LOS ANGELES – Jun 18, 2025 – The New York Film Academy (NYFA) today celebrated alumna Mimi Masters for her dual impact on the screen-content landscape and on access to graduate-level film education. Masters — Chief Executive Officer of IMC Film Production — recently introduced FILM SNAP, a vertical-drama app now live on iOS and Android, and has endowed an annual NYFA Scholarship that fully funds the MFA studies of students from historically marginalized communities.
FILM SNAP allows creators to upload 9:16 shorts, reach a global audience, and receive professional curation. “The app is a bridge between mobile viewers and the next wave of directors,” Masters said. By underwriting tuition for promising filmmakers who lack financial resources, her scholarship extends that same bridge from the classroom to the set — ensuring that talent discovered through education can immediately find a home on FILM SNAP’s global stage. Andrzej Barkowiak, Academy Award-winning filmmaker and FILM SNAP’s Chief Recommending Officer, praised the concept: “Fresh perspectives drive cinema forward. FILM SNAP gives new filmmakers a runway from their phones to the world screen — exactly what the industry needs.”
David Picci, the first scholarship recipient graduated from NYFA’s Los Angeles campus this spring and is currently developing a debut short. “This award turned an unlikely aspiration into a career,” the filmmaker said. “It proves that our stories can travel far beyond our neighborhoods.”
Dr. Joy Zhu, NYFA’s Executive Vice President and senior academic leader in Los Angeles, praised the initiative. “Mimi’s model combines innovation with inclusion,” Zhu noted. “By lowering the financial barrier and opening a distribution pathway, she helps ensure that the next generation of voices is as diverse as the audiences they hope to reach.”
Reflecting on her NYFA roots, Masters added, “The Academy taught me to point the camera toward the world I want to see. Giving back through scholarships — and providing a platform like FILM SNAP — lets me hand that lens to the next generation.”
About FILM SNAP
FILM SNAP is a mobile platform for vertical short-form drama, offering creators global reach, algorithmic discovery, and professional mentorship. The app is available worldwide on the App Store and Google Play.
About the New York Film Academy
Founded in 1992, NYFA delivers intensive, hands-on film, media, and performing-arts programs on campuses in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Florence, and online. Its alumni network spans narrative, documentary, television, and emerging digital formats.
Media ContactCompany Name: Film SNAP LLCEmail: Send EmailAddress:2600 W Olive Ave Burbank Suite 546 City: LAState: CA 91505Country: United StatesWebsite: https://film-snap.ca/
