Susan Steiger (third from the right), the rest of the NYWIFT board, and Muse honorees take the stage at the 2012 Muse Awards.
At the 2001 Muse Awards, Dede Allen — the first editor to get an exclusive credit on a film — received a standing ovation from a packed house. It’s those moments that make Susan Steiger, NYWIFT’S VP of Special Events, proud to be a part of the popular event year after year.
This year marks the 34th Muse Awards for Outstanding Vision and Achievement and Susan’s third as its chief organizer. She has volunteered at the event since 1998.
NYWIFT’s Muse Awards are full of “extraordinary women from all walks of life and in different professions,“ says Susan. “That makes it really fun.”
A native New Yorker, Susan has worked in politics and network news. She has a law degree, and today, focuses on helping and promoting women in the arts, volunteering with organizations like NYWIFT. “It’s all about what women can do for women,” she says.
Putting together a flagship fundraising event is quite the job. But the chance to honor the women who have been pioneers keeps her motivated, says Susan. (Check out the full list of honorees.)
This year, NYWIFT will honor actors Ellen Barkin (The Big Easy, Broadway’s The Normal Heart), Connie Britton (Nashville), Robin Wright (House of Cards), Sonia Manzano (Sesame Street), Frances Berwick (president of Bravo and Oxygen Media), and Nancy Malone (co-founder, Women in Film and director/producer/actor).
Tickets are now on sale for Muse 2013, being held on December 12 at the New York Hilton.
— MIMI SPILLANE (@mimispillane)
nywift
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Farah Otero-Amad
Welcome to NYWIFT, Farah Otero-Amad! Farah Otero-Amad is a trilingual video producer and host for The Wall Street Journal, where she writes, shoots, and edits short-form vertical videos that reach millions across platforms. She recently directed and produced her first award-winning short documentary, Breaking the Cycle, which follows a hip-hop school in Medellin, Colombia, where students compete for the title of the city’s top breakdancer. Previously, Farah worked for The New York Times, Apple TV’s The Problem with Jon Stewart, and NBC News. She is a graduate of Columbia’s Journalism School, a Fulbright Scholar, and a former Division I athlete.
READ MOREMeet The New NYWIFT Member: Wendy Rubin
Wendy is a financial executive, media veteran, and creator of Fintimacy: A Women's Guide to Financial Freedom. After two decades in entertainment, finance, and private equity, she's on a mission to help women break free from shame and step into financial power. Her work translates the intimidating language of wealth into smart, clear tools for real life, blending strategic rigor with empathy, humor, and real-world insight. She's also an endurance athlete who has completed 10 New York City marathons to date. Wendy told us about her journey from the Midwest to becoming a fractional CFO in media and entertainment, her passion for empowering women through financial literacy, and her exciting upcoming book and podcast series.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Sen-I Yu
Welcome to NYWIFT, Sen-I Yu! Sen-I Yu is a New York-based, award-winning filmmaker originally from Taiwan. Her feature directorial debut My Heavenly City garnered international recognition, including a NETPAC Award nomination at the 43rd Hawaii International Film Festival, Best Picture and IndiePix Vision Award at the 2025 Winter Film Festival, among others. The film secured worldwide theatrical distribution in 2023 throughout Taiwan, Hong Kong, with limited releases in North America and the UK. The Guardian called it a “fresh, thoughtful take on immigrant experience, Sen-I Yu’s sympathetic and humane film traces three loosely woven stories of people dealing with loneliness in New York City…” In our interview, she discusses her debut feature, how her immigrant experience influences her creative process, and the types of stories that inspire her.
READ MOREMeet The NYWIFT Member: Melody Tally
Melody is a multi-hyphenate artist, award-winning actress, screenwriter, filmmaker and engineer. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and her Masters in Business Administration at Trinity Washington University. She studied acting and directing with Vera Katz and Haile Gerima at Howard University and can be seen on Tubi, Netflix, and Amazon Prime in acclaimed films including Residue and Silent Brave. Melody told us about balancing her multidisciplinary skills, how her engineering background influences her approach to artistic and creative projects, including a math book and limited series.
READ MORE
