Snapshots from the 2022 Tribeca Festival
Judith Davis recounts her experience volunteering at, and later covering, the Tribeca Festival over the last 20 years, and shares highlights and photos from the star-studded 2022 event.
READ MORENYWIFT @ Tribeca: In Conversation with Producer Steffie van Rhee
Cynthia Lowen’s latest documentary "Battleground" offers an eye-opening window into the anti-choice movement, featuring three women from varying walks of life who have dedicated themselves to rendering abortion illegal. Per the Tribeca website: “Told with restraint and balance, director Cynthia Lowen seeks to clarify rather than condemn, and presents a new point of entry for this challenging topic.” While the film itself clearly aligns with progressive pro-choice advocates (who also appear throughout) it offers a fascinating perspective on the sheer systemic power of the anti-abortion movement and the perilous future, felt painfully today, of Roe v. Wade. "Battleground" was Executive Produced by NYWIFT member Ruth Ann Harnisch and co-produced by member Steffie van Rhee, who sat down with us to discuss the premiere and how this film – from this particular perspective – came to fruition.
READ MORENYWIFT @ Tribeca: In Conversation with Filmmaker Violet Du Feng
Violet Du Feng’s "Hidden Letters" tells the story of Chinese women trying to balance their lives as independent women in modern China while confronting the traditional identity that defines but also oppresses them. Connected through their love for Nushu—a centuries-old secret text shared amongst women—each of them transforms through a pivotal period of their lives and takes a step closer to becoming the individuals they know they can be. Hot off her 2022 Tribeca Festival premiere, Director Violet Du Feng, an Emmy-award winning documentarian, spoke to us about Nushu, modern-day China, women’s equality, and her filmmaking process.
READ MORENYWIFT Women’s History Month Spotlight: Janine McGoldrick
Janine McGoldrick is a veteran entertainment executive who has created and implemented strategic distribution and communications campaigns for television and film, including for the 2017 Academy Award-winner "The Salesman." She discusses her work on that campaign, her initial transition from politics to entertainment, and making her first documentary, about an invisible disease that confounds doctors.
READ MORENYWIFT Women’s History Month Spotlight: Tammy Reese
Tammy Reese is a multimedia content creator who loves everything theatre, entertainment, media, and film. She is an award-winning actress, writer, and journalist, and the Founder & Lead Publicist of Visionary Minds Public Relations and Media. She discusses her inspirations, balancing work and family, her favorite interviews and more.
READ MORENYWIFT Women’s History Month Spotlight: January Green
Happy Women's History Month! At NYWIFT as we continue to celebrate our creative members who are making innovative impacts throughout entertainment, media, film, and television, we would like to spotlight our NYWIFT Women Crush Wednesdays Podcast team members. Today's spotlight is January Green, a Manager of Digital Marketing Copy, SEO & product description pages, aspiring screenwriter, and imaginative feature film writer.
READ MORESelf-isolation is Not So Alone
These past few weeks of self-isolation have been eye-opening, regarding the notion of being alone and isolated from peers, loved ones, family, and friends. In our struggle to find a new equilibrium and routine, we appear to have stumbled into a period of connectivity, which is different but perhaps even greater than before. NYWIFT member Cassandra Seidenfeld reflects on how social distancing in the time of COVID-19 has encouraged her to connect in new ways.
READ MOREWhat’s in Your Toolkit: Jean Criss
NYWIFT member Jean Criss shares how she turned "bitter grapefruits into sweet ‘ole lemonade" - when tough times inspired her to reinvent her career and launch several new businesses.
READ MORECreator Misha Calvert on power dynamics, pitching and her latest series, All Hail Beth
In advance of the Fall 2019 premiere of her new BRIC TV series "All Hail Beth," showrunner and NYWIFT member Misha Calvert sits down with Leah Curney to discuss power dynamics, how to pitch your project, and how she makes connections in the business.
READ MORECynthia’s Picks: Female Grips, Killing Eve, Thrones Queen, Lesley Stahl
Female Grips: The New York Times pays tribute to the few women who work as grips – one of the most grueling and important tasks on set. Killing Eve: This Glamour headline puts it best: Killing Eve is made for women by women…and it shows. Thrones Queen: Game of Thrones owes much of its success...
READ MORECynthia’s Picks: Spring Drive, Career Summit, Marvel-ous Teamwork
Spring Drive: Now through May 13th is our Spring Membership Drive! Become a NYWIFT member and save 50% off the initiation fee. If you’re not yet a member of our supportive, dynamic community…what are you waiting for? Apply now! Career Summit: NYWIFT is thrilled to participate on the Center for Communication’s Women + Media Career...
READ MORENYWIFT Members use filmmaking to support the next generation of women running for political office
On November 12, 2018, just one week after a record 117 women won their races for seats in Congress, seven NYWIFT members came together with She Should Run, a non-partisan nonprofit with a mission to expand the talent pool of women running for office in the United States, hosted by HBO. NYWIFT member Kristina Teschner, who participated in the program, recently signed on as the Co-Director of Creative Strategy & New Media at the Cabán for Queens campaign, and shares more about the natural evolution between filmmaking and political campaigning.
READ MOREWomen Calling The Shots – A swinging pendulum over an active volcano
NYWIFT Board VP Margarita Sophia Cortes wrote about the recent Hollywood sexual harassment firestorm in our HuffPost column - addressing the importance of speaking out, supporting one another, and no longer letting the boys club get its way.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Shorts Festival, Alias Grace, Culture Shift
Shorts Festival: NYWIFT’s first-ever online film festival is underway! Watch 74 short projects by NYWIFT members now through November 17 on our Fall Shorts Festival on Indevue – you can even log in and live chat with the filmmakers and fans during select “live screenings.” See the schedule for details. Alias Grace: I’m looking forward...
READ MORENYWIFT’s Statement on Sexual Harassment and Abuse in the Entertainment Industry
NYWIFT's thoughts on Harvey Weinstein, systemic sexism, community support and legal guidance.
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Scary Statistics, GoldieBlox Ad, Zoe Saldana
Scary Statistics: A new study from USC Annenberg reveals how little top-grossing movies have changed when it comes to the on-screen prevalence and portrayal of women, underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, the LGBT community, and individuals with disabilities. GoldieBlox Ad: Girl-focused toy company GoldieBlox’s #BeLikeHer ad campaign is a joyful, in-your-face celebration of all the impressive women...
READ MOREWomen in Film & Television History: Meet Ethel Payne, Journalist & First Female African-American National Network News Commentator
Ethel Payne was known in as “the first lady of the black press” and was described by journalist Gwen Ifil as “the most influential journalist and activist most people have never heard of.”
READ MORETerry’s Picks: Uzo Aduba, Smart Girls, Wielding Your Media Power
Congrats, Uzo: Uzo Aduba, one of the presenters at this year’s NYWIFT Designing Women Awards, won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama the Emmy Awards this weekend. She thanked all those in her life who, she said, “let me be me.” Thanks, Amy: Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls asked thoughtful, hard-hitting questions on the Emmy’s red...
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