New York Women in Film & Television’s events for April 2014:
Power Player Breakfast: Jana Bennett, President, A+E Networks’ FYI & LMN
Thursday, April 3, 8:30 am
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, 488 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
A+E Networks executive Jana Bennett, who manages two of the company’s fastest growing networks, will speak about her broadcasting career spanning global markets at A+E, BBC, TLC and Discovery.
Writing Seminar: Engaging the Feminine Heroic
Monday, April 7, 6:30 pm
Writers Guild of America, East 250 Hudson Street
Author Dara Marks will dig into the creative process, exploring female characters and the interior terrain of strong storytelling. While many writers are familiar with the Hero’s Journey, its counterpart, the Feminine Heroic, is often lost or distorted when employed in literature. The former aims to discover, defend and declare; in contrast, the feminine aims for communion and connection. Attendees will discuss these themes as related to narrative devices and developing effective stories.
Documentaries for Television: Extending Your Reach
Wednesday, April 9, 7 pm
Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, 20 Cooper Square, 7th Floor
With the growing demand for documentary content in broadcast television, questions emerge regarding the acquisition process, connecting with television executives and producing successful, appropriate content. Join the folks behind Mysterious Human Heart, Detropia and Mondays at Racine for a panel on how network partnerships can expand a documentary’s reach.
The Ultimate Confidence-Building Workshop
Thursday, April 10, 12:30 pm
NYWIFT Office, 6 East 39th Street, Suite 1200
Does a lack of confidence hold you back in your entertainment career? Do you feel intimidated at networking events? Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this workshop by Jim Arnoff, a certified career coach and television packaging agent, will give you the insider’s technique to embrace your strengths and pitch with confidence.
Go Green! Greener Alternatives for Your Production, Your Home and Your Life
Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 pm
NYWIFT celebrates Earth Day with a Go Green! panel featuring women at the forefront of today’s environmental issues. They will discuss what we can do for a greener planet. From NYC neighborhood initiatives to greening film and TV productions to the future of the rain forest, Go Green! will be a lively and informative conversation.
NYWIFT Member Screening Series: CAN
Tuesday, April 29, 7 pm
Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue at 2nd Street
How does one heal from mental illness? Pearl Park’s documentary CAN follows Can Truong, a war refugee who was among the millions of boat people who fled Vietnam in 1979, as he searches for healing, dignity and recovery from bipolar disorder. A Q&A will follow the screening.
nywift
Related Posts
NYWIFT Member Spotlight: Kathryn O’Kane
Today, we’re shining a spotlight on former NYWIFT Board Member Kathryn O’Kane! Kathryn is the co-director and co-writer of the short comedic film Subtext, which has been accepted into the 2025 LA Shorts International Film Festival, screening July 26 at 7:45 p.m. LA Shorts is the longest-running short film festival in Los Angeles. The festival screens over 400 films and attracts 10,000 attendees each year, including Hollywood industry professionals and emerging undiscovered independent filmmakers. Subtext follows Eric, who is running late to his first date with Sara, and he just can’t stop texting. A feeling so many of us, unfortunately, are bound to relate to. Kathryn sat down with co-director, co-writer, and editor Christopher Raby to talk to us about their creative process.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Christine Stoddard
Welcome to NYWIFT, Christine Stoddard! Christine Stoddard is a filmmaker, TV personality, and video artist named one of Brooklyn Magazine’s Top 50 Most Fascinating People. Her latest film is 5 Ways I Didn’t Marry You, directed by Tom Dunn. A 2025 graduate of Columbia Journalism School and the Columbia Painting Intensive, she creates imaginative films, deeply reported TV programs, and playful videos. Currently, she hosts the TV show Don't Mind If I Don't with Aaron Gold. She also runs the YouTube channel Stoddard Says and terrorizes the Internet with her alter ego Art Bitch. Her feature film, Sirena's Gallery, is streaming on Amazon and Tubi and was featured in The Brooklyn Rail. As founder of Quail Bell Press & Productions, her film and theater projects have been recognized by the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, the Puffin Foundation, the Brooklyn Arts Council, and other organizations. Get to know Christine, her roots in the film industry, and her experiences as a TV host!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Andrea Frierson
Welcome to NYWIFT, Andrea Frierson! Two-time Helen Hayes Award nominee Andrea Frierson is a Dramatists Guild Fellow, a NYSCA grant recipient, and a Library of Congress Award-winner (Ethnographic Research, American Folklife). Her plays and musicals have been produced by Lincoln Center Theater and the York Theatre Company in NYC, among others. As an actor, her Broadway productions include: The Lion King, Once on This Island, Bring in ‘Da Noise/Bring in ‘Da Funk, Eubie!, For Colored Girls, Marie Christine, and Julie Taymor’s Juan Darien: A Carnival Mass. Television appearances include: Quantico, Pose, Red Oaks, Elementary, and Harlem. Andrea was a series regular on the Nickelodeon TV series, Allegra’s Window. In our interview, Andrea discusses her experiences as a writer, actor, and singer, and her journey writing her memoir.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Laci Joseph
Welcome to NYWIFT, Laci Joseph! Laci Joseph is a graduating senior at Temple University, earning her B.A. in Film and Media Arts in Spring 2025. She is passionate about production design and visual storytelling, with a focus on African American culture, history, and uplifting marginalized communities. Her creative interests include themes of love, romance, identity, and global exploration. Laci aspires to design for music videos, short films, and documentaries, while also bringing her own passion projects to life. Through her work, she aims to build immersive visual worlds that inspire connection, celebrate culture, and reflect powerful, underrepresented stories. Laci discusses what brought her to film, projects she is currently working on, and the themes she conveys through her work!
READ MORE
