Terry’s Picks: Wonder Woman, Vanessa Redgrave, Indie Stats
Wonder Woman: Indiewire reports that Wonder Woman may be the best DC universe film yet! Vanessa Redgrave: The legendary actor explains how the refugee crisis inspired her to step behind the camera for the first time…at the age of 80. Indie Stats: Dr. Martha Lauzen of the Center for the Study of Women in Television...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: WIFTI Conference, Thanks BWFF, The List
WIFTI Conference: I’m writing to you from the WIFTI (Women in Film & Television International) Conference in London, where women in film chapters from around the world are gathering to network, share ideas and collaborate on our goals! Thanks BWFF: The Brooklyn Women’s Film Festival has graciously offered to donate proceeds from their ticket sales...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Apply Now, The Drowning, Liz Garcia
Apply Now: The NYWIFT Spring Membership Drive, during which we offer 50% off the initiation fee for new members, ends this Monday, May 15th. Join today! The Drowning: NYWIFT is proud to co-present (with Film Fatales) the screening of Bette Gordon’s The Drowning on Thursday, May 11th at 8:25 PM at IFC Center. The Drowning...
READ MOREHeather Taylor on Crowdfunding for Pay to Stay and the Importance of Onscreen Diversity
"I want to have representation across different sexualities and different races in my films because that is the world I see when I walk down the streets of New York," says NYWIFT member Heather Taylor. Katrina Medoff sat down with Taylor to talk diversity in filmmaking (both onscreen and off) as her crowdfunding campaign for her horror short Pay to Stay draws to a close.
READ MORE10 Takeaways from the NYWIFT “Casting Comedy: Funny People On-Camera” Panel
NYWIFT member Mellini Kantayya shares the top 10 nuggets of wisdom from NYWIFT's panel on TV comedy casting. Learn whether or not to ad-lib, button it, stalk (answer: definitely no), and self-tape.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Dusty Awards, Handmaid’s Tale, Gabourey Sidibe
Dusty Awards: The SVA Dusty Film & Animation Festival runs May 5-8. We look forward to partnering once again for their annual Dusty Awards! Board President Alexis Alexanian will present the NYWIFT award. Handmaid’s Tale: Can’t wait to start binging on The Handmaid’s Tale. Eight of 10 episodes are directed by women – good for...
READ MOREThe Women’s Film Preservation Fund 2016 Grants are awarded to five groundbreaking works from the 1920s and 1970s
The NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund's (WFPF’s) 2016 grants have now been awarded. The films include three shorts from the 1920’s by pioneering filmmaker Angela Murray Gibson and two important films from the 1970’s, SISTERS! by Barbara Hammer and Women’s Happy Time Commune by Sheila Paige. WFPF Steering Committee Co-Chair Ann Deborah Levy explains why these particular films are important to women's legacy, and how you can help.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Representation Matters, Sheila Nevins, Box Office
Representation Matters: Kathryn O’Kane was among the five NYWIFT board members who joined me at the Women’s Media Summit in Provincetown, MA, last month. She recaps it for our Huffington Post column, as we look ahead to what’s next. Sheila Nevins: NYWIFT member Sheila Nevins, President of HBO Documentary Films, sat down with Lesley Stahl...
READ MOREMoving Forward: Representation Matters: NYWIFT at the Women’s Media Summit
NYWIFT Board member Kathryn O'Kane was among the six NYWIFT representatives who attended the historic Women's Media Summit in Provincetown, MA, last month. She offers a recap, including the opinions and takeaways of fellow board members, and looks ahead at what's next.
READ MOREA Filmmaker is Born: How the Power of One Immigrant’s Story Inspired a Musician to Go Visual
Filmmakers create great stories every day. But once in a while, a truly great story will create a filmmaker. Such was the case with Patricia Shih and her debut film, Undocumented. The inspiring documentary, which was screened on March 16th at the Queens World Film Festival as part of NYWIFT’s Women Filmmakers: Immigrant Stories series, showcases the realization of the American Dream through the unique story of undocumented-immigrant-turned-successful-cardiac surgeon, Dr. Harold Fernandez.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Zookeeper’s Wife, 25 Films, Female Heroes
Zookeeper’s Wife: Go see The Zookeeper’s Wife! Jessica Chastain gives a great performance, as directed by Niki Caro. 25 Films: Mark your calendars – here are 25 women-directed films being released this year. Female Heroes: The Guardian digs into why seeing a female hero – not just passive female characters – on screen is critical...
READ MOREStarless Moonlight’s Lesson on Making Your Production Shine Brighter: Q & A with Casting Director Angela Mickey
After Moonlight won the Oscar for best picture, casting director and NYWIFT member Angela Mickey had some insights on what independent filmmakers and can learn from its casting.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Spring Drive, Tribeca Films, Black Comediennes
Spring Drive: Now through May 15th is the NYWIFT Spring Membership Drive, during which we offer 50% off the initiation fee for new members. If you’re thinking of joining our community of women calling the shots, now is the time to do it! Tribeca Films: I’m looking forward to next week’s Tribeca Film Festival, which...
READ MORESound Advice: Avoid (or Fix) the Two Biggest Mistakes in Sound Design
Mismatched ambient noise and clothing rustle are the two biggest mistakes in sound design, according to award-winning sound designer, editor and mixer Paul Michael. At a recent NYWIFT program, he explained to how to avoid - or fix - these problems.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Zookeeper’s Wife, Female Friendship, Theresa Rebeck
Zookeeper’s Wife: USA Today highlights the team behind The Zookeeper’s Wife, which might be the most women-populated crew in Hollywood history. Female Friendship: Grace and Frankie stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin talk about aging in Hollywood, women’s sexuality and the importance of female friendship. Theresa Rebeck: In an excerpt from her essay for the...
READ MOREThe Ask for Jane Filmmakers on Telling a Little-Known Story from Women’s History
When NYWIFT member Cait Johnston first heard about the Jane Collective — a real-life group of women who helped others get abortions before Roe v. Wade — at a NYWIFT screening, she knew it was a story she had to tell. She teamed up with fellow member Rachel Carey, a screenwriter and director she know through a NYC theater company called The Shelter, to create Ask for Jane, a narrative feature film that they are currently crowdfunding for on Seed&Spark.
READ MOREWomen in Film & Television History: Meet Tressie Souders, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
The story of Tressie Souders, or perhaps more accurately, the lack of details about Tressies Souders’ life and work exemplifies the need to research and rescue early film-works of women and women of color.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Diana Means, Stacy Smith, Women Editors
Diana Means: When she’s not working her day job in production and creative services at Warner Bros., Diana Means has been running the L.A. Women’s International Film Festival for the past 13 years. Stacy Smith: Social scientist Stacy Smith gives a Ted Talk on how the media underrepresents and portrays women – and the potentially...
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