Our Next Program
NYWIFT @ Woodstock Film Festival - "Creative Control: Censorship, Film Audiences and Free Speech"
18 Oct 2025 @ 01:30pm
Throughout history, creators have faced the challenge of industry and government censorship, with authorities attempting to control the narratives and themes presented on screen. Despite these restrictions, many filmmakers have bravely pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, using their work to highlight social and political issues, and advocate for freedom of speech. Storytellers have subverted such restrictions using techniques like metaphor or allegory, contributing to the evolution of the medium and preserving cultural heritage.
This panel co-presented with Woodstock Film Festival, will bring together documentary and narrative filmmakers with industry leaders to discuss the complex interplay between artistic freedom and societal values, in both a historical and contemporary context.
Panelists include Julia Bacha, Melissa Leo, Yoruba Richen, and Kim A. Snyder. Moderated by NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez.
LATEST blogs
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Andrea Ocampo
Welcome to NYWIFT, Andrea Ocampo! Andrea is a first-generation Colombian filmmaker. She is drawn to the quiet forces that have shaped her: obsession, memory, and identity in flux. She is a proud artist who directs with a lens for the psychological and surreal, blending documentary realism with fiction laced in intimate mystery. Her latest short Blackout is a psychological thriller set in the NYC subway, and it premiered to a sold-out crowd on September 13th, 2025, at Imagine This Women’s Film Festival. She navigates global crises and inner landscapes with equal urgency. Her work has a raw, honest, and quietly haunted feel to it. Chances are you’ll feel it before you understand it. We spoke to Andrea in late Summer. She recounts her experience in the film industry, tracing her path from a passionate young filmmaker in her early childhood to the successful professional she has become.
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Toni Manohar
Welcome to NYWIFT, Toni Manohar! Toni is a passionate creative and writer, working on fiction and non-fiction works, screenplays, and original piano compositions. By day, she is a technical writer and project manager in the pharmaceutical industry, but her creative endeavors occupy her nights and weekends. Writing and creating good stories has been a dream of Toni’s since she was a child, and one that she continues to pursue. She’s excited to be a part of this community and to connect with the like-minded filmmakers of NYWIFT!
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Iris De Vita
Welcome to NYWIFT, Iris De Vita! Iris De Vita is the founder of Golden Iris, LLC, where she combines her talents as a photographer and publicist to help clients shine. She also works as a talent booker for The Donna Drake Show. Specializing in portrait and event photography, as well as PR for artists, performers, and small businesses, Iris brings a creative yet strategic approach to every project. Iris’s work has supported films, festivals, and artistic events, drawing audiences and capturing lasting memories. Based on Long Island and in New York City, she is passionate about telling stories, whether through the perfect photograph or a compelling publicity campaign. In our interview, Iris discusses her photography, her promotional work with artists and events, and her love of connecting audiences with art!
Maria Miles Previews the 2025 New York Greek Film Expo
As former NYWIFT Board Member Maria C. Miles finishes up her first year as President of the Hellenic Film Society, we sat down with her on the eve of the New York Greek Film Expo to discuss her time with the organization and what we have to look forward to at this year’s fest. Mary is the founder of an entertainment law practice with offices in New York. Maria’s practice focuses on all areas of entertainment law, including film (narrative and documentary), music, literary publishing, and digital media. She has represented award-winning producers, directors, writers, actors, television hosts, multi-platinum recording artists, and corporations in the fashion and sports industries related to their entertainment matters. Maria is the Executive Director of the Hellenic Films Society, USA, and served as Secretary of the board of New York Women in Film & Television. She continues to serve NYWIFT as their legal counsel. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema and the School for Visual Arts, as well as an Adjunct Instructor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
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