Abbesi Akhamie Course Reflection by Gabriela Jatene '22

March 30, 2023

During my time as an undergraduate at Barnard, I took several film classes – from film production and screenwriting to film history, and was always more focused on the creative side of filmmaking. However, after graduating I realized how difficult it would be to situate in an industry that is so competitive, and has so many moving parts. 

Film Grant Writing & Creative Career Strategy was exactly what I was looking for. The short course, taught by Artemis Rising Foundation Filmmaker Fellow Abbesi Akhamie in the Spring of 2023, helped inform me about the different options I have in the industry, as well as the different job tracks at my disposal. We went over different grants and fellowships, how to find these opportunities, and which ones to pick based on our profile and interests. Abbesi then guided us on how to apply to these opportunities, from building a portfolio to drafting an artistic statement. 

It was a very practical, hand-on course, and Abbesi was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. She went as far as showing us different newsletters, websites, and job boards. All in all, it was a great experience that has directly impacted how I view and search for opportunities to forward my career in film. 

- Gabriela Jatene, Barnard Class of 2022