NOVAC

NOVAC Connecting filmmakers to the community since 1972

Twenty years ago, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tim Ryan () helped reimagine what NOVAC could become.From rebui...
06/01/2026

Twenty years ago, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tim Ryan () helped reimagine what NOVAC could become.

From rebuilding NOVAC’s public voice through community storytelling projects like The Drive to securing the workforce development funding that still supports film careers today, Tim’s leadership helped shape a new chapter for the organization and Louisiana’s film community.

On June 17, we are proud to honor Tim Ryan at NOVAC’s Legacy Dinner for his vision, persistence, and commitment to empowering storytellers.

Tickets available now! (link in our linktree)
WHEN: June 17, 2026
TIME: 6pm-9pm
WHERE: Hotel Peter & Paul | New Orleans

Watch THE DRIVE trailer at the link in our linktree!

The Legacy Dinner is presented by NOVAC and Dee Speed, our board member, and sponsored by Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits and Bacchanal Catering with support from Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company.

IMAGES:
Legacy Dinner Graphic with Tim Ryan
Early NOVAC images
Youth Filmmaking Summer Camp (2007)
We Won’t Know Unless We Try title graphic

Garrett Bradley has long been part of NOVAC’s creative community.Through Creative Council, an artist-led youth initiativ...
05/28/2026

Garrett Bradley has long been part of NOVAC’s creative community.

Through Creative Council, an artist-led youth initiative supported by NOVAC with photographer Akasha Rabut and former NOVAC executive director Darcy McKinnon, Garrett mentored young artists in New Orleans and helped nurture the next generation of storytellers.

Today, Garrett is an Academy Award–nominated filmmaker and 2025 MacArthur Fellow whose work continues to shape the future of cinema.

On June 17, NOVAC is proud to honor Garrett Bradley at our Legacy Dinner for her artistry, mentorship, and lasting impact on our community.

Tickets available now! (link in our linktree)

WHEN: June 17, 2026
TIME: 6pm-9pm
WHERE: Hotel Peter & Paul | New Orleans  

The Legacy Dinner is presented by NOVAC and Dee Speed, our board member, and sponsored by Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits and Bacchanal Catering with support from Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company. 

 

Images:
1. Legacy Dinner Flyer featuring Garrett Bradley: Photo Credit for Garrett Bradley Headshot:  Maarten Nauw
2. Garrett Bradley with 2019 summer intensive students at NOMA.
3. Teddy Houston from “One Day” Music Video Creative Council collaboration with Garrett, Akasha and the students.  Watch the video at the link in our linktree.

The inaugural Legacy Dinner is a night to honor the people who are part of the very fabric of NOVAC.For almost two decad...
05/19/2026

The inaugural Legacy Dinner is a night to honor the people who are part of the very fabric of NOVAC.

For almost two decades, Darcy McKinnon () has been a driving force behind NOVAC’s growth and impact. Under Darcy’s leadership, NOVAC expanded its youth media programs, strengthened workforce pathways into Louisiana’s film industry, and launched an active digitization lab alongside Gene Fredericks, deepening preservation efforts to protect community stories.
She also helped build partnerships with studios and industry leaders, creating real-world opportunities for NOVAC trainees to gain on-set experience as Production Assistants.

On June 17, we are proud to honor Darcy at NOVAC’s Legacy Dinner for her vision, leadership, and lasting contributions to New Orleans’ creative community.
Join us as we celebrate Darcy’s impact and invest in the next generation of storytellers.  Tickets available now! (link in our linktree)

From volunteer to board member to executive director to an on-going NOVAC ambassador, we are grateful to share an evening celebrating Darcy’s lasting impact on NOVAC’s legacy.  Be there with us.

WHEN: June 17, 2026
TIME: 6pm-9pm
WHERE: Hotel Peter & Paul | New Orleans  

The Legacy Dinner is presented by NOVAC and Dee Speed, our board member, and sponsored by Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits and Bacchanal Catering.

The Legacy Dinner is a celebration of the people who have shaped NOVAC and helped ensure that our stories endure.One of ...
05/14/2026

The Legacy Dinner is a celebration of the people who have shaped NOVAC and helped ensure that our stories endure.

One of those people is Gene Fredericks, NOVAC’s Digital Archivist. Thanks to Gene’s dedication, thousands of tapes, films, and recordings documenting New Orleans history and community voices are being preserved for future generations.

Gene’s journey with NOVAC began in the 1970s as a VISTA volunteer. After a remarkable career spanning public television, technology, and media innovation, he returned to NOVAC to lead our archive and safeguard the stories that define our community.

On June 17, we are proud to honor Gene for his extraordinary commitment to preserving our cultural memory and making these stories accessible to the public.

Join us as we celebrate Gene’s impact and support NOVAC’s mission to preserve the legacy and invest in the future of storytelling.

WHEN: June 17, 2026
TIME: 6pm-9pm
WHERE: Hotel Peter & Paul | New Orleans
Link in our linktree.

The Legacy Dinner is presented by NOVAC and Dee Speed, our board member, and sponsored by Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits and Bacchanal Catering.

In between all this festin', our next workforce training is our popular Production Assistant (PA) Intensive. Led by our...
05/08/2026

In between all this festin', our next workforce training is our popular Production Assistant (PA) Intensive. Led by our powerhouse Workforce Development Team of Stevee, Shantrell and Mya, this trio gets you trained and set-ready-to-work.

Application deadline is Friday, May 22, so don't wait. Apply today: https://buff.ly/kUfNv50

This training is free for Louisiana residents 18+. Must show proof of residency. Interview may be required.

All our workforce trainings come with a free one-year NOVAC membership.

This program is funded in part by a grant from Delta Resource Authority, Louisiana Entertainment, and Film New Orleans, City of New Orleans Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy.

Thank you for showing up for NOVAC during GiveNOLA Day. Together, we raised $7,726 from 151 donors. In a time when arts ...
05/07/2026

Thank you for showing up for NOVAC during GiveNOLA Day. Together, we raised $7,726 from 151 donors.

In a time when arts funding feels uncertain, it means so much to be reminded that people still believe in storytelling, culture, and community care.

New Orleans remains culturally rich because people continue to pour into one another, support artists, and protect spaces for creativity to thrive. We are grateful to be part of that ecosystem.

Here’s to doing the best we can with what we have, taking care of each other, and remaining grateful along the way.

If you’d still like to support the work, donations can still be made here: https://buff.ly/xSPXemF

We’re 25% closer to our funding goal of $20K for . Thank you to everyone who has shown up for us!If you haven’t donate...
05/05/2026

We’re 25% closer to our funding goal of $20K for . Thank you to everyone who has shown up for us!

If you haven’t donated yet, you can help us continue the legacy and invest in the future here: https://buff.ly/LezsgJi

05/05/2026

We can tell you what legacy means, but we thought Elliot gives a pretty nice definition. Check out the video!

is today. There’s just under 24 hours left for us to reach our $20K goal to empower youth in our summer camp and support our archive initiatives to preserve videos like Elliot’s.

If you have the resources, $25 goes a long way to provide healthy camp snacks. Even sharing our campaign helps too.

Donate here to preserve our legacy: https://buff.ly/LezsgJi

We love y’all.

The young people that engage in our programs are creative and inspiring. Last summer, in partnership with the Trombone ...
05/04/2026

The young people that engage in our programs are creative and inspiring. Last summer, in partnership with the Trombone Shorty Foundation and Studio Lalala, we collaborated with students to make a music video featuring New Groove Brass Band and local Culture Bearers.

The young filmmakers worked from development all the way through post production guided along the way by professional filmmakers and teaching artists. This is what empowering future generations of storytellers looks like to us.

campaign is in high gear. We have two days left to reach our $20K funding goal. We’re currently at just under 10% of our goal. Help us invest in the future filmmakers of our community.

Donate here: https://buff.ly/V1xtbmA

Preservation Services helps save our community stories. Gene, our Lead Archivist, is probably a superhero. He manages ...
04/30/2026

Preservation Services helps save our community stories. Gene, our Lead Archivist, is probably a superhero. He manages the in-house archive as well as providing digitizing services to community organizations. Analog tapes can deteriorate over time and one way is “Sticky-Shed Syndrome.” He knows how to spot it, fix it and save your valuable stories.

Early Giving for is in full swing and we’re moving closer towards our goal of $20K. Help us continue our preservation work and donate to our GiveNOLA Day campaign. There are six days to go for you to help us preserve your stories.

Every dollar raised supports our Born Digital Youth Programs and Preservations Services. Protect the Legacy. Invest in the Future.

Donate here: https://buff.ly/V1xtbmA

Address

4422 S Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA
70119

Website

https://linktr.ee/novacvideo

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when NOVAC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to NOVAC:

Shortcuts

Share

Category