NYWIFT Blog

By Kathryn O’Kane

For 17 years, NYWIFT has joined with the Hamptons International Film Festival to present the annual Sunday Brunch and co-present the Women Calling the Shots short film showcase – all in celebration of the outstanding achievements by women filmmakers at the festival.

NYWIFT caught up with filmmakers who attended the brunch (quite literally while running to the next screening) and asked them, “What’s in your toolkit?”

Mahak Jiwani, producer, Darling

What is the one thing you can’t live without in production?

I always wear comfortable shoes when I’m on set – and hard ones in case something falls. I think that’s a lesson I learned from Maureen Ryan at Columbia University.

What do you eat on set?

I don’t really eat much on set because there’s so much to do and I’m always running around. I make sure to eat breakfast beforehand.

What do you do to help de-stress?

At the end of the day, I talk to my friends and family. It’s really important to have a support network that’s separate from the work.

What’s the most out of the ordinary thing in your toolkit?

Chocolate.