NYWIFT Blog

NYWIFT Member Screening: Darcy and Keep Your Head Up, Sweet Pea!

Join us for this month’s virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of two coming-of-age stories: the narrative short Keep Your Head Up, Sweet Pea! and dramatic feature Darcy, followed by a Q&A with mother-daughter filmmaking duo Heidi Philipsen Meissner and Sophie Meissner. 

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NYWIFT Member Screening: C/O Kancharapalem

Join us for this month’s virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of the narrative feature C/O Kancharapalem, produced by and starring NYWIFT member Praveena Paruchuri. The film weaves together several multi-generational love stories in the small town of Kancharapalem, India. 

The film was one-of-a-kind in the studio- and star-driven South Indian film industry. Independently produced by Paruchuri, it was shot on location with all of the cast of 80 "actors" selected from the residents of the village itself after a month-long workshop.

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NYWIFT Member Screening: There She Is

Join us for this month’s virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of Tracey Anarella's documentary feature, There She Is, which explores the confluence of beauty pageants and feminism in the #MeToo era. It explores the "who" and "why" of women in beauty pageants, emphasizing the #MeToo era. It examines the “good” (developmentally disabled and LGBTQ pageants), “bad” (exploitive pageants), and the really “ugly” (child pageants).

Screen the film over the weekend then join us for a Q&A with director/producer Tracey Anarella moderated by NYWIFT Community Engagement Director Katie Chambers.

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NYWIFT Member Screening: The Dilemma of Desire

Join us for this month’s virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of Maria Finitzo's documentary feature, The Dilemma of Desire, which explores the work of four women who are shattering myths and lies about female sexual desire, bodies and - ultimately - power. 

The film will be available to all who register to view via an exclusive link at any time throughout the weekend of May 20, 2021.

Then, join us for a special Q&A with the director and subjects on Zoom moderated by writer, comedian, and podcaster Jourdain Searles.

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NYWIFT Virtual Hangout with The Gotham

Gather together online with your NYWIFT colleagues at our April virtual speed networking mixer. We will be joined by our friends from The Gotham (formerly IFP)!

Come ready to share creative ideas, suggestions, and contact info for further engagement. 

We will begin the evening with a brief salon conversation with The Gotham's Deputy Director Kia Brooks to discuss the organization's latest opportunities and initiatives, followed by an hour of speed networking. The hour will be broken up into smaller chunks of time, during which you will be randomly paired off with other attendees to network one-on-one. 

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NYWIFT Member Screening: No Fear No Favor

Join us for this month’s FREE virtual NYWIFT Member Screening as we honor Earth Day with Mirra Bank's documentary feature, No Fear No Favor, about African communities fighting the poaching crisis by protecting their wildlife for future generations.

Watch the films any time Thursday, April 22 at 3 PM through Monday, April 26, then join us for a Q&A with Mirra Bank moderated by acclaimed wildlife journalist Peter Canby.

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NYWIFT Virtual Hangout with ITVS

Gather together online with your NYWIFT colleagues at our February virtual speed networking mixer. We will be joined by our friends from ITVS!

Come ready to share creative ideas, suggestions, and contact info for further engagement. 

We will begin the evening with a brief salon conversation with ITVS leaders to discuss their latest grants and initiatives, followed by an hour of speed networking. The hour will be broken up into smaller chunks of time, during which you will be randomly paired off with other attendees to network one-on-one. 

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NYWIFT Member Screening: Social Impact Shorts Program

Women filmmakers throughout history have often been at the forefront of advancing social change.

Join us for this month’s virtual NYWIFT Member Screening as we honor Women's History Month with our special Social Impact Shorts Program, showcasing nine short films by our members from a variety of genres, each of which raises awareness for a different social issue in its own unique way. 

The films will be available to all who register to view via an exclusive link at any time throughout the weekend of March 25th. Then, join us for a special Q&A with the filmmakers on Zoom on Monday the 29th.

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NYWIFT Virtual Hangout: Actors + Filmmakers Night

Gather together online with your NYWIFT colleagues at our February virtual speed networking mixer. We will be joined by our friends from SAG-AFTRA!

Come ready to share creative ideas, suggestions, and contact info for further engagement. While all are welcome, we encourage filmmakers casting their next project to attend to meet on-camera and voiceover talent. 

We will begin the evening with a brief salon conversation between SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President and New York Local President Rebecca Damon and NYWIFT Executive Director Cynthia Lopez to discuss organizational initiatives and the latest industry updates, followed by an hour of speed networking. The hour will be broken up into smaller chunks of time, during which you will be randomly paired off with other attendees to network one-on-one. 

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NYWIFT Member Screening: before/during/after

Join us for February's virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of before/during /after, a narrative feature produced, written by, and starring member Finnerty Steeves and executive produced by NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer.

before / during / after is the story of Jennie Lonergan, a middle-aged NYC theatre actress who is forced to figure out the kind of person she wants to be when her seemingly perfect 15-year marriage comes to an abrupt end after she catches her husband having an affair.

Watch the film then attend a Q&A with the creative team, moderated by NYWIFT Community Engagement Director Katie Chambers.

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NYWIFT Virtual Hangout: Welcome to 2021

Gather together online with your NYWIFT colleagues at our first virtual speed networking mixer of 2021! Catch up with friends (and make new ones) post-holiday season as we gear up for a brighter New Year.

Come ready to share creative ideas, suggestions, and contact info for further engagement.

NYWIFT hangouts are a safe space to ask entertainment related questions, seek advice, employment and other industry opportunities. Prep your elevator pitch and get ready to make connections!

As always, all members are welcome and encouraged to attend and mix, mingle and get to know our dynamic and talented members and staff in an informal setting.

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NYWIFT Member Screening: Making the Impossible Possible

Join us for January's virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of Tami Gold and Pam Sporn's short documentary Making the Impossible Possible, which tells the untold story of the student led struggle to win Puerto Rican Studies at Brooklyn College, CUNY, in the late 1960’s.

Watch the film: Any time Thursday, January 14 at 3 PM through Tuesday, January 19 at 5 PM

Join the Q&A: Tuesday, January 19 at 5 PM EST

The film will be available to all who register to view via an exclusive link at any time throughout the weekend of January 14. Then, join us for a special Q&A with the producers on Zoom, moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Rachel Watanabe-Batton.

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NYWIFT Virtual Hangout and Salon Talk with Vision Maker Media

Gather together online with your NYWIFT colleagues at our November virtual speed networking mixer. We will be joined by our friends at Vision Maker Media!

Come ready to share creative ideas, suggestions, and contact info for further engagement.

We will begin the evening with a brief salon conversation between Vision Maker Media Executive Director Francene Blythe-Lewis and NYWIFT Board VP Yvonne Russo to discuss organizational initiatives, followed by an hour of speed networking. The hour will be broken up into smaller chunks of time, during which you will be randomly paired off with other attendees to network one-on-one. 

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NYWIFT Member Screening: Illusions

Join us for this month’s virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of NYWIFT Muse honoree Julie Dash's groundbreaking narrative short film, Illusions, which was preserved with support from the NYWIFT Women's Film Preservation Fund.  

The film will be available to all who register to view via an exclusive link at any time throughout the weekend of November 5th. Then, join us for a special Q&A Jillian Borders (UCLA) and Michelle Materre (The New School) on Zoom, during which we will discuss the film's historical and cultural significance and gain insights into the film preservation process. 

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NYWIFT Virtual Hangout with Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB)

Gather together online with your NYWIFT colleagues at our next virtual speed networking mixer. We will be joined by our friends at Latino Public Broadcasting in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month! Come ready to share creative ideas, suggestions, and contact info for further engagement.

The hour-long event will be broken up into smaller chunks of time, during which you will be randomly paired off with other attendees to network one-on-one. 

NYWIFT hangouts are a safe space to ask entertainment related questions, seek advice, employment and other industry opportunities. Prep your elevator pitch and get ready to make connections!

As always, all NYWIFT members are welcome and encouraged to attend and mix, mingle and get to know our dynamic and talented members and staff in an informal setting.

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NYWIFT Member Screening: Power to Heal

Join us for this month’s virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of the documentary feature Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution, produced by NYWIFT member Roberta Friedman.

Power to Heal is the untold story of how the twin struggles for racial justice and healthcare intersected: creating Medicare and desegregating thousands of hospitals at the same time.

The film will be available to all who register to view via an exclusive link at any time throughout the weekend of October 1st. Then, join us for a special Q&A with the producers on Zoom on Monday, October 5th, moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Kuye Youngblood.

This special NYWIFT Member Screening is free for all to attend.

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NYWIFT Virtual Hangout – September Pre-Emmy’s Mixer

Gather together online with your NYWIFT colleagues - and toast this year's Emmy season! - on our next virtual speed networking mixer. Come ready to dish on your favorite shows, and share creative ideas, suggestions, and contact info for further engagement. 

The hour-long event will be broken up into smaller chunks of time, during which you will be randomly paired off with other attendees to network one-on-one. 

NYWIFT hangouts are a safe space to ask entertainment related questions, seek advice, employment and other industry opportunities. Prep your elevator pitch and get ready to make connections!

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NYWIFT Member Screening: Long Way from Home

Join us for this month’s virtual NYWIFT Member Screening of Kavery Kaul's documentary Long Way from Home. Hailed by historian Robin Kelley as “one of the most powerful and inspiring documentaries of our era,” in this moving and provocative story, three remarkable girls enter ninth grade at top schools steeped in bias towards race, class, and culture. Now coming upon its 10-year anniversary, the documentary speaks to the still unfulfilled need for cultural change.

The film will be available to all who register to view via an exclusive link at any time throughout the weekend of September 10th. Then, join us for a special Q&A with the filmmaker and one of the documentary subjects on Zoom on Monday, September 14th moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Rachel Watanabe-Batton.

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