NYWIFT Blog

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘LFG’

Join us for a screening of LFG, followed by a conversation with director/producers Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine.

LFG is a no-holds-barred, inside account of the U.S. women’s soccer team’s ongoing fight for equal pay as told by Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, Sam Mewis and others. In 2019, the players filed a class-action, gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, three months before the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which sets the stage for LFG.

NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund’s SPOTLIGHT: Presents Groundbreaking Documentaries of the 1970s: Betty Tells Her Story & The Wobblies

The Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF) is supporting these two groundbreaking films for nomination to this year’s National Film Registry.  We believe these films have made a crucial contribution to American cinema and deserve a spot on the list.   

Please join us for this special program of two WFPF preserved films followed by a panel conversation with directors Liane Brandon and Deborah Shaffer. Moderated by award-winning documentarian Mirra Bank.

NYWIFT Industry Screening: ‘Materna’ + Q&A

A closely observed psychological portrait of four women, whose lives are bound together by an incident on the New York City subway.

Join us for a screening of Materna screening from August 9th through 11th, followed by a conversation with Producer Liz Cardenas, Producer Emily McEvoy, and Actor / Co-Writer / Exec Producer Assol Abdullina. Moderated by NYWIFT Program Manager, Barbara Vasconez.

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘The Letter Room’

Nominated for an Oscar® in the Live Action Short Film category, The Letter Room follows an empathetic corrections officer (Oscar Isaac) who finds escape in the deeply personal letters written to an inmate on death row. Co-starring Alia Shawkat. Followed by a pre-recorded conversation with the creative team Elvira Lind, Sofia Sondervan, and Gena Konstantinakos. Moderated by NYWIFT Board President, Jamie Zelermyer.

NYWIFT Industry Screening: ‘Enemies of the State’ Screening + Q&A

An average American family becomes entangled in a bizarre web of espionage and corporate secrets when the U.S. government targets the family's hacker son. Join us for a screening of this new documentary feature, followed by a conversation with Director Sonia Kennebeck. Moderated by NYWIFT Program Manager, Barbara Vásconez.

NYWIFT Industry Screening: ‘Emily @ The Edge of Chaos’ Screening + Q&A

A custom blend of insight and humor, provocation and inspiration, personal stories and social commentary from comedian Emily Levine.

Join us for a screening of Emily @ The Edge of Chaos screening from July 16th through 19th, followed by a conversation with the creative team Thea Kerman, Miriam cutler, Stephen Shroyer, Jeff Shroyer and Ed Chiodo on July 19th at 4pm EST.

NYWIFT Industry Screening: ‘The Land of Azaba’ + Q&A with Greta Schiller and Andrea Weiss

A feature documentary on the subject of ecological restoration and the relationship between climate change and bio diversity loss. Set in the Campanarios de Azaba Nature Reserve in western Spain.

Join us for a screening of The Land of Azaba screening from July 9th, 2021 through July 12th. Followed by a conversation with Directors Greta Schiller and Andrea Weiss. Moderated by NYWIFT Program Manager, Barbara Vasconez.

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘Holler’

Hoping to pay for college, a determined young woman lands a dangerous job working in a scrap metal yard during a brutal winter. With her goal in sight, she soon finds herself torn between a promising future and the family she would leave behind.

Join NYWIFT for a screening of Holler followed by a Q&A with Writer / Director, Nicole Riegel. Moderated by NYWIFT Board Member, Joyce Pierpoline.

NYWIFT Industry Screening: ‘Julia Scotti: Funny That Way’ Screening + Q&A

Decades ago, Julia Scotti performed as Rick Scotti, and appeared on bills with Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. Now, the trans comedian returns to the stage as “the crazy old lady of comedy,” in this tender, funny, and triumphant comeback story.

Join NYWIFT for a screening of Julia Scotti: Funny That Way followed by a Q&A with Director & Producer, Susan Sandler and Comedian, Julia Scotti. Moderated by Tracy E. Gilchrist, Editor in chief of The Advocate 

NYWIFT Talks with Tonya McCornell of the NYWIFT Mom’s Network

On this week's NYWIFT Talks, join us for a conversation with founder of MOM Film Fest and the Mom's Network for NYWIFT, Tonya McCornell. Moderated by Maud Kersnowski-Sachs.

We will discuss the challenge for mothers balancing career and family while working within the demanding and competitive television and film industry.

Fierce Women Podcasters Panel

Fierce Women Podcasters: A conversation with several women filmmakers of color and podcasters discussing emerging Afro-Latino voices in the United States who are working to create more visibility for their communities and experiences. In conversation with Rocio Mendez, Mercedes Illarraza, Grasie Mercedes, Ona Oghogho, Sola Adenekan, and Julissa Contreras. 

NYWIFT Talks: The Writers Lab 2021

Join us for a conversation with the co-founders of The Writers Lab, Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon to discuss the 7th anniversary of the program, upcoming deadlines, lessons learned from women script writers over 40 and new and exciting opportunities. Moderated by NYWIFT Board President, Jamie Zelermyer.

NYWIFT Talks with The Creative Coalition’s Robin Bronk

On this week's NYWIFT Talks, join CEO of The Creative Coalition, Robin Bronk, moderated by NYWIFT Advisory Board President Simone Pero.

The Creative Coalition is a non-profit social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and activating its members on issues of public importance.

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘Test Pattern’

Join us on February 23rd for a screening of Test Pattern followed by a conversation.

Test Pattern follows an interracial couple whose relationship is put to the test after a Black woman is sexually assaulted and her white boyfriend drives her from hospital to hospital in search of a rape kit. Q&A date will be announced soon.

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘A Thousand Cuts’

Join us on Tuesday, February 16th for a screening of A Thousand Cuts followed by a conversation with the creative team Ramona Diaz (Director & Producer), Raney Aronson-Rath (Executive Producer), Leah Marino (Editor/Producer), and Julie Goldman (Producer). Moderated by Brenda Robinson, President, International Documentary Association.

In this powerful documentary, journalist Maria Ressa risks her life and freedom as an outspoken critic of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

NYWIFT Talks Covid Waivers

On this week's NYWIFT Talks, the first installment in a two-part series, we are joined by attorney Anna Broccolo to discuss COVID waivers as part of a series of conversations of the future of film regulations.

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

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘Identifying Features’

Join us on Monday, January 25th for a screening/conversation of the film Identifying Features.

Middle-aged Magdalena (Mercedes Hernandez) has lost contact with her son after he took off with a friend from their town of Guanajuato to cross the border into the U.S., hopeful to find work. Desperate to find out what happened to him—and to know whether or not he’s even alive—she embarks on an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous journey to discover the truth. At the same time, a young man named Miguel (David Illescas) has returned to Mexico after being deported from the U.S., and eventually his path converges with Magdalena’s.

From this simple but urgent premise, director Fernanda Valadez has crafted a lyrical, suspenseful slow burn, equally constructed of moments of beauty and horror, and which leads to a startling, shattering conclusion. Winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Audience and Screenplay Awards at the Sundance Film Festival.

NYWIFT Talks with Founder and CEO of CREW, Sharon Nelson

In this week’s NYWIFT Talks, join the Founder and CEO of CREW TV, Sharon Nelson This discussion will cover CREW TV's mission and what it means for women in film. We'll also discuss women's history and how documentary filmmakers can amplify those unheard voices. 

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Program Manager, Barbara Vásconez.