The Pegasus Media Project and the Dallas Film Commission have received international recognition after winning the Economic & Social Impact Award at the 2026 Global Production Awards in Cannes, France.
The award was presented during the Global Production Awards ceremony on May 18, recognizing the organizations’ partnership in expanding workforce development opportunities, creative equity, and economic access within North Texas’ growing film and media industry. Teaching artist Jazmine Booker accepted the award on behalf of Pegasus Media Project alongside Dallas Film Commission representative Katie Schuck.
The Global Production Awards are judged by a panel of 28 international entertainment industry leaders, including executives from HBO, The Walt Disney Company, Amazon MGM Studios, and the Association of Film Commissioners International.
Pegasus Media Project stood out in a competitive field featuring workforce and training initiatives connected to major productions including How to Train Your Dragon, Wicked, and The Righteous Gemstones.
In its official statement, the jury praised the Dallas partnership for creating “an effective and inclusive model for workforce development that connects education, training, and employment as a pipeline to the film industry.”
“I am so proud of the hard work we do every day to change lives,” said Ryan Blitzer, managing director and MAP Program lead for Pegasus Media Project. “We are allowing more and more people to have careers in the film industry. This award recognizes the amazing things we have done so far, but it is also a call to continue to keep our head down and grow.”
Founded in Dallas, Pegasus Media Project has built a nationally recognized creative workforce pipeline focused on serving underrepresented communities through tuition-free film and media arts education. The organization currently serves more than 800 students annually through programs ranging from middle school film residencies to professional media apprenticeships.
According to the organization, 87% of participants come from Dallas County, with graduates reporting annual earnings ranging from $40,000 to $120,000 within three years of completing the program. Nearly 89% remain in North Texas, contributing directly to the region’s growing creative economy.
“The work we do is rooted in the belief that storytelling can create tangible social and economic impact,” said Christian Vasquez, co-founder of Pegasus Media Project and senior video producer at KERA. “More than ever, in this revolutionary technical era we find ourselves in, it is imperative that we cultivate storytellers who tell stories with care and who cultivate community in the process.”
Founder and Executive Director Niloo Jalilvand said the recognition belongs to the students, educators, and communities that helped build the organization’s mission.
“This award belongs to the Pegasus team,” Jalilvand said. “It belongs to every student who walked through our doors believing that filmmaking was not for someone like them, and left knowing it was.”
Pegasus Media Project’s programs include the Multimedia Pre-Apprenticeship Program (MAP), the Pegasus Film Festival Youth Leadership Program, the Pegasus Film Festival, and several community-centered film and arts initiatives throughout North Texas. The 2026 Pegasus Film Festival is scheduled for June 5–7 at the Angelika Film Center Mockingbird.