Lee Grant with Sidney Poitier in In the Heat of the Night.
I have been a huge fan of Academy Award winner Lee Grant for years. I’ve always enjoyed seeing her perform as an actress—her choices always seemed intelligent, interesting and different. Grant’s off-camera story of being Hollywood blacklisted for 12 years and her struggle to return to the industry is powerful and inspirational. After being stopped in her tracks at the peak of her young career, she not only picked up where she left off, but also reinvented herself as a writer, producer and director.
At 87 years “young” and vibrant, Grant continues to be an inspiration to me. When I learned that her new memoir, I Said Yes to Everything, was being published, I felt her story would be perfect to share with New York Women in Film & Television members so they could be inspired by her as well.
I hope you will join me at a panel that I’m producing, A Conversation with Lee Grant, on Monday, October 27, 6:30 pm at the Tribeca Film Center. Film historian and critic Jeffrey Lyons will lead the discussion, to be followed by a book signing of Grant’s memoir. The event is free for NYWIFT members and its affiliates; $20 for the general public (tickets and more information).
Grant first gained acclaim as a star of stage and screen, then went on to enjoy a distinguished three-decade career as a director of film, television and documentaries. In 1989, Women in Film honored Grant with its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award. She received NYWIFT’s Muse Award in 2004. Grant is a Hollywood icon whose intelligence, grit and passion have made her one of the most respected and beloved figures in the entertainment business.
— TERRY GREENBERG
nywift
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Gina Moore-Herring
Welcome to NYWIFT, Gina Moore-Herring! Writer, Filmmaker, and Digital Content Creator Gina Moore-Herring is a proud New Yorker and graduate of NYU where she studied Digital Communication & Media. Gina, also known as “G”, started her creative journey in the Fashion Industry in production, and as a designer. Her dream job with Calvin Klein led her to Gerber Technology where she worked for 10 1/2 years learning the importance of technology in global business. Her “can do” fearless approach allowed her to build lifelong business networks and travel the world. It is also the catalyst to spearheading her own consulting company, where she uses her business savvy skills to work with corporations, large and small, saving them time and money through her strategic, transformative thinking.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Maura Garnett
Welcome to NYWIFT, Maura Garnett! Fresh out of NYWIFT’s internship program, where she played a crucial role on our Muse Awards volunteer team, Maura now joins the NYWIFT community in our Next Wave program. Maura Garnett is a writer/director who is a recent School of Visual Arts graduate. She specializes in directing and casting. Currently, she's in post-production on Treading, about a young woman's quest for belonging in the city, leading to a series of bad dates. Her film Disoriented, about a life-altering phone call, is on the festival circuit. Playtime, addressing date rape and sexual assault, has earned acclaim at over 30 festivals, including Global Indie Film Festival and New York Movie Awards. Aspiring casting director Maura has interned with Stephanie Klapper Casting and Emmy-winning Avy Kaufman. Now, she's a casting assistant for 5-time Emmy nominated Mark Saks. Maura shares what she has learned working alongside some of NYC's top casting directors, how she creatively approaches tough subject matter, and what's coming up on her professional horizon.
READ MOREMeet The New NYWIFT Member: Yixin Cen
Let's welcome new NYWIFT Member Yixin Cen, an NYC-based Associate Producer and Producer specializing in narrative, documentary, and international co-productions. Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, she has excelled in projects like leading the award-winning film A Father’s Son, which premiered at the Asian American International Film Festival. Her journey from China to New York City has shaped a career dedicated to authentic storytelling and cultural representation. Yixin is a passionate advocate for diversity in film, actively involved with NYWIFT to connect with and support fellow women filmmakers. Currently, she is producing documentaries exploring the legacies of Ping Chong and Basement Workshop, underscoring her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Kira Belin
Cue the music: it’s time to welcome our new NYWIFT member, Kira Belin! Kira is a New York based music editor with a career spanning film, television, contemporary art and more. She’s worked on a variety of high-profile projects including Barbie, And Just Like That…, and Los Espookys. She focuses on building an interdependent relationship between music and the story on screen. Read our full interview with Kira to learn more about her career journey and approach to film music editing.
READ MORE
