NYWIFT Blog

Virtual Development Program: Demystifying Film Delivery: What Every Producer Should Know

Why should you be thinking about delivery now, when your production is on hold? Because the best time to start preparing for delivery—the crucial, final step needed to ready a film for distribution and GET PAID—is before you begin! And yet, delivery is often an afterthought in financing agreements, production budgets and workflows.

Join Stacey Smith of CinePointe Advisors for a “crash course” in film delivery. Stacey will review delivery terminology, explain how to negotiate the terms of delivery to distributors to save time and money and provide guidance in avoiding common pitfalls specifically related to legal and document delivery.

NYWIFT Talks with The Cherry Picks Co-Founder Miranda Bailey

In this NYWIFT Talks, join The Cherry Picks Co-Founder Miranda Bailey for a Zoom conversation. We’ll focus on how The Cherry Picks has revolutionized female film critics.

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Rachel Watanabe-Batton and is free for all to attend.

POSTPONED NYWIFT Talks with IFP Executive Director Jeffrey Sharp

In this NYWIFT Talk, join Executive Director of IFP Jeffrey Sharp for a Zoom conversation. We’ll focus on on IFP and the future of digital learning within IFP.

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Executive Director Cynthia Lopez and is free for all NYWIFT members to attend.

NYWIFT Talks The Writers Lab with Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon

Join The Writers Lab Co-Founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon for a Zoom conversation. We’ll focus on The Writers Lab and their mission to amplify the voices of women screenwriters over 40. 

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer. 

NYWIFT Talks with New York Film Festival with Eugene Hernandez

In this NYWIFT Talk, join New York Film Festival's Director Eugene Hernandez for a Zoom conversation. We’ll focus on the future of film festivals in New York City including the future of New York Film Festival.

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Senior Development and Editorial Consultant Maud Kersnowski-Sachs.

NYWIFT Talks with Costume Designer Dana Covarrubias

Join Costume Designer and 2018 NYWIFT Designing Women Honoree Dana Covarrubias for a Zoom conversation. We’ll focus on on her career, new projects, and what COVID-19 has meant for her as a costume designer.

This conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer.

(Open to NYWIFT members only. Not a member yet? Go to www.nywift.org/join or email membership@nywift.org to take advantage of our Community Building Membership Campaign discount.)

Virtual Discussion: NYWIFT Talks with Tribeca Film Festival Senior Programmer Lucy Mukerjee

In this NYWIFT Talk, join Tribeca Film Festival's Senior Programmer Lucy Mukerjee. Lucy will discuss Tribeca’s move to digital programming during COVID-19, and how she is continuing her LGBTQ+ advocacy work through her role at the organization

This discussion will be moderated by NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer.

Virtual Event: Call Your Mother Screening + Q&A

Behind every famous comedian, there’s an infamous mom! In the hilarious new documentary Call Your Mother, the film explores the relationships between comedians and their mothers, and how they have indelibly shaped their craft. Please join us for a special sneak peek and panel discussion before the film debuts on Comedy Central on Mother’s Day...

Virtual Discussion: NYWIFT Talks with Filmmaker Rachel Feldman

Join filmmaker Rachel Feldman for a virtual Zoom conversation. Rachel will discuss the COVID-19 effects on filmmakers and what the future holds for her current projects. Feldman is an accomplished director and writer in film and television. She is currently in active development to direct Lilly, a feature film based on the remarkable life of Fair Pay icon Lilly Ledbetter.

The conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Executive Director Cynthia Lopez.

Webinar: Brave New World: Reimagining Film Festivals in a Time of Crisis

When SXSW cancelled, it sent shockwaves through the indie film world. But the creative forces that have kept independent film vibrant over the decades are rising to meet the current crisis. Until we can once again gather in large crowds, the show is going on. Film festivals are moving online or reviving older forms such as using drive-ins for locations to gather at safe physical distances.

This panel brings together a group of creatives to discuss how people and organizations are responding nimbly and re-imagining ways to connect and support filmmakers and audiences. We will explore the possibilities for evolving out of this crisis to create more fluid and far-reaching concepts of film promotion, audience engagement, and distribution.

Join us for a conversation with Laurie Cheatle, Maori Karmael Holmes, Brian Newman, Alison Willmore, and Jeffrey Winter, moderated by Michelle Materre.

Webinar: Documentary Storytelling with Sound Design

Sound design plays an essential and often unrecognized part of nonfiction filmmaking. It can set a mood, illuminate a point of view, or help set you in a place and time. We speak with sound professionals to see and hear what goes into their decision making and creative process. Join us for a conversation with Jacob Ribicoff, Steve "Major" Giammaria, and Becky Goldberg (Moderator).

Webinar: The Business of Adaptations for Film and TV – 2020

Agents, Hollywood producers and publishers are always searching for the next great story, but not all writers start from scratch. Oftentimes, ideas come from the things we see, read, write and hear. The challenge for many is how to transition these materials from their original form of a book, article, and story into a full-fledged viable screenplay and adaptation material for another medium. Savvy industry professionals love to leverage their time and efforts by capitalizing on a story that can be adapted into many forms. Learn from this experienced panel about ways to locate common sources for your story or script and the power and pitfalls of working with adaptations for your project.

Webinar: NYWIFT Talks ImageNation with Moikgantsi Kgama

Join NYWIFT and Moikgantsi Kgama of ImageNation as she speaks from the perspective of the cultural organizations that bring indie films into local communities. She'll discuss the potential broader impact on the industry and the general theater-going experience, as we all wonder: what will the exhibition space look like after the pandemic has ended?

This NYWIFT Talks discussion will be moderated by NYWIFT Board VP of Programming Leslie Fields-Cruz.

Webinar: NYWIFT Talks Casting with Destiny Lilly

Join Casting Director and NYWIFT Board of Directors Vice President Destiny Lilly for a virtual Zoom conversation. Destiny will update us on how the casting world in NYC keeps moving even while film, television, and theatre productions are on hold due to the current health crisis. We'll talk shooting delays, the impact on Broadway, online auditions, self-tape 101 for actors, why producers should always hire a casting director, and more. Casting affects more than just actors - all film and TV professionals are encouraged to bring their questions to to this insightful conversation. And anyone can benefit from self-tape 101; nowadays, working from home, we are all appearing on camera!  This NYWIFT Talks discussion will be moderated by NYWIFT Community Engagement Director Katie Chambers. 

Webinar: NYWIFT Talks Production with Kathryn O’Kane

Join Disney+ showrunner and NYWIFT Board member Kathryn O'Kane for a virtual Zoom conversation. Kathryn will discuss the COVID-19 affects on pre-planned productions and what the future holds for her current projects. This NYWIFT Talks conversation will be moderated by NYWIFT Executive Director Cynthia Lopez.

Webinar: NYWIFT Talks Distance Learning with Dr. Kimberly Greene

Welcome to NYWIFT Talks, a new weekly series to bring updated news and vital information about the impact of COVID-19 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 are free...

Webinar: NYWIFT Talks: Virtual Collaborations with Liz Dreyer

Welcome to NYWIFT Talks, a new weekly series to bring updated news and vital information about the impact of COVID-19 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 are free for all NYWIFT members to attend.  In this week’s inaugural NYWIFT Talk, join virtual collaboration expert Liz Dreyer for a Zoom conversation. We'll focus on tips and best practices for creating productive virtual meetings, including information on preferred platforms and the leading question of the day: "Should you wear pants on video chats?" Liz has facilitated creative digital groups for over 20 years. This discussion will be led by NYWIFT Senior Development Consultant Maud Kersnowski-Sachs.

Webinar: NYWIFT Talks: Virtual Theatrical Experiences with Wendy Lidell

Welcome to NYWIFT Talks, where every week we bring you a new stimulating and proactive virtual conversation with a dynamic array of film and television industry professionals. NYWIFT Talks are free for all NYWIFT members to attend.  In this NYWIFT Talk, we welcome Senior Vice President Wendy Lidell of Kino Lorber. We will discuss the growth of Kino Lorber and their initiative to develop the virtual theatrical experience during a time of uncertainty, while continuing to support art houses everywhere.  This discussion will be led by NYWIFT member Jennifer Wilkov.