Muse Awards Archives - New York Women in Film & TelevisionNew York Women in Film & Television

Top Takeaways – NYWIFT Talks: Filmmakers and Activists discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, their life’s work, and hope for the future.

In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, NYWIFT Talks recently brought together a vibrant panel of award-winning women filmmakers and activists dedicated to fighting systemic racism to discuss their work and the social justice revolution of today.

40th Muse Honoree: Anjali Sud

Anjali Sud is the CEO of Vimeo, the world’s leading professional video platform. Anjali leads a global team of over 500 individuals dedicated to empowering creators and businesses with the tools to tell their stories. Anjali previously served as General Manager and Head of Marketing at Vimeo, where she oversaw the growth of over 150 million members using the platform. Before that she held various positions in e-commerce, finance and media at Amazon and Time Warner.

40th Muse Honorees: Kasi Lemmons

Kasi Lemmons is an award-winning director, writer, actress and professor who has been a staple in Hollywood for nearly three decades. She began her career with the acclaimed 1997 feature directorial debut, “Eve’s Bayou”, which was recently inducted into the National Film Registry.

40th Muse Honorees: Shoshannah Stern

Shoshannah Stern received the 14th Annual Loreen Arbus Changemaker Award, which was created with the generous support of NYWIFT member Loreen Arbus. The award is given to an individual, organization or corporation in the entertainment industry that has helped to create and bring about significant change to benefit and aid women.

40th Muse Honorees: Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan is one of the most successful crossover artists in Latin music history. She is a multiple Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, author of two New York Times best-selling children’s books and producer of the Tony-Nominated musical, “On Your Feet!”

40th Muse Honorees: Ann Dowd

Ann Dowd has had several notable roles and received multiple honors over the years including the 2017 Emmy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series’ for her acclaimed performance on Hulu's “The Handmaid's Tale”, as well as a Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Critics Choice Award.

#Muse40for40: Meryl Streep (1983)

For our final #Muse40for40 installment we had to of course give a shout out to the indomitable Meryl Streep. Meryl was honored in 1983, and the photo of her cheeky over-the-shoulder smile as she modeled a NYWIFT jacket has become an indelible image for our organization.

#Muse40for40: Susan Sarandon (1990)

For an actress who said “my life has been filled with happy accidents,” it’s not surprising that Susan Sarandon got her start in the business in a serendipitous way, when she accompanied her then husband to an audition shortly after college.

#Muse40for40: Cicely Tyson (1999)

Born in Harlem in 1924, Academy Award winner, Golden Globe nominee, and three-time Emmy winner Cicely Tyson was first discovered by a fashion photographer working for Ebony Magazine, and began her career as a fashion model.

#Muse40for40: Maggie Gyllenhaal (2014)

Oscar-nominated and Brooklyn-based mother, activist, actress and producer Maggie Gyllenhaal has spent much of her career making independent films, and has accrued a body of work that is both bold and complex. From her breakout sadomasochistic role in The Secretary, to her boundary-pushing, compelling performance in The Kindergarten Teacher, Gyllenhaal has not followed the blockbuster path, opting for films that challenge the way we think.

#Muse40for40: Alfre Woodard (2002)

Oscar nominee, Golden Globe and four-time Emmy Award winner, Oklahoma-born Alfre Woodard had her breakthrough role in 1977 in the legendary off-Broadway play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf.

#Muse40for40: Penny Marshall (1994)

Bronx-born Penny Marshall, best known for playing Laverne DeFazio on ABC's Laverne & Shirley, smashed Hollywood's glass ceiling with her sophmoric directorial effort Big ('88) starring Tom Hanks.

#Muse40for40: Madhur Jaffrey (2000)

Actress, food and travel writer, cookbook author, and television personality Madhur Jaffrey began her illustrious career in Delhi, India, where she performed in school Shakespeare plays and dramas on All India Radio, eventually appearing in acclaimed theatrical productions on the Indian stage.

#Muse40for40: Glenn Close (1989)

Glenn Close had a distinguished career on Broadway, long before she made her feature film debut in 1982's The World According To Garp, alongside Robin Williams. Yet, it was her role as a psychopathic temptress in the 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction that turned her into a box office darling and a household name

#Muse40for40: America Ferrera (2009)

America Ferrera is an actress and producer who made her film debut in 2002 in Real Women Have Curves. She has also starred in the drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and television roles like ABC’s Ugly Betty (2006–2010)

#Muse40for40: Phylicia Rashad (2001)

Phylicia Rashad is a television, film & Broadway actress, stage director & singer. Her role on NBC’s The Cosby Show (1984–92), earned her Emmy Award nominations in the mid ‘80s.

#Muse40for40: Marquita Pool-Eckert (1999)

The award-winning journalist and producer Marquita Pool-Eckert began her career journey at WABC-TV in New York. She continued on to WNET/13 Public TV to then finally making her way to CBS and becoming the senior producer at CBS News, overseeing production at CBS Sunday Morning.

#Muse40for40: Sally Field (1994)

Sally Field is an actor and director who has received two Academy Awards among many other accolades. She began her career in television in the series Gidget in the mid 60’s.

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