $12.2 billion in production-related spending in New York State and approximately $4.1 billion in wages between 2015-2016.

Governor Cuomo recently unveiled a state budget that includes an extension of the state's film production tax credit up to 2022.

About YouthFX:
Founded in 2008, Youth FX puts the tools of digital media production in the hands of youth with guidance from skilled artists, enabling them to express their voice and create positive change in their lives and their communities. The primary mission of Youth FX is to work with diverse groups of young people from communities that have been historically under-served and in need of opportunities for training and engagement in emerging media technologies. Youth FX develops leadership, creativity, and critical thinking, through the collaborative process of digital filmmaking and media production. Our young filmmakers create documentaries and short films that are a reflection of their worlds, and many of them have screened and won awards at major film festivals across the country and the region, as well as airing on PBS, WMHT and public access television. To learn more about our program and watch some of our award-winning films please visit our website: http://www.youthfx.org/