Through this first-time collaboration, the two entities hope to create a more inviting film and media production-friendly environment in Westchester by strengthening the County’s relationships with production companies and related industry executives, helping match local municipalities with new production opportunities and establishing a Westchester Film Advisory Board to help solidify the county’s reputation as a world-class location for filming and production.

The Westchester County offices of Tourism and Film were recently merged under the county’s Office of Economic Development since all are instrumental in bringing business into the county. “When you consider the county’s proximity to New York City, the area’s diverse landscape and abundant locations for filming in all four seasons, and the incredible media talent who now call Westchester their ‘home,’ we are well-positioned to create a powerful economic and artistic development platform,” stated Westchester County’s Director of Economic Development Laurence Gottlieb. “Jacob Burns’ incredible reputation and expertise will help propel us faster and farther than if we tried to build and sustain a viable development program on our own. This is a true private/public partnership funded without taxpayer dollars, but rather fueled by the fees production companies pay for filming on county property.”

“More than fifty-five feature films and cable television productions have been shot in Westchester County since 2000, including most-recently, HBO’s five-hour miniseries, Mildred Pierce . We look forward to attracting far more film and television productions to the county through this new collaboration with Jacob Burns Film Center.” said Kim Sinistore, Director, Westchester County Tourism & Film, “We are a premier film production location, now it’s time to let more of the world know it.”

Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC), located in Pleasantville, NY, is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution dedicated to presenting the best of independent, documentary and world cinema; promoting 21st century literacy; and making film a vibrant part of the community. Housing a state-of-the-art theater complex, a 27,000 square-foot Media Arts Lab and a residence for international filmmakers, the JBFC campus provides opportunities for people of all ages to discover, explore and learn through the power of film, media and 21st-century technology.

“As a champion of film, new media and Westchester County, Jacob Burns Film Center is thrilled to be working with the Tourism and Film Office to increase local opportunities for artists,” said Dominick Balletta, the organization’s Managing Director.

“We’re thrilled to have Kim join New York State’s network of film-friendly contacts that support the film, television and commercial production industry,” said Pat Swinney Kaufman, Executive Director of the New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture & Television Development. “The Film and Television industry fosters economic growth and supports over 36,000 direct jobs in New York State and an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 indirect jobs throughout the state –many of which are located here in the Mid-Hudson. I look forward to working with her team in the Westchester County Tourism & Film Office to continue to direct more film, television and commercial production to Westchester.”

For additional information about filming in Westchester and Westchester County Tourism & Film, visit www.westchestertourism.com. For more information about Jacob Burns Film Center, visit www.burnsfilmcenter.org.