Empire State Development (ESD) held the eighth annual New York State Creativity Summit, an event designed to support and advance the careers of emerging storytellers in the film, television, and streaming sectors. The summit was co-hosted by the Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development (MPTV), the Motion Picture Association (MPA), and Tribeca Festival.
Hope Knight, President, CEO, and Commissioner of Empire State Development, said, “New York is a global center for film, television, and streaming, and our strength comes from the diversity and originality of the voices who create here. The Creativity Summit is about opening doors across the industry—strengthening training pipelines, building professional networks, and ensuring that new storytellers have the opportunity to bring their visions to the screen. By investing in the next generation of creators today, we’re fueling the creative economy that secures New York’s position as the creative capital of the world for decades to come.”
Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of Motion Picture Association added: “Each year, this summit strengthens the very foundation of New York’s production landscape and our entire industry: extraordinary stories and the voices who tell them. When casts, crews, and creators bring different perspectives and experiences to the table, they tell richer and more authentic stories – and the MPA and our member studios are determined to build the pipelines needed to open the doors of filmmaking to every community and empower the next generation of talent.”
Jane Rosenthal, Co-Founder and CEO of Tribeca Enterprises stated: “New York has always been a place where creativity and opportunity intersect. The Creativity Summit celebrates that spirit—empowering emerging filmmakers, producers, and storytellers to build meaningful careers right here in New York. Tribeca is proud to partner with ESD, the MPA, and the Governor’s Office to continue expanding pathways for the next generation of creative talent.”
The summit included expert panels on topics such as career advancement opportunities within New York’s film industry pipeline; financing productions; legal issues for filmmakers; women in film; among others. Notable speakers were Hope Knight (ESD), Cora Atkinson (Producer), Toni Barton (Production Designer), Graham Lee (Paramount Global), Alana Mayo (Orion Pictures), Angela Pinsky (Amazon), Santiago Quiñones (Blue Bloods), Holly Rymon (The Gilded Age), Greg Saphier (MPA), Ashley Snyder (Netflix), Canella Williams-Larrabee (Producer/Unit Production Manager) along with other professionals.
The Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development operates under Empire State Development. It supports growth in New York’s film sector by guiding filmmakers through state programs including tax incentives for qualified expenditures within New York. The office also acts as a liaison between production companies and local authorities.
Empire State Development serves as New York’s main economic development agency with responsibilities ranging from supporting regional councils across ten regions to workforce development initiatives like those offered through its Office of Strategic Workforce Development. ESD also promotes tourism via I LOVE NY campaigns.
The Motion Picture Association represents major studios such as Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios among others.
Tribeca was founded after 9/11 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Craig Hatkoff with its festival becoming a prominent cultural event now approaching its 25th anniversary in June 2026.
