Congratulations Tara Clune!

By JBFC Marketing Assistant Sarah Soliman 

Former Valentine and Clark Emerging Artist Fellow, Tara Clune, has been selected as a Sundance Ignite Fellow. In keeping with their commitment to emerging voices in film, this new initiative from the Sundance Institute focuses on young independent filmmakers, age 18-24. As part of her year-long fellowship, Tara will attend the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, meet with filmmakers, and receive mentorship from Sundance Institute alumni.

Tara took the time to say what this fellowship means to her: “I’m very grateful to be heading to Sundance this year. The Ignite program is a fantastic opportunity to meet with other filmmakers my age, and workshop ideas with some incredible and experienced artists. I hope to further develop my voice as an artist over the next year, and I think the festival will be a great launching off point on that journey.”

The Valentine and Clark Emerging Artist Fellowship here at the Jacob Burns Film Center works with artists under the age of 30 to develop their filmmaking skills. During her fellowship with us Tara wrote, directed, and animated “Hourglass,” a stop-motion styled short about a young girl who struggles making friends, and decides to build one from found objects in her home. On the strength of her work here at JBFC, we submitted Tara for acceptance into the Ignite Fellows Program, and are excited on her behalf about this unique opportunity.

Sean Weiner, Program and Curriculum Developer at the JBFC says: “In nominating Tara, we championed a member of our community who models our dual mission as both an exciting emerging creative and a maker who deeply values the importance of education. To see her selected as one of only fifteen awarded this prestigious experience makes everyone here at the JBFC incredibly proud.”

As an Emerging Artist Fellow, Tara got the chance to work closely with members of our education staff, and these interactions grew into an interest in staying on at the JBFC as a teacher herself. We’re looking forward to the added experience Tara’s new fellowship will allow her to bring to our community.

To see some of Tara’s work for the Burns, check out her trailer for our Deadly SINema series.

We are currently accepting applications HERE for The Emerging Artist Fellowship for the summer of 2016. The deadline for applications is May 15.

The Valentine and Clark Emerging Artist Fellowship is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Westchester Community Foundation.