Terry’s Picks: Easmanie Michel, The 94%, Man’s World
Easmanie Michel: Congratulations to NYWIFT Finance and Special Events Associate Easmanie Michel, who is the winner of the Fifteenth Annual American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest! From more than 1600 entries received, judge Francis Ford Coppola and the Zoetrope staff have selected Easmanie’s Caroline’s Wedding as the winning script. We are proud to say “we knew her...
READ MOREThe Brookside Women’s Club of Harlan County
In 1973 the 13-month Brookside Strike brought almost 200 workers to battle Eastover Coal Company’s Brookside Mine and Prep Plant, a company owned by Duke Power. When filmmaker Barbara Kopple traveled to Harlan County, Kentucky, the resulting Academy award-winning documentary, Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976) captured a historic story. We look back on the film, which screens this Sunday, February 25th at UnionDocs.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Deadline Extended, Diversity Matters, Broadway Exclusion
Deadline Extended: We have extended the deadline for submissions to The Writers Lab this year. Women over 40, you now have until 11:59 PM EST on March 5th to send us your scripts! Diversity Matters: As hoped, Marvel’s Black Panther had a wildly successful opening weekend – proof that gender and racial diversity can and...
READ MOREHow to Work a Major Film Festival: A Report from Sundance
NYWIFT member Jane Applegate recaps the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and offers some key tips on how to make the most of any festival experience.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: New Code, Black Panther, Canadian Progress
New code: This weekend, SAG-AFTRA released a code of conduct that defines sexual harassment and other prohibited conduct in the workplace and sets forth employers’ legal obligations under both the union’s contracts and the law, including the need to provide ways in which members can safely report workplace harassment. Black Panther: I’m looking forward to...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Black History, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon
Black History: The New York Times offers a list of 28 Films for the 28 Days of Black History Month, including our recent Muse honoree Julie Dash’s classic Daughters of the Dust, and Spencer Williams’ 1946 film Dirty Gertie of Harlem, USA, which was preserved by the NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund. Nicole Kidman: We...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Screening Series, The Oscars, HP Foundation
Screening Series: NYWIFT is seeking submissions for our fourth annual Women Filmmakers: Immigrant Stories series, which showcases films about women directors and/or producers that about the New York immigrant experience. The deadline to submit your project is February 16. The Oscars: 48 women were nominated for Oscars this year, tying with the 2016 awards for...
READ MOREOne Big Union: A History of the Wobblies
Many have never heard of “Wobblies” or the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), but in the early 1900s, The Wobblies were laborers working in a variety of fields, who joined the movement which became known as “industrial unionism” under the IWW organization and they made headlines. 70 plus years following the founding of IWW, filmmakers Deborah Shaffer and Stewart Bird came together to bring the story of early American industrial radical labor reform back into the spotlight. Their documentary, The Wobblies (1979), shows the relevance of this history that still holds true today. The WFPF will screen the film at UNDO on January 28.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Chavela Vargas, The Tale, Working Women
Chavela Vargas: In NYWIFT’s latest column with Honeysuckle Magazine, Communications VP Margarita Sophia Cortes profiles the filmmakers behind the critically acclaimed documentary Chavela, about legendary LGBTQ Mexian singer Chavela Vargas. The Tale: We are bursting with pride for NYWIFT Board President Simone Pero, who produced Jennifer Fox’s harrowing and timely film The Tale, about childhood...
READ MOREThe WFPF Screens Four Experimental Films at MoMA’s “To Save and Project” Festival on January 22
The Women’s Film Preservation Fund: Four Experimental Films will screen January 22nd in The Museum of Modern Art’s annual festival, To Save and Project. The four recently preserved films by Barbara Hammer, Victoria Hochberg, Peggy Ahwesh, and Sheila Paige, all carry a common thread of movement towards a future from the past. WFPF Co-Chair Ann Deborah Levy gives us a preview.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: MoMA Event, Joosje Duk, Showing Support
MoMA Event: I hope you’ll join us at MoMA on Monday, January 22nd, where the Women’s Film Preservation Fund will show Four Experimental Films as part of the museum’s To Save and Project Festival. Joosje Duk: We are so proud of former NYWIFT intern Joosje Duk, whose short film Night, which we screened at our...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Wearing Black, Oprah Winfrey, Laura Dern
Wearing Black: Kudos to all the women and men who wore black at this past weekend’s Golden Globes Awards to show their solidarity with the women speaking out against sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. And speak out they did. From impassioned speeches to quick, smart digs like Natalie Portman’s laser-sharp “Here are the all-male...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Time’s Up, Hoda Kotb, New Test
Time’s Up: 300 prominent actresses and female agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives have formed the Time’s Up initiative to fight systemic sexual harassment in Hollywood and in blue-collar workplaces nationwide. We are glad that in the face of such trying times so many women in the industry have found value in the powerful...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Inspiring Muse, Sheila Nevins, Golden Globes
Inspiring Muse: Thanks to all who joined us at the Muse Awards last week, particularly special guests MOME Commissioner Julie Menin and New York’s Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who had the audience on their feet and cheering! Sheila Nevins: Longtime NYWIFT member and supporter Sheila Nevins, who has hosted countless NYWIFT events and given her time...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Muse Awards, Time Magazine, Francesca Andre
Muse Awards: We hope to see you at the 38th Annual Muse Awards this Thursday! In addition to our usual festivities, we are honored to have Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul give welcoming remarks, and Commissioner Julie Menin will present the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment “Made in New York” award to actor and producer...
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Urgent Action, Hedy Lamarr, Muse Raffle
Urgent Action: A few months ago, the State Assembly and State Senate passed legislation that incentivizes the hiring of women and people of color to write and direct television in New York. The bill has now arrived at Governor Cuomo’s desk and he has only a few business days left to sign the bill. Please...
READ MOREStorytelling in the Wake of Disaster – Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man
On December 3rd the NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund and UnionDocs will host a screening of Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man, followed with a panel discussion with filmmaker Mimi Pickering (via Skype) and fellow artist/activist Sylvia Ryerson, moderated by labor rights activist, Michelle Miller. WFPF co-chair Kirsten Larvick describes the harrowing story of disaster, heartbreak, and government and corporate neglect that inspired the film.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Voices Heard, Muse Awards, Mad Libs
Voices Heard: NYWIFT Board VP Margarita Sophia Cortes wrote a courageous, empowering take on Hollywood’s sexual harassment firestorm for the NYWIFT HuffPost column. Muse Awards: We’re thrilled to announce the honorees for the 38th annual Muse Awards: Laura Dern, Judith Light, director Julie Dash, Refinery29’s Amy Emmerich, and filmmaker and philanthropist Regina K. Scully. Actor...
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