//player.vimeo.com/video/71992175
DuVernay | SAY YES from @AFFRM on Vimeo.
September 18th through the 22nd, the 17th annual Urbanworld Film Festival presented some of the most interesting feature films, shorts, documentaries, readings, and panels. Although many of the films shown were by male directors, there was a large female presence, both in front of and behind the camera, as well as behind the scenes helping to put the festival together.
Stacy Spikes founded the Urbanworld Film Festival, but he admitted during Opening Night that the festival could not come together without Executive Producer/Head of Programming Gabrielle Glore. Glore’s tireless effort and dedication has been instrumental in allowing the festival to become as successful as it has been over the last 17 years.
For the past 6 years, BET Networks has been a sponsoring partner at Urbanworld with Loretha Jones, President of Original Programming for BET Networks, representing BET at the festival, providing a sponsor welcome in the festival program.
Although not present at the festival, Grammy Winning Singer Alicia Keys was probably the most high profile producer with a film at the festival this year. Keys is the Executive Producer of George Tillman’s film, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Peter. Starring Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Hudson, the film closed the festival and is an example of powerful women in the film industry holding the spotlight, whether in front of the camera or behind.
In addition to movies produced and distributed by major studios, there were quite a few features and short films by women directors. They included: The Volunteer by Vicky Wright, Boneshaker by Frances Bodomo, El Doctor by Heather de Michele, Journeymen by Sarah Jenkins, Rosita Lopez for President by Rachel Goldberg, Say Yes by Ava DuVernay, Sweet Honey Chile by Talibah Newman, The Grown-Ups by Kaliyah Warren, A Lovely Day by Kerri Gawryn, Children of the Wind by Daphne Schomon, Lillie Baller by Crystal McCrary, The New Public by Jyllian Gunther, Colored My Mind: The Diagnosis by Nia T. Hill, and Nailgasm: The Nail Art Documentary by Ayla Montgomery.
As the Urbanworld Film Festival continues to grow and showcase women’s talents, it is indeed cause to celebrate some “Girl Power.”
– Judith Davis @WriterJudy
nywift
Related Posts
NYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Mattie Akers
NYWIFT member and seasoned archival producer Mattie Akers is making a powerful mark at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, where the documentary For Venida, For Kalief will have its world premiere as part of the Documentary Competition lineup. Directed by Sisa Bueno, the film explores the enduring impact of Kalief Browder and his mother Venida Browder, whose lives were tragically shaped by systemic injustice. Told through poetry, activism, and powerful archival material, the film is a deeply moving reflection on loss, resilience, and legacy. With over two decades in the documentary field, Akers brings her passion for social issues, historical research, and storytelling to the forefront in this timely and emotional project.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen
The 2025 Tribeca Festival is set to thrill audiences with the world premiere of Last Resort, a bold new thriller/sci-fi podcast series blending razor-sharp satire and psychological suspense. Among the dynamic cast are longtime collaborators and NYWIFT members Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen — an award-winning creative duo known for their boundary-pushing work across stage and screen. In this exclusive interview, the real-life couple opens up about their experience working together as actors on Last Resort, a project helmed by fellow NYWIFT member Melanie Armer and writer/creator Chance Muehleck. From their reflections on artistic community and inspiration, to the impact of premiering at Tribeca, Blank and Jensen give us a heartfelt, humorous, and deeply insightful glimpse into what makes Last Resort such a resonant and genre-defying story.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Eileen Zyko Wolter
Please meet NYWIFT Member Eileen Zyko Wolter, a creator, writer, and actress whose journey has taken her from a Connecticut childhood shaped by a first-generation Muslim Albanian father and a mother descended from the Revolutionary War and Salem Witch Trials to the set of Queens of the Dead, premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. With a background in art history and film from Vassar College and training from The Atlantic Theater Company, The Actors Studio, and The Beverly Hills Playhouse, Eileen brings a unique blend of intellect, passion, and grit to every role. In this interview, Eileen shares what it was like to portray a zombie in Tina Romero’s thrilling directorial debut, her lifelong dream of joining SAG-AFTRA, and her love for the NYWIFT community that helped reignite her acting ambitions.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Producer and Casting Director Lois Drabkin
New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is proud to spotlight member Lois Drabkin, a dynamic force in the world of independent cinema. As the Co-Producer and Casting Director of Ride or Die, premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Festival as part of the prestigious U.S. Narrative Competition, Drabkin continues to champion bold, character-driven storytelling. With a career spanning acclaimed features such as Nancy, Colewell, and Glass Chin, and casting credits on groundbreaking projects like HBO’s The Wire and Showtime’s Years of Living Dangerously, Lois shares insights into her creative process, the evolution of Ride or Die, and her enduring commitment to supporting women in film.
READ MORE
