Academy Gold Rising Marks 10 Years of Opening Doors for Emerging Film Talent

For a decade, Academy Gold Rising has operated as one of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ most direct answers to a persistent industry question: how do young filmmakers and early-career professionals get into rooms where careers are actually built?

Now in its 10th year, the eight-week summer internship enhancement program continues to connect college seniors, recent graduates and early-career professionals with work experience, professional development and industry access across film, technology, production and digital media. The 2026 program begins Tuesday, June 9, with a two-day orientation and concludes Tuesday, August 4.

Through internships with the Academy and partner companies, Gold Rising participants are introduced to the business and craft of filmmaking from multiple angles. After completing the summer program, each participant is paired with an Academy member for an eight-month mentorship, extending the experience beyond a seasonal internship and into a longer professional relationship.

Gold Rising is part of Academy Gold, the Academy’s broader talent development initiative, which includes the Student Academy Awards, the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting and the Gold Fellowship for Women. Alumni and award recipients from those programs become part of the Gold Alumni Network Program, which provides continued networking, access, and career support.

“We are excited to celebrate a decade of Academy Gold Rising with an inspiring new class from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives,” said Kim Taylor-Coleman, Academy governor and Academy Foundation Board president. “This program provides unparalleled access to industry experiences, mentorship and professional development opportunities, and we are so grateful to our generous partners, donors and Academy members whose support makes it all possible. We also look forward to welcoming these participants into the Academy Gold alumni network, where we continue to foster a global community of filmmakers and creative leaders as they establish and grow their careers in the film industry.”

This year’s partners include The Black List, Disney Entertainment, Group Effort Initiative, Lionsgate, Monkeypaw Productions, Moving Picture Institute, NBCUniversal, Radial Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment and STARZ.

The summer schedule reflects the increasingly broad map of the entertainment industry. Participants will visit the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Academy Film Archive, the Academy’s Margaret Herrick Library, AGBO Studios, ARRAY, Blumhouse, Cosm, Walt Disney Animation Studios, IMAX, NBCUniversal Studios and other sites where film history, emerging technology, production and cultural storytelling intersect.

One of the more notable stops is “An Evening of Impact at ARRAY,” a creative campus tour of Academy Directors Branch Governor Ava DuVernay’s multi-platform arts and social impact collective. ARRAY, founded by DuVernay in 2011, has become a model for filmmaker-led infrastructure, with work spanning distribution, production, public programming, education and advocacy around narrative change. For Gold Rising participants, the visit offers a view of how a creative organization can operate beyond the traditional studio pipeline while still shaping the larger industry conversation.

Other sessions will focus on the changing demands of the field. At Cosm, participants will take part in “Careers in Science and Technology,” a behind-the-scenes tour and panel on the intersection of art and science. 

The program will feature members of the Academy’s Science and Technology Council, 2026 Scientific and Technical Awards winners and Academy members, including Academy Visual Effects Branch Governor Andrew Roberts and Scientific and Technical Awards Committee Co-Chair Darin Grant.

Peter Kujawski, chairman of Focus Features and an Academy Executives Branch governor, will speak about his career path and the business of specialty film. At AGBO Studios, participants will tour Anthony and Joe Russo’s motion capture and virtual production stage and take part in a hands-on demonstration.

The program will also include “LGBTQ+ Storytelling as Collective Art & Advocacy,” presented in collaboration with the Academy’s Affinity Groups, examining the cultural and commercial impact of LGBTQ+ representation.

In partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation, “From the Margins to the Mainstream — Mental Health Over the Last Decade” will bring together cultural leaders, artists and advocates to discuss the growing public conversation around mental health and how it has shifted since 2015.

Academy Documentary Branch Governor Simon Kilmurry will lead “Expecting the Unexpected: A Conversation on Documentary Filmmaking,” a discussion on the unpredictable nature of nonfiction storytelling. Taylor-Coleman will also lead “The Art of Casting,” a conversation about instinct, collaboration and the search for emerging talent in shaping memorable performances.

Academy Gold Rising is made possible in part by leadership support from Mazda. Additional support is provided by the Snap Foundation, Ruderman Family Foundation, The Walt Disney Company, Leon Silverman, and the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture. “From the Margins to the Mainstream: Mental Health Over the Last Decade” is presented in partnership and collaboration with the Ruderman Family Foundation.

For more information about Academy Gold Rising, visit www.oscars.org/gold-rising.