The Downtown Austin Alliance has announced the launch of its inaugural XOXO Videography Fellowship program. This initiative is part of the XOXO Downtown Austin campaign, which seeks to reconnect Austinites with downtown through the work of local videographers.
Following a thorough selection process, three fellows have been chosen for 2025: Jason Yu, Hope Wager, and Madeline (Maddie) Abdalla. The fellowship will also include mentorship from Carlos Nevarez and Julián Fernández Garnik.
"The XOXO Videography Fellowship Program is an XOXO Downtown Austin campaign initiative aiming to empower videographers," said the organization. The program will run from March to June, during which fellows will produce videos highlighting Downtown Austin's icons. Participants will receive a stipend and engage in shooting, editing, and mentoring sessions.
Jason Yu, one of the selected fellows, is a University of Texas alumnus with experience in photography and cinematography. Hope Wager brings her background in documentary and experimental filmmaking to the fellowship. Maddie Abdalla has over six years of experience in filmmaking and currently works with an Austin-based documentary production company.
Mentor Carlos Nevarez is an alumnus of the University of Houston – Clear Lake with extensive experience in video production. Julián Fernández Garnik, another mentor, has worked with notable clients such as Adidas and Coachella.
The organization expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming projects: "We are excited to see the wonderful videos our fellows will produce."
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