IMAGO, the International Federation of Cinematographers, is working with Sony Corporation to distribute grants in support of the international cinematography community. The grants, which IMAGO will help to allocate through its worldwide membership base, form part of the Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19.
Sony established its global initiative to deliver $100 million of support to three main areas: the frontline medical community, children and educators, and the creative community in the entertainment industry. To help with the latter, Sony approached IMAGO, amongst other organisations, to distribute a significant part of this fund to cinematography applicants via IMAGO’s member organisations around the world.
With an active membership of 56 international cinematography societies, IMAGO is perfectly positioned to assist Sony with reaching the global cinematography community. While Sony will reach out through other organisations to cinematographers in the USA, Canada and Japan, IMAGO will provide a point of access to its 53 member societies covering the rest of the globe.
Announcing Sony’s launch of the initiative, Hiroshi Kawano, Vice President, Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc., commented, “Sony has always worked closely with the creative community, by helping them pursue high-quality content creation. This community’s success is vital to our own, which is why we have decided to implement these support measures in their time of need . . . We are proud to contribute funds and support to the content creation industry.”
The recently-appointed President of IMAGO, Kees Van Oostrum ASC, commented, “On behalf of IMAGO and our members around the globe, we applaud Sony’s generous initiative, which recognises the current difficulties that so many of our colleagues will be facing. We are delighted that Sony has recognised IMAGO as an organisation able to ensure that this help reaches those who need it most among our member organisations worldwide.”
“Sony is delighted to work with IMAGO to bring support to content creators around the world,” said Claus Pfeifer, Head of Content Creation and Acquisition, Sony Professional Europe. “With their strong network of international member associations and deep knowledge of the realities of the image industry, they were an obvious partner for this initiative.”
IMAGO is contacting its member organisations with details of the grant application process.
