Cynthia’s Picks: Thelma Schoonmaker, Unequal Representation, Inclusion Commitment, Record Breaker
Thelma Schoonmaker: Congratulations to 1995 NYWIFT Muse honoree Thelma Schoonmaker, who was honored this weekend with a BAFTA fellowship for her incredible 50-year editing career. Unequal Representation: The Women’s Media Center’s “Investigation 2019: Gender and Non-Acting Oscar Nominations” found that women are once again missing from the picture. No women were nominated in Directing, Cinematography,...
READ MOREBlack Girl Magic in Film
It may seem Black Girl Magic in film is everywhere these days. But NYWIFT Board Member Leslie Fields-Cruz will share a secret with you: That “magic” isn’t really magic at all. It’s the result of more than a century of hard work, perseverance, and phenomenal endurance by black women media makers who’ve paved the way for a future that demands inclusivity, parity, and equal representation.
READ MORECynthia’s Picks: Kim Snyder, Male Allies, Writers Lab
Kim Snyder: Kudos to Kim Snyder, CEO of our partner Panavision, for her incredible commitment to supporting women at all stages of their lives and careers. Forbes published a great interview with Kim, focusing on how she helps women advance in the industry and the particular support and consideration she gives to working parents. Male...
READ MORECynthia’s Picks: Sundance Fest, It’s Time, Fair Credits
Sundance Fest: Congratulations to all the NYWIFT members with films screening at Sundance! The festival opens on Thursday and runs through February 3rd. It’s time: Variety noted the uptick in feminist stories featured in Oscar contenders this year. Of course, this female focus didn’t extend to the directing nominations – women were shut out of...
READ MORECynthia’s Picks: Natural Leader, Sobering Statistics, Regina King
This week please join us in welcoming new NYWIFT Executive Director Cynthia Lopez! Cynthia will offer her top picks of NYWIFT and industry news to share with you every Tuesday. Natural Leader: Inspirational words to kick off your 2019! NYWIFT Board Member Flo Mitchell-Brown shared her “start story” with StartTV, explaining why women...
READ MOREFive Film Festival Takeaways
In 2018, from mid-October to mid-December, NYWIFT member Lauren Anders Brown embarked on a film festival season filled with five very different festivals. These are the valuable lessons she learned from each one.
READ MOREMy Film Angels
It takes a village to make a film. Here, NYWIFT member Jane Applegate give thanks to all those who lended a hand - literally and figuratively - over the years.
READ MOREOur Muse, Penny Marshall
In memory of Penny Marshall, who passed away this week at the age of 75, we take a look back at her hilarious and heartfelt speech from the 1994 NYWIFT Muse Awards.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Great Gifts, Online Festival, Yvonne Russo
Thank you to everyone who attended the 39th Annual Muse Awards on Thursday! It was such an honor to receive the Made in NY Award from the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, and I was touched by how many of our members came out to support our organization (and give me a hug). My...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Board Buzz, 62 Writers, Top Performers
Board Buzz: Great news from several NYWIFT board members! The Tale – produced by Simone Pero – continues to rack up award nominations, including a Golden Globe nom for last year’s Muse honoree Laura Dern and a Critics Choice nom for this year’s Muse Ellen Burstyn; Annetta Marion was selected for NBC’s Alternative Directors Program...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Life Lessons, Dream Team, Zero Weeks
Life Lessons: Be sure to read Manohla Dargis’ brilliant piece in The New York Times about what movies teach us about being a woman. She says: “Movies get into our bodies, making us howl and weep, while their narrative and visual patterns, their ideas and ideologies leave their imprint.” Representation matters. Dream Team: Thanks to...
READ MOREThe Art of Directing and Running a Show: Takeaways from a Conversation with Annetta Marion and Kathryn O’Kane
At a recent NYWIFT program, board members (and director/showrunners) Kathryn O’Kane and Annetta Marion discussed the unique role of the showrunner, and the combination of skill, gumption, and inspiration essential in helming a show.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Giving Tuesday, Be Natural, Women Mentors
Giving Tuesday: Today is Giving Tuesday, and I hope you’ll consider making a donation to NYWIFT as part of your holiday spending to help support our 2018-19 programming season, which will include more than 40 professional development and training programs and 15+ screening events celebrating the achievements of women filmmakers. Plus, if you give through...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Cynthia Lopez, Muse Honorees, Triple Nominations
Cynthia Lopez: I am so thrilled that Cynthia Lopez will be my successor as Executive Director of NYWIFT starting January 1st. I will miss my colleagues dearly, but I know I leave the organization in highly competent hands. Muse Honorees: Join us at the Muse Awards on December 13th! This year’s incredible slate of honorees includes Sarah Jessica...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Copyright News, Melissa McCarthy, NYWIFT Presents
Copyright News: The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) exemption for documentary films has expanded to include some types of fictional films. Now, filmmakers working on projects like biopics, historical fiction, and parodies can access copyrighted content without fear of liability. This is great news for narrative filmmakers trying to tell meaningful stories on a tight...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Rule Breakers, DOC NYC, Carole Chazin
Rule Breakers: Listen to NYWIFT member Jennifer Fox and Board President Simone Pero, writer/director and producer respectively of The Tale on the “Rule Breakers” podcast. Jennifer and Simone talk about the film, the layered consequences of sexual abuse, what we can do to protect others and the journey to healing. DOC NYC: I am thrilled...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Caregiver Crisis, NewFest Screening, Photo Display
Caregiver Crisis: Our sister chapter WIFT Australia just released an interesting study, called “Honey, I Hid the Kids!” which details the significant challenges parents and other caregivers in the film and television industry in Australia. 74% of respondents reported the impact of caring work on their role in the industry as negative; anecdotes include people...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: KitSplit Mentors, Superhero Study, Confidence Gap
KitSplit Mentors: Our friends at KitSplit are offering free coaching sessions for women in film and video. Superhero Study: A new study from BBC America and the Women’s Media Center reveals the lack of female representation in sci-fi – and posits how seeing more female superheroes could affect the confidence of young girls. Confidence Gap:...
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