NYWIFT Blog

NYWIFT Talks SXSW 2021

We are joined by SXSW leaders Janet Pierson (Director of Film) and Claudette Godfrey (Senior Programmer) to discuss what SXSW 2021 looks like, how the pandemic affected them, and what they are doing to reclaim that momentum for filmmakers.

Moderated by Easmanie Michel, NYWIFT’s Special Projects Associate.

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. 

NYWIFT Talks: ‘Making a Way out of No Way’: The Importance of Amplifying BIPOC and Black Women Voices with Visionary New York Media Arts Organizations

NYWIFT celebrates Black History Month by honoring the accomplishments and contributions of Black and BIPOC filmmakers.

In this week’s NYWIFT Talks, we return with part 2 of our conversation with NY Media Arts Organization that represent diversity artists. Learn how Black Public Media, Third World Newsreel, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, and Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series have continued to push their mission to amplify Black and BIPOC voices who have been battling against marginalization outside the mainstream. 

In discussion with Carolyn Butts, Leslie Fields-Cruz, JT Takagi, and Victoria Bert, and moderator to be announced.

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘Flower Punk’ with Director Alison Klayman

Join director Alison Klayman to discuss her new film Flower Punk. We'll talk about releasing a film in the time of COVID-19 and virtual screenings. Plus, updates on her new work.

Flower Punk is a hypnotizing short documentary that brings you inside the work and process of Japanese artist Azuma Makoto. After watching, you won't be able to think about flowers the same way again.

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Joyce Pierpoline.

NYWIFT Talks: NYWIFT Goes to Sundance

Join us for this NYWIFT Talk with NYWIFT Members at Sundance 2021! Spotlighted are Michele Stephenson and Margarethe Baillou, discussing their experience participating at this year's online Sundance Film Festival, working to complete a film during covid, and how they envision making an impact with their work/creativity during the pandemic.

Moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Gretchen McGowan.

HBO & NYWIFT Present: Industry Screening + Conversation: ‘I Hate Suzie’

Join us on Wednesday, January 13th for a pre-recorded conversation with the creative team of HBO Max original series, I Hate Suzie. Panelists to be announced.

Suzie Pickles, a star on the wane, has her whole life upended when her phone is hacked and a photo of her in an extremely compromising position is released for the whole world to see. This excruciatingly honest show follows the various stages of Suzie’s trauma episode by episode, through Shock, Denial, Fear, Shame, Bargaining, Guilt, Anger, and Acceptance as Suzie and her best friend and manager Naomi try to hold her life, career, and marriage together in the face of being exposed for who she truly is. But who the hell even is that?

NYWIFT Talks with Director Isabel Sandoval

For this week's 2021 NYWIFT Talks, join director Isabel Sandoval to discuss her first film Lingua Franca and the impact she made at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival. Lingua Franca the first film directed by and starring a trans woman of color ever to screen in competition.

NYWIFT Talks are free for all to attend.

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.

NYWIFT Industry Screening: A Conversation with Gloria Steinem and “A Life Too Short” director Safyah Zafar Usmani (A Film about Honor Killing in Pakistan)

Join us on Friday, December 18th for a conversation with A Life Too Short Director Safyah Zafar Usmani! Moderated by writer, political activist, and feminist organizer, Gloria Steinem.

This free event is for NYWIFT members only.

The film examines the startling tragedy behind the killing of Pakistani activist and social media star, Qandeel Baloch.  A vocal, provocative proponent of women’s rights and freedom of expression, Qandeel challenged the highest ranks of power in her country with her open exclamation of women’s equality and sexuality. Her bravery and outspokenness ended in chilling violence that reverberates around the world. 

NYWIFT Talks with Founder/CEO of ShivHans Pictures, Shivani Rawat

In this week’s NYWIFT Talks, join Founder/CEO of ShivHans Pictures, Shivani Rawat, to discuss her upcoming Lionsgate film Wander Darkly, in which she produced. We'll also discuss ShivHans Pictures and their goals. 

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Board Member, Kuye Youngblood.

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. 

HBO & NYWIFT Present: NYWIFT Talks with ‘Crazy, Not Insane’ Producer Ophelia Harutyunyan

In this week’s NYWIFT Talks, join Producer Ophelia Harutyunyan for a Zoom conversation. We’ll focus on her new HBO Documentary Crazy, Not Insane, which airs on HBO on November 18, 2020.

Psychiatrist Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis has dedicated her career to the study of murderers, seeking answers to the question of why we kill. This provocative documentary explores, like a scientific detective story, Dr. Lewis’s lifelong attempts to look beyond the grisly details of homicides into the hearts and minds of the killers themselves.

NewFest & NYWIFT Present: Filmmaker Virtual Roundtable

Hear from the narrative, documentary, and episodic filmmakers featured at NewFest this year as they discuss their work from funding to completion to the film festival landscape. Panelists include Hang Nguyen (director, Sideways Smile), Olivia Peace (director, Tahara), and Susan Sandler (director, Julia Scotti: Funny This Way).

Moderated by NYWIFT Program Manager Barbara Vásconez.

NYWIFT Talks with Lauren Lake

In this week’s NYWIFT Talks, join the host of the Emmy-winning show Lauren Lake's Paternity Court. We’ll focus on Lauren's career in unscripted television and her activism for Women's Rights and Inclusion in Hollywood!

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Maria C. Miles.

NYWIFT Talks are free for all to attend.

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.

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.

NYWIFT Talks with Executive Director & Co-Head of Toronto Film Festival Joana Vicente

Join Executive Director & Co-Head of Toronto Film Festival Joana Vicente for a conversation with Award Winning Writer/Director and Founder of Iguana FilmsMaria Agui Carter!

This edition of NYWIFT Talks is free for all to attend.

HBO & NYWIFT Present: ‘Unpregnant’ Virtual Screening + Q&A with Director Rachel Lee Goldenberg

HBO & NYWIFT Present a Virtual Screening of Unpregnant followed by a Q&A with Director Rachel Lee Goldenberg moderated by NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer.

In Unpregnant, 17-year-old Veronica (Haley Lu Richardson) never thought she’d want to fail a test—that is, until she finds herself staring at a piece of plastic with a blue plus. With a promising college-bound future now disappearing before her eyes, Veronica considers a decision she never imagined she’d have to make. Filmmaker Rachel Lee Goldenberg is an Emmy® award-winning producer, director and writer.