NYWIFT Blog

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Maura Campbell

Welcome to NYWIFT, Maura Campbell! She is an award-winning playwright turned filmmaker, creating the acclaimed film The Non-Essentials, which won Best Feature at the International Cellphone Cinematography Competition in Cannes. This groundbreaking project was shot across the country under pandemic conditions, featuring a multiracial and multigenerational cast directed remotely through Zoom. At the Actor’s Studio, Maura hones her craft through weekly play readings, while at The Lambs, she lead a playwrights’ group and co-created the musical Anna and Fyodor, exploring the lives of Dostoyevsky and his first wife. Currently, she is in rehearsals for this production alongside filming Quirks, a feature evolving from episodic beginnings. Maura is dedicated to shedding light on human experiences through storytelling, supporting young writers, and pushing creative boundaries across theater and film.

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NYWIFT Members at Cannes 2023: Actress, Writer, Producer, Maria Soccor

Longtime NYWIFT member Maria Soccor recently attended the 2023 Cannes Festival ,where we spotted her with our CEO Cynthia López at NYWIFT’s panel event “Women Storytellers from the Arab World - Supporting, Training and Showcasing Emerging Filmmakers” in partnership with the Royal Film Commission – Jordan and WIFT GCC. Maria spoke to Tammy Reese about her 2023 Cannes Film Festival experience.

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WIFT Around the World: Snapshots of WIFTI at Cannes 2022

NYWIFT member Judith Davis shares her experiences from her second ever trip to the Cannes Film Festival - which included a stop by the WIFTI party with The Hollywood Reporter presented at the Campari Lounge!

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WIFT Around the World: Postcard from Cannes 2022

NYWIFT Member Panayiota Pagoulatos shares memories from her trip to Cannes 2022 - her first time back on a plane since 2019! She met with WIFTI leaders from all over the world and shared this sage advice: "If you find yourself at an international market or film festival—whether it’s the first or the fiftieth time—look for your people. Whether a business partnership comes out of it or not, staying connected, sharing your experiences, and hopefully learning a thing or two, that’s the pulse that will help keep you going in this tough-as-nails industry."

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What’s in Your Toolkit: Nan Gill-Wilson

Producer Nan Gill-Wilson shares the path of her varied career, the story behind her partnership with David Wilson, and how she is coping during COVID-19. 

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Terry’s Picks: NYC Women, Easy Promises, Decent Odds

NYC Women: The new website women.nyc was designed by a team of women, for women, to help them navigate parenthood, afford living in NYC and ask for a raise.  Easy Promises: Dr. Martha Lauzen discusses why while promises of inclusion for women at film festivals is easy, actual change is hard. Decent Odds: A breakthrough...

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Terry’s Picks: Vida Writers, Production Workshop, Cannes-do Women

Vida Writers: Vulture takes a look inside TV’s first all-Latinx writers room, for the new Starz series Vida. Production Workshop: We are offering our annual one-day media production workshop for immigrant and first-generation women, taught by our friends at Third World Newsreel, this Saturday, May 12th. Learn more and apply to participate. Cannes-do Women: Meet...

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Terry’s Picks: Be Yourself, Women in Motion, Making Music

Be Yourself: Costume designer Jenny Beavan talks about her recent Oscar win for Mad Max: Fury Road – and the “drama” sparked by her decision not to glam it up for the awards ceremony. Women in Motion: Kering and the Cannes Film Festival have announced the second edition of the “Women in Motion” program, which highlights...

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP: FUNNY BUSINESS, AGEISM & ACTION

Image via The Hollywood Reporter Even when discussing sexism, racism & death threats these women are still “effin” funny! Watching the 2015 Tony Nominees “In Performance” will put you in a great mood. (VIDEO) Freelancers Union founder Sara Horowitz has “commandments” to thrive in today’s new economy. This ageism chart supports what Maggie Gyllenhaal and thousands...

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP: BLYTHE DANNER, CANNES DO’s & A.C.L.U. DONT’S

Blythe Danner returns to the small screen as Ruth Madoff. (VIDEO) The Nightly Show head writer Robin Thede reveals writing styles that get HER attention. Here’s the Cannes Film Festival lineup we’ve been hearing about. Bessie Director Dee Rees on Latifah’s frontal nudity and finally seeing herself on screen. Actress Rebel Wilson did her own Pitch Perfect 2 stunts...

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP: FESTIVALS, LISTS & GOSSIP DISH

Here’s everything you need to know about the Tribeca Film Festival. The Cannes 2015 lineup was also announced–five female directors made the cut. This Bel Pesce TED talk may pinpoint why your dreams haven’t yet come true. (VIDEO) Both Amy Schumer & Jane The Virgin won Peabody Awards. TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2015″ announced....

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Terry’s Picks: Cannes Gets with IT, Grace and Frankie, Bratz Make-over and More

I agree: Keep independent documentaries on prime time! Norman Lear calls out PBS in The New York Times.   Check this out: This smart Australian mom turned her daughter’s overly made-up Bratz dolls into realistic looking girls.   I’m cracking up: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as best friends whose husbands leave them…for each other....

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Weekly Roundup: Disney’s Call for Writers & Broadway’s Gender Problem

Disney Channel launches a new screenwriting program. Hey, Broadway! Why weren’t any woman-written Broadway plays produced this season? Interview with Belle director Amma Asante (video) and Q&A with star GuGu Mbatha-Raw. Women (literally) rule at this year’s Cannes film festival. Fifteen of Time magazine’s “Top 100” are women in the arts. Happy 10th Anniversary, Mean Girls. #StopTryingToMakeFetchHappen

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