EXCLUSIVE It’s the same old song.
This week we all received the National Board of Review’s winners of film prizes for 2022. The NBR is a fan based group that charges membership fees, then charges those members again to attend their annual gala. The whole thing is run by Annie Schulhof, who determines the winners of the prizes. David Laub, an executive with A24 Films, is on the board. This year, A24 got 7 citations for its films.
The finances of the NBR are always a question. Their most recent tax filing as a not for profit, 501 c(3), tells an interesting story. For 2019-20, with most of it falling in 2019, is alarming as usual.
Total revenue was $585,456. Total salaries came to $317,933. Net assets were listed as $556,323.
What did this not for profit entity distribute from their coffers? The answer is $0. Zero dollars. Nothing. Goose eggs. This was down from a mere $72,500 in 2018.
And still they claimed a loss of $48,044 from their one event, the annual gala at Cipriani 42nd St. where they charge studios for picking up the tables, and members to sit at them.
The NBR’s expenses including over $46,000 for rent, and $20,000 for advertising/promotion, office expenses, and “information technology” (that would be their mimeograph machine). The first listing– advertising/promotion– is ridiculous on its face since the studios use the NBR awards in their own ads. The NBR doesn’t promote itself.
It’s a scam. Nice work if you can get it. All this to have your picture taken with actors.
