Mind the Gap
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Rafael, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Mind the Gap firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mind the Gap
- Legal name
- California Film Institute
- Website
- https://mindthegapinfilm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Mind the Gap is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Rafael
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mind the Gap business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Sponsorship: Mind the Gap receives support from corporate sponsors including Netflix and individual benefactors. The initiative is part of California Film Institute.
- Foundations and Grants: Supported by foundations including Marin Community Foundation (Christine A. Schantz) and other institutional funders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Creation Prize - $10,000 grant to first/second-time female filmmakers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Mind the Gap product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mind the Gap is a gender equity initiative operated by the California Film Institute within the Mill Valley Film Festival. It awards an annual Mind the Gap Award to honor creatives and leaders advancing gender equity in film, provides a $10,000 Creation Prize grant to first- or second-time female feature film directors, hosts the Mind the Gap Summit (a full-day intensive of master classes, panels, and networking), runs Directors' Forum panel discussions, and presents curated film screenings with Q&A sessions featuring women and nonbinary filmmakers.
Product overview
Mind the Gap is a gender equity initiative platform for the film industry, launched in 2015 by the California Film Institute in association with the Mill Valley Film Festival. The platform operates as a multi-component initiative comprising the Mind the Gap Award (honoring filmmakers and leaders who advance gender equity), the Creation Prize ($10,000 grants for first/second-time female directors), the Mind the Gap Summit (full-day intensive sessions with master classes and networking), Directors' Forum panels, and curated film screenings with Q&As. The initiative also maintains a gallery of filmmaker faces, a partners and resources directory for filmmakers, video and photo galleries of past events, and press releases documenting its activities. In 2019, the Mill Valley Film Festival reached its goal of 50% of films directed by women and has maintained that average since.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mind the Gap Award An honor that celebrates creatives, leaders, and visionaries whose work has helped close the gender gap in the film industry, recognizing talents above and below the line, in front of and behind the camera. Presented annually at the Mill Valley Film Festival.
- Creation Prize
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% of films directed by women at MVFF since 2019
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Mind the Gap
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mind the Gap technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mind the Gap partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 5050X2020coreAn offshoot of Le Deuxième Regard, the 5050×2020 pledge strives for better gender representation and transparency by the year 2020. It was first introduced at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. MVFF signed the pledge as part of its Mind the Gap gender equity initiative.
- ReFramecoreReFrame brings together fifty Hollywood leaders including studio heads, agency partners, senior network executives, talent and guild representatives with Women In Film and Sundance Institute to create an action plan for gender parity. Uses a peer-to-peer approach with ReFrame Ambassador teams engaging senior industry decision-makers.
- USC Annenberg Inclusion InitiativecoreThe leading think tank studying diversity and inclusion in entertainment through original research. Develops targeted, research-based solutions to tackle inequality. Dr. Stacy Smith serves as a Mind the Gap Award recipient and key thought leader.
- CinefemmecoreThe only non-profit 501-c3 charity in Hollywood that exclusively fiscally sponsors and incubates projects by diverse women filmmakers. Committed to diversifying the entertainment and film industries.
- Film FatalescoreSupports an inclusive community of women feature film and television directors who meet regularly to share resources, collaborate on projects and build an environment in which to make their films.
- Seed & SparkcoreBuilding a new studio model with fair and transparent business practices. Provides every filmmaker the opportunity to create a sustainable career, no matter where they live or what they look like. Emily Best, CEO, has participated in Mind the Gap summits.
- Women and HollywoodcoreEducates, advocates, and agitates for gender diversity and inclusion in Hollywood and the global film industry. Founded in 2007 by Melissa Silverstein, who has served as Mind the Gap Summit moderator.
- The Representation ProjectminorUses film and media as catalysts for cultural transformation. Founded by Jennifer Siebel Newsom in 2011. Known for campaigns including #NotBuyingIt, #AskHerMore, and #RepresentHer.
- Reel StoriesminorNon-profit organization that empowers young women with skills to create their own media, view current media critically, and aspire to leadership in their field.
- Let It Ripple Film StudiosminorUses film, technology, discussion materials, and events to engage audiences in conversation around complicated subjects shaping lives.
- Based on MediaminorExperienced passionate storytellers devoted to powerful, elevated entertainment. Focuses on authentic, inclusive portrayals of the human experience.
- KALI FilmsminorFilm and multi media production company engaged in creation of feature films, documentaries, and music videos. Founded by Pratibha Parmar, Mind the Gap Award recipient.
- Finish Line FeaturesminorProduces cause-based feature documentary films that tell stories raising awareness of pressing societal issues, with goal to educate and motivate audiences to take action.
- California Film InstitutecoreParent organization of Mind the Gap. Mind the Gap was formally launched by CAFILM in 2015 as a gender equity initiative, and expanded across the entire organization to provide an inclusive platform for female-forward contributions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mind the Gap competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cinefemme: Nonprofit fiscally sponsoring and incubating projects by diverse women filmmakers — listed Mind the Gap partner with directly overlapping filmmaker-funding mandate.
- ReFrame: Industry coalition (Sundance Institute + Women In Film) implementing a stamp program recognizing gender-balanced productions — listed Mind the Gap partner with overlapping gender-parity mission.
- 5050X2020: Gender representation pledge launched at Cannes 2018 that MVFF/Mind the Gap signed — operates in the same festival-side gender-parity advocacy space.
- The Representation Project: Uses film and media as catalysts for cultural transformation including #NotBuyingIt and #RepresentHer campaigns — listed Mind the Gap partner with comparable mission scope.
- Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media: Research and advocacy organization driving gender equality in media through data, campaigns, and industry programs — operates in the same gender-equity-in-entertainment category.
- Film Fatales: Nonprofit community of women feature film and television directors sharing resources and collaborating — a listed Mind the Gap partner with overlapping filmmaker-support mandate.
- USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative: Leading academic think tank studying diversity and inclusion in entertainment; founded by Dr. Stacy Smith (a Mind the Gap Award recipient). Directly comparable as the research-driven counterpart to Mind the Gap's programming-driven model.
- Reel Stories: Nonprofit empowering young women with filmmaking skills — listed Mind the Gap partner with directly comparable youth filmmaking-education mission.
- Women In Film: Foundational nonprofit advocating for gender parity in the entertainment industry with member programs, mentoring, and advocacy — directly comparable mission and constituency to Mind the Gap.
Regional players
- New York Women in Film & Television: Long-running NY-based nonprofit supporting women in film and television with mentoring, networking, and advocacy — comparable mission anchored to a different regional festival ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mind the Gap social profiles
Digital presenceMind the Gap financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mind the Gap leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Mind the Gap funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mind the Gap M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mind the Gap
What does Mind the Gap do?
Mind the Gap is a gender equity initiative operated by the California Film Institute within the Mill Valley Film Festival. It awards an annual Mind the Gap Award to honor creatives and leaders advancing gender equity in film, provides a $10,000 Creation Prize grant to first- or second-time female feature film directors, hosts the Mind the Gap Summit (a full-day intensive of master classes, panels, and networking), runs Directors' Forum panel discussions, and presents curated film screenings with Q&A sessions featuring women and nonbinary filmmakers.
Is Mind the Gap a public or private company?
Mind the Gap is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Mind the Gap founded?
Mind the Gap was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mind the Gap based?
Mind the Gap is headquartered in San Rafael, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mind the Gap make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Corporate Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are foundations and Grants.
Who are Mind the Gap's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cinefemme, ReFrame, 5050X2020, The Representation Project, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, Film Fatales, USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Reel Stories and Women In Film. New York Women in Film & Television is listed as a regional player.
Does Mind the Gap have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mind the Gap.