NYWIFT Blog

State of the Industry: A Conversation with Ariel Wan of the Michigan Theater Foundation

Ariel Wan, Director of Programming, Marketing and Sales at the Michigan Theater Foundation offers insight into how local art house theaters have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, and what they are doing in order to survive.

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: COVID-19 Emergency Resources, #WomenCrushWednesdays Podcast, Lab Extension

COVID-19 Emergency Resources : We have compiled the NYWIFT Emergency Resource Directory which continues to update daily. Please continue to check back and if you have suggestions to add please send them to us.  #WomenCrushWednesdays Podcast: The latest episode of our NYWIFT podcast features a discussion of the COVID-19 crisis and how NYWIFT will offer resources...

READ MORE

State of the Industry: A Conversation with Film Production Freelancer Isabella Olaguera

Throughout the coming weeks, NYWIFT will sit down with members of the film and television community for a look at how the global COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the industry, particularly those who work in the indie and art house world. Our first conversation is with NYWIFT Member Isabella Olaguera, a 1st AD who is organizing an initiative to help feed freelancers who are struggling. She shares her insight into how life has come to a halt with so many productions on hold.

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: NYWIFT Podcast, Queens World, #NYWIFTHerstory Posts

NYWIFT Podcast: The NYWIFT #WomenCrushWednesdays podcast is back for 2020! Listen, rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Anchor. In the latest episode, Janine McGoldrick gives a rundown of the latest in NYWIFT news and programming and Leah Curney welcomes filmmaker Naomi McDougall Jones back to the podcast to discuss her new book The...

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: Muse on TV, Ashley Eakin, Maysoon Zayid

Muse on TV: NYWIFT is thrilled to announce that the Muse Awards will make its broadcast premiere on CUNY TV in celebration of Women’s History Month! The one-hour program will feature highlights from each speech at the 40th anniversary event, as well as exclusive red carpet interviews. The premiere is this Monday 3/9 at 10...

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: Latinx Representation, Kasi Lemmons, The Kingmaker

Latinx Representation: Good news – the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media has partnered with Universal Filmed Entertainment Group to pilot its “Spellcheck for Bias” digital tool, this time in order to help increase Latinx representation onscreen.  Kasi Lemmons: 2019 NYWIFT Nancy Malone Directing Award honoree Kasi Lemmons writes in Variety about why she...

READ MORE

What’s in Your Toolkit: Leah Curney

Multi-hyphenate artist Leah Curney - an actor, writer, and director - shares what keeps her organized and inspired, from notebooks to podcasts and more. Plus, she expounds on the one piece of advice that frustrated her...until the truth of it finally clicked.

READ MORE

Pennhurst: A Story that Needed to be Told

NYWIFT member Jodie Alexandra Taylor's documentary Pennhurst, which screens at the Member Screening Series on February 25th, was inspired by her visit to what remains of one of the largest and oldest institutions for the intellectually and developmentally disabled. One chapter of the story ended when the institution closed, but the fight for equitable treatment and representation for the disabled continues to this day. Making the movie inspired a fervent commitment on Taylor’s part to continue that dialogue and, in so doing, change the future narrative. Taylor sat down with us to discuss the film and its potential impact.

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: Production Women, Ravenal Submissions, The Inclusive

Production Women: It’s time for more women behind the lens. From lighting to sound to stunts, costumes, sets, and beyond, learn about the many career opportunities for women in production with this new resource from Time’s Up. NYWIFT is a proud partner. (When you watch the PSA keep your eyes peeled for former NYWIFT Board...

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: Sundance Success, Online Shorts, Ledbetter Film

Sundance Success: Thanks to all who attended our two inaugural events at the Sundance Film Festival this year! Be sure to check out the photos of our favorite moments. And congratulations to our NYWIFT community members who took home Sundance Awards – Radha Blank, who won the award for Directing for her debut film The 40-Year-Old-Version...

READ MORE

What’s in Your Toolkit: Dana Covarrubias

2018 NYWIFT Designing Women honoree Dana Covarrubias shares the tools - both literal and figurative - she keeps in her costume design toolkit.

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: NYWIFT @ Sundance, Oscar Noms, Female Leads

NYWIFT @ Sundance: NYWIFT is thrilled to present two events at Sundance 2020! First, in partnership with AMC Networks, Women in Film LA (WIF) and ReFrame, NYWIFT co-presents the panel “Women on the Front Lines: Changing the Game” with an exciting roster of industry panelists. Then we celebrate the women of Sundance – including all...

READ MORE

What’s in Your Toolkit: Jennifer Snowdon

NYWIFT member Jennifer Snowdon shares insights from her 25-year-career as a makeup artists and offers us a peek inside her makeup toolkit.

READ MORE

Oscars, Take Note: Women’s Weekend Film Challenge Arrives in LA

On January 13, 2020, the same day that the 2020 Oscars nominations were released — with not a single woman nominated for Best Director for the 87th time in 92 years — the founders of Women’s Weekend Film Challenge (WWFC) opened up applications for their first Los Angeles-based event to advance women in the film industry. The organization’s goals are to provide an intensive networking opportunity for female filmmakers while telling women’s stories on screen. WWFC founders say that the reason so many women apply to the challenge is because they know that the film industry revolves around connections — and WWFC provides the perfect opportunity to make them. Co-founder (and NYWIFT member) Katrina Medoff explains why the group is more relevant than ever.

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: Sundance Bound, Annenberg Study, Celluloid Ceiling

Sundance Bound: We are thrilled to see so many NYWIFT members headed to Sundance with films this year! We’ll be announcing a panel in Park City soon – stay tuned for more info. Annenberg Study: For the first time in over a decade, both the number and percentage of women working as directors on some of...

READ MORE

Costumes, Couture and Conversing with Emmy-Award Winning Costume Designer Donna Zakowska

NYWIFT member Jean Criss offers an exclusive recap of the December 2019 event "Costumes, Couture and Conversing with Emmy-Award winning Costume Designer Donna Zakowska," at FIT SUNY hosted by the State of New York Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development. The conversation focused on Zakowska's acclaimed work on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

READ MORE

Cynthia’s Picks: Muse Pics, Diversity Incentives, Parity Pledges

Muse Pics: Thank you to all who joined us at the 40th Anniversary Muse Awards! You can see a slideshow of our favorite photos here, or click through to our Flickr account to see full albums from the red carpet, awards luncheon, and reception.  Diversity Incentives: Good news! New York state has adopted a landmark...

READ MORE

What’s In Your Toolkit: Maria Miles

Entertainment attorney Maria Miles extols the joys of Diet Coke and how with her laptop, cell phone, and wifi, she can work anywhere in the world.

READ MORE