AIMM History
In May 2003, under a grant provided by the LEF Foundation, the following six Boston-based non-profit media arts organizations began to meet on a regular basis to think strategically about how to best support independent film and video production in Boston:
- Boston Film/Video Foundation
- Center for Independent Documentary
- Central Productions
- The Color of Film Collaborative
- Filmmakers Collaborative
- WGBH Boston Media Productions
The intent of the initial meetings held throughout 2003-2004 was to provide an incubator of sorts - time and space for reflection, information-sharing and growth as a group. We examined the current environment for production support for independent media, and began to explore strategies for strengthening and ensuring the sustainability of our nationally-valued independent media community. It was immediately clear to us that the wealth of experience and synergy of six media non-profits, in collaboration with the LEF Foundation, could achieve a capacity greater than that of any individual organization. It was also agreed that there was great urgency to our efforts. Indeed, during the time of our meetings, one of the organizations that had been serving filmmakers for nearly 30 years, the Boston Film/Video Foundation (BF/VF) closed its doors permanently.
In late 2004 the five remaining organizations formed the Alliance for Independent Motion Media (AIMM) and, in early 2005, received a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council John and Abigail Adams Arts Program, which was matched by the LEF Foundation.
This funding enabled us to formalize and increase our activities as well as market them, conduct strategic planning sessions with facilitators Tom Borrup and Morrie Warshawski and form a communications network with filmmakers throughout the state.