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2015's RI Foundation Innovation Fellows

Grant winners to bring shellfish and minority film to RI

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The Rhode Island Innovation Fellowship recently honored its 2015 winners, granting each $300,000 over three years to help them pursue their bold and visionary ideas for improving life in our little Rhody. This year’s winners are Cable Car Cinema’s Daniel Kamil and Emily Steffian and scientist John Haley.

Daniel and Emily have been bringing exceptional and important films and filmmakers from all over the country to Rhode Island through their work at Cable Car Cinema for many years. Now, they seek to expand this further through the creation of the Providence Cinematheque. Daniel explains it’s a “multiscreen exhibition space and educational facility dedicated to screening the best independent, international and documentary films. One screen will be exclusively dedicated to women, minority and LGBT filmmakers.” They hope to shine a light on first-run, independent film programming, repertory series, film festivals and a curriculum in film history and media literacy.

John Haley and his partners specialize in shellfish cultivation technology. A number of years ago, John discovered a material that attracts and provides a growth substrate for the larval form of blue mussels, referred to as spat. His Blue Mussel Spat Attachment Cord will reduce steps in costly cultivation practices and eliminate the need for waiting for natural mussel spawning events, a fundamental hurdle to the industry’s expansion. The commercial production of the cord and the creation of multiple harvests in a year will lead to employment and careers for many Rhode Islanders, as well as recognition of our state as a leader in modern, environmentally responsible shellfish cultivation. 

Blue Mussel Spat Attachment Cord, john haley, cable car cinema, daniel kamil, emily steffian, rhode island foundation, innovation fellowship, providence monthly, claire flanagan, blue mussel, independent cinema, LGBT cinema, minority film

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