American Public Television Announces Inaugural Leanne Ferrer Scholarship Award
Annual public media support for BIPOC creatives will open for applications in 2022
BOSTON, MA (November 9, 2021) – On the first day of the annual APT Fall Marketplace, American Public Television today announced the inaugural Leanne Ferrer Scholarship Award to honor the public media legacy of filmmaker Leanne Ka'iulani Ferrer. The annual scholarship will provide a BIPOC independent producer with the opportunity to attend APT Fall Marketplace, and receive mentoring or counsel from members of the APT team on their next project - from tips on the budget process and sponsorship vetting, to editorial guidelines and global sales potential.
“As the distributor of enriching and timely public media content for more than six decades, APT is proud to elevate new voices and content ideas, through projects such as AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange and Pacific Heartbeat,” notes Cynthia Fenneman, President and CEO of APT. “We are committed to continuing Leanne's mission to provide support that advances the work of BIPOC creatives.”
Ferrer, who unexpectedly passed away in 2021, was the executive director of the organization Pacific Islanders in Communication, dedicated to creating a deeper understanding of Pacific Island history, culture, and contemporary challenges through media content.
Details on submission guidelines and selection process for this scholarship award will be shared early next year for the next APT Fall Marketplace in late 2022. More information is available at APTonline.org/press.
About American Public Television
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and more than one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, dramas, how-to programs, classic movies, children’s series and news and current affairs programs. Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, AfroPoP, Rick Steves’ Europe, Pacific Heartbeat, Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Legacy List with Matt Paxton, Front and Center, Lidia’s Kitchen, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, Simply Ming, The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, James Patterson’s Kid Stew and NHK Newsline are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create®TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.
Press Contacts:
Olivia Wong
APT Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Olivia_Wong(AT)APTonline.org
Hunter Kossodo
Public Relations Associate
Hunter_Kossodo(AT)APTonline.org