On January 28, NYWIFT members and supporters gathered for our monthly member screening at the Anthology Film Archives. This month’s feature was Sister Italy, a heartfelt cultural comedy.
As an aspiring filmmaker, I admire creators — those who defy expectations to represent new ideas and innovate storytelling. Sister Italy boldly met that admiration.
Directed by Angelo Bonsignore, the film is the vision of Angela Rago, who wrote the script and plays one of the lead characters. I caught up with Rago after the film to speak more on the project’s fruition and its significance to her community. Rago refers to the characters as “dying,” and sought to immortalize several generations with humorous writing and realistic characters.
I decided to write a play for the Italian community when I was 20 years old. They couldn’t believe a woman was writing a play – putting a theater company together. [The Italian community] needed enforcement and a place to go. And when it became a big success I said, [laughs] ‘You see what a woman can do?’
People would identify themselves in the play. People were taking their mothers…farmers that had never been to a theater saw a portrayal of their life. My mother used to say, ‘Life is a battle’. If you stop, you are lost. You have to go on no matter what happens. If you want to do something, don’t let anyone stop you. I knew I had an audience. A writer is an audience too.
The film’s close-knit team undoubtedly replicated this at our program; audience members rolled with laughter and noted the film’s relateable content in a post-film Q&A session. Sister Italy empowers the Italian-American identity through unapologetic visibility.
— SONTENISH MYERS
nywift
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Tiána Lynn
Welcome to NYWIFT, Tiána Lynn! Tiána Lynn is the Founder and CEO of Wholistic Vibes Wellness (WVW), a neuroinclusive consulting and training firm focused on Black mental health, workplace culture, and systems-level change. With a background in case management, HR, and operations, she specializes in psychological safety frameworks, burnout prevention infrastructure, and trauma-aware leadership development. Through WVW Academy she is advancing accredited workforce training—particularly for Community Health Workers. Tiána is also the host of the Wholistic Vibes Podcast, where she explores Black mental health, identity, and healing through storytelling. Her work centers on building sustainable environments where people are supported, valued, and able to thrive. We spoke to her about her fascinating work at the intersection of media and wellness.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Esther Casas Roura
Welcome to NYWIFT, Esther Casas Roura! Esther is an award-winning filmmaker known for blending metaphorical storytelling with animation. Originally from Barcelona, Spain, she began her career as a molecular biologist before moving to New York and transitioning into filmmaking, focusing on animation while working across both commercial and narrative projects. She later founded Claymaniak Studios (now ECR Films) to create emotionally resonant films across stop-motion, traditional animation, and motion graphics. Her animated shorts—Check Date: An Underdog Love Story, Creamen, and FLOCKY—have screened internationally at over 150 film festivals. FLOCKY was recently shortlisted for the Goya Awards in Spain, has received 18 international awards, and has gained international recognition for its social impact. Esther is currently developing her fourth short, The Melody Within, and her first animated feature, TAO.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca Festival: “APART” Animated Short Explores Friendship, Courage, and the Human Cost of Division
At the 25th Anniversary of the Tribeca Festival, the Shorts Program curated by Whoopi Goldberg delivered a powerful lineup of animated storytelling that continues to expand the boundaries of the medium. One of the standout selections, APART, made its world premiere at Spring Studios, offering audiences a deeply emotional lens into apartheid-era South Africa through the eyes of two young boys whose friendship is tested by a divided world. Tammy Reese and LaKisa Renee bring us exclusive interviews with writer Spike Lee and director Pola Maneli.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Christina Brennan
Welcome to NYWIFT, Christina Brennan! Christina is a New York–based filmmaker whose work explores the emotional complexity of young womanhood through bold, conversation-driven storytelling. She is particularly drawn to dystopian, psychological thriller, and comedy genres, often blending tension and humor. As a recent graduate, she made her directorial debut with the short film Dear Nora, which won first place at AGBO’s No Sleep ’Til Film Festival—marking an exciting start to her creative career. In addition to her work behind the camera, Christina is the founder of Onore Films, a community dedicated to supporting and connecting young women in film through collaboration and shared resources. With experience across multiple areas of production, she approaches filmmaking as both a creative practice and a way to foster meaningful connection. In our interview, Christina discussed her journey into filmmaking, the inspiration behind Dear Nora, and her passion for building community among emerging women in film.
READ MORE
