LOS ANGELES – FILM SNAP, the mobile platform dedicated to 9:16 vertical short dramas and films, is now live worldwide on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Created by a Los Angeles–based team under Mimi Masters—Chief Executive Officer of IMC Film Production and alumna of the New York Film Academy (NYFA)—the app offers creators a one-stop path from upload to worldwide distribution and professional curation.
A First for L.A. FILM SNAP is the city’s first home-grown platform to fuse an academy-honed producing philosophy with Hollywood-level international distribution expertise, all supported by streaming-grade technology. This distinctive blend sets it apart from existing vertical-shorts services and anchors the venture firmly within Los Angeles’ creative ecosystem.
Vertical short dramas are one of the fastest-growing segments in screen entertainment, propelled by mobile-first, bite-size viewing habits. FILM SNAP’s in-house editorial team hand-picks standout submissions, ensuring emerging voices cut through the noise and reach audiences around the globe.
“FILM SNAP is designed to turn a smartphone into a theatrical launchpad,” said Mimi Masters. “By collapsing production, exhibition, and feedback into a single pipeline, we give new directors a direct route from concept to global audience.”
Andrzej Barkowiak, Academy Award–winning filmmaker and FILM SNAP’s Chief Recommending Officer, noted: “Fresh perspectives keep cinema alive. FILM SNAP hands those perspectives a runway straight from the phone screen to the world stage—exactly what the industry needs right now.”
Masters’ eight prior mobile-first projects—including The King’s Guard and the Influencer (2024) and Her Three Alphas (2025)—have already drawn online buzz and are being explored for future release on FILM SNAP.
Preliminary partnerships with film festivals, brand sponsors, and streaming outlets are already in place to provide investment and distribution opportunities for projects that gain traction on the app. “Our goal is to merge creative incubation, market validation, and commercial matchmaking in one ecosystem,” Masters added. “Great stories should never be limited by format or gatekeepers.”
Extending that commitment to opportunity, Masters has endowed an annual NYFA scholarship that fully funds MFA tuition for under-represented filmmakers. Davide Picci, the first recipient, graduated from NYFA’s Los Angeles campus this spring and is developing a debut short slated to premiere on FILM SNAP later this year. “This award turned an unlikely aspiration into a career,” Picci said. “It proves that our stories can travel far beyond our neighborhoods.”
Dr. Joy Zhu, NYFA’s Executive Vice President and senior academic leader in Los Angeles, praised the initiative: “Mimi’s model combines innovation with inclusion. By lowering financial barriers and opening a distribution pathway, she helps ensure the next generation of voices is as diverse as the audiences they hope to reach.”
Reflecting on her NYFA roots, Masters added, “The Academy taught me to point the camera toward the world I want to see. Supporting new filmmakers—through scholarships and through FILM SNAP—lets me hand that lens to the next generation.”
About FILM SNAP
FILM SNAP is a mobile platform for vertical short-form drama, offering creators global reach, algorithmic discovery, and professional mentorship. The app is available worldwide on the App Store and Google Play.
About the New York Film Academy
Founded in 1992, NYFA delivers intensive, hands-on film, media, and performing-arts programs on campuses in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Florence, and online. Its alumni network spans narrative, documentary, television, and emerging digital formats.
Media ContactCompany Name: FILM SNAPContact Person: Landon LeeEmail: Send EmailCity: BurbankState: CaliforniaCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://film-snap.ca/
