NYWIFT Blog

NYWIFT Talks: Moms Working in Film

On this week’s NYWIFT Talks, we are honored to sit down with leading women in film that are changing the narrative of working moms in film. We'll speak with Creative Producer and Founder of mama.film, Lela Meadow-Conner and founder of MOM Film Fest, Tonya Mollineau. This conversation will be lead by Senior Development and Editorial Consultant, Maud Kersnowsi-Sachs.

NYWIFT Talks with Elizabeth A. Corradino and David Rabinowitz of Moses & Singer LLP

Social media posts are full of intellectual property – trademarks, copyrights, publicity rights and more. The temptation is great to connect with the buzz to maximize user engagement, but there is potential for infringement. Are there any rules (yes) guiding how to play in this space without getting the dreaded claim letter? We will discuss what answers there are and ideas for minimizing risk. Conversation with Elizabeth A. Corradino and David Rabinowitz of Moses & Singer LLP.

NYWIFT Talks with Filmmaker Ayana Baraka

On this week’s NYWIFT Talks, we sit down and chat with filmmaker, Ayana Baraka. Moderated by NYWIFT Board Member and Executive Director, Leslie Fields-Cruz.

Retirement Planning for Freelancers and members of the arts and media community – April 2022

Join Certified Financial Planners, Gail Linn and William Fischer at Fortis Lux Financial (an office of MassMutual) for their workshop, Retirement Planning for Freelancers. They will inform about the key concepts needed to consider when it comes to saving for retirement, protection strategies, business transition, estate planning and more.

This event is FREE and open exclusively to NYWIFT members.

NYWIFT & IFC Films Industry Screening: ‘Happening’

France, 1963. Anne is a bright young student with a promising future ahead of her. But when she falls pregnant, she sees the opportunity to finish her studies and escape the constraints of her social background disappearing. With her final exams fast approaching and her belly growing, Anne resolves to act, even if she has to confront shame and pain, even if she must risk prison to do so.

Followed by a Q&A with director Audrey Diwan, actress, Anamaria Vartolomei, and Caren Spruch of Planned Parenthood. Moderated by NYWIFT Board President, Jamie Zelermyer.

Virtual Theatrical Experience: 2022 S.W.A.N. (Support Women Artists Now) Day Screening – ‘Coda’

Join NYWIFT, SAG-AFTRA, FF2 Media, Women in the Arts & Media Coalition (WAMC), HerFlix, In Creative Company, Gotham and African-American Women in Cinema (AAWIC) for a screening of Coda in recognition of S.W.A.N. (Support Women Artists Now) Day, an annual event on the last Saturday of March that celebrates women artists.

2022 NYWIFT Tech Talks: Day 3: A Conversation with Entertainment Partners

Join us for Day 3 of NYWIFT Tech Talks for an in depth discussion of Entertainment Partners' innovative solutions that support filmmakers from pre-production to final wrap and beyond. Speakers will include Alexis Alexanian and Darren Willner.

2022 NYWIFT Tech Talks: Day 1: Innovation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We’re proud to host our inaugural NYWIFT Tech Talks in partnership with Company 3 and Entertainment Partners (EP). A 4-day virtual conference with media professionals revolutionizing the tech industry and how it’s helped our industry and everyday life adjusting to the current world.

Virtual Theater started during the 2020 pandemic in which distributors and festivals had to pivot to the virtual space to continue to bring films to audiences. Kino Lorber launched Kino Marquee, CineSend was founded in effort to support film festivals stream their films, Vimeo created a live event function, and more. This response has allowed films to be viewed throughout the world and allowed for filmmakers to participate in panels, etc. Welcome Keynote from Aliesha Staples (Staples VR). Speakers include Wendy Lidell (Kino Lorber) and Kaitlyn Schmitt (Perigon).

2022 NYWIFT Tech Talks: Day 4: Emerging Technology in Gaming/VR and AI

Join us for Day 4 of NYWIFT Tech Talks: Emerging Technology in Gaming/VR and AI. Speakers include Tanya DePass (I Need Diverse Games), Siobhan Reddy (Media Molecule), and Mark Barlet (AbleGamers Charity). Speakers from IBM include Dr. Francesca Rossi, Phaedra Boinodiris, and Marisa Viveros.

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘Julia’

NYWIFT invites you to a screening of Julia starting Monday, March 28th to Friday, April 1st. Followed by a conversation with directors, Julie Cohen and Betsy West. Moderated by NYWIFT Board Member, Yvonne Russo.

NDI & NYWIFT Present: Representation Matters for Climate Justice

Join the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and NYWIFT for this incredible panel that will focus on addressing the power imbalances and gender gap in politics and the media caused by excluding and biased representation. These often male-dominated mechanisms - e.g. media production hiring practices and party candidate selection committees - mean that women are shut out of the storytelling and policymaking processes, therefore they are not in control of their own narrative and empowerment.

A globally representative panel of political leaders, media experts and producers will be asked to discuss why representation matters, and provide examples of initiatives across the media and politics which promote a more diverse and intersectional environment. Speakers include Lydia Dean Pilcher (Film Producer & Co-Founder PGA Green), Rachel Lears (Jubilee Films), Emily Wanja (Impact Producer), and Mwanahamisi Singano (Women's Environment and Development Organization).

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘Catch the Fair One’

NYWIFT invites you to a screening of Catch the Fair One starting Tuesday, February 8th from Thursday, February 10th.  Kaylee “K.O.” Uppashaw, a mixed Indigenous boxer, prepares for a championship fight. Her hands are wrapped, gloves taped shut, and face greased. She pounds the mitts with her trainer, Brick. The room echoes with the strength...

NYWIFT Talks at The Sundance Film Festival: ‘Brainwashed’ with Director Nina Menkes

On this week’s NYWIFT Talks, we're headed to the 2022 Sundance Film Festival...virtually! We will be covering some highlights and updating you on new releases coming your way. 

We're sitting down with director Nina Menkes to chat about her new documentary, Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power. Building on her influential cinematic talk, Sex and Power: The Visual Language of Cinema, film director Nina Menkes takes us on an eye-opening journey through the gendered politics of shot design. Using more than 175 film clips from canonical Hollywood favorites and cult classics as well as interviews with filmmakers and scholars, the film reveals a sinister framework of misogyny and paternalism that, from early cinema to the present day, infiltrates some of our favorite movies.

NYWIFT Talks: NYWIFT Goes to Sundance

On this week’s NYWIFT Talks, we're headed to the 2022 Sundance Film Festival...virtually! This week, we will be covering some highlights and updating you on new releases coming your way. We're speaking with some of our NYWIFT members with films at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Speakers include Dawn Porter, Madeleine Olnek, Lois Vossen, Paula Eiselt, and Tonya Lewis Lee. Moderated by NYWIFT Executive Director, Cynthia Lopez.

NYWIFT Talks at The Sundance Film Festival: ‘Hatching’ with Director Hanna Bergholm

Welcome to NYWIFT Talks, a weekly series to bring updated news and vital information about the impact of COVID-19 and current events on the media and entertainment industry. Industry professionals will be in conversation discussing what you need to know about theatrical releases, digital advances, virtual tools, festival opportunities, production updates and more.  NYWIFT Talks...

NYWIFT Industry Screening: MLK|FBI (Q&A Added)

NYWIFT invites you to a screening of MLK|FBI starting Monday, January 17th through Friday, January 21st. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an American hero: a bridge-builder, a shrewd political tactician, and a moral leader. Yet throughout his history-altering political career, he was often treated by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies...

NYWIFT Talks ‘The Lost Daughter’ with Director Maggie Gyllenhaal

A college professor confronts her unsettling past after meeting a woman and her young daughter while on vacation in Italy. Her obsession with the woman and her daughter prompts memories of her early motherhood.

In conversation with Director Maggie Gyllenhaal and NYWIFT Executive Director Cynthia Lopez

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘The Novice’

A college freshman joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost.

A conversation with writer & director Lauren Hadaway and star Isabelle Fuhrman, led by NYWIFT Board Member Gretchen McGowan.