Our Next Program
NYWIFT Masterclass: Comedy Writing
15 Sep 2025 @ 06:30pm
Join NYWIFT for our Masterclass Series: Comedy Writing with Saturday Night Live writers Alison Gates and Emily Spivey.
Step inside the writers’ room with two acclaimed Saturday Night Live writers as they share their secrets and skills of crafting sketches that land. Whether you’re an aspiring comedian, writer, or just a fan of great comedy, you’ll gain insider tips, writing strategies, and plenty of laughs along the way.
LATEST blogs
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Courtney DeStefano
Welcome to NYWIFT, Courtney DeStefano! Courtney grew up in a small town, where she spent hours devouring old movies and pouring through every indie-film magazine she could get her hands on. She graduated with a BFA in Film & Television from NYU Tisch School of the Arts before embarking on her editing career where she worked with clients like CBS, Bravo, Showtime, BET, NatGeo, Discovery & TLC. She’s spent the last several years dividing her time between chasing after her three young sons and hiding in her home office to write. Her work has been recognized by the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards, PANO Network, Hollyshorts and the PAGE Awards, among others. In our interview, Courtney discussed her small-town inspirations, how editing informs her writing and directing, and her latest short film.
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Alex Kokenis
Welcome to NYWIFT, Alex Kokenis! Alex Kokenis (she/her) is a queer filmmaker and editor living in Brooklyn, NY. Her last short film, A Pickle and a Coke, is currently in its festival run, recently winning Best Script at Chicago Film Frenzy. Through her production company, It’s a Long Story Productions, Alex has co-written and co-directed two short films, Wednesday, and The Root, as well as directed and edited music videos. When she is not creating her own work, she is a passionate editor and loves to bring others’ stories to life. Alex is currently an Assistant Editor for narrative features and a proud member of IATSE Local 700. She cites Steven Soderbergh and the Duplass Brothers as her main inspirations for storytelling. She loves a good vest and to go bowling.
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Sara Newton
Welcome to NYWIFT, Sara Newton! Sara is a director and cinematographer based in New York and Los Angeles. She is the creator of the MDR Sketch Comedy Show on PBS and has recently returned from an expedition in Antarctica, where she filmed a documentary. Her digital comedy sketches, produced under brands like Made by Tom and Sara, Nightpantz, and Conservation Comedy, have collectively garnered over 5 million views. With a strong foundation in television production, Sara has coordinated hit reality shows such as Love & Hip Hop (VH1), Bridezillas (WEtv), and Nellyville (BET). Her extensive experience in physical production led her to spend six years at Gunpowder & Sky, where she managed production across various platforms and developed sizzle reels for network pitches. Additionally, she served as the cinematographer for the experimental film Dust Flow: A Meditative Experience, also produced by Gunpowder & Sky. As of 2025, Sara is Head of Content for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and is set to direct a feature film this fall. Sara shares her journey as an unconventional storyteller who is not afraid to explore new platforms and storytelling formats.
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Diana Rehnlund
Welcome to NYWIFT, Diana Rehnlund! Diana Rehnlund is a Set Designer working on a diverse variety of projects, including The Girl from Plainville, Juror #2, The Fabulous Four, and Clean Slate. Diana holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Philadelphia University (2010) and a Master of Fine Arts in Production Design from SCAD (2018). After moving to Savannah, Georgia for graduate school, she began working in the film industry as a PA, Art Department Coordinator, and then as a Set Designer (IATSE Local 491). Diana's background includes designing custom food trucks, millwork, and cabinetry, and mentoring students. Diana's most recent projects include working as a set designer in the art department of the hit TV series The Hunting Wives and The Righteous Gemstones. Having recently returned to New Jersey, she enjoys the creative, collaborative pace of film and television and brings flexibility, detail, and strong problem-solving skills to every project.
OUR sponsors
