NYWIFT Blog

Terry’s Picks: Moana, Lifetime Directors, Sundance Fellows

Moana with
Sound
: November 13-19, Film Forum will screen a
newly restored version
of Robert Flaherty’s
groundbreaking 1926 documentary Moana.
Flaherty’s daughter Monica added sound 50 years later to this look at Samoan life.

Lifetime ladies: We’re 6 months in to
Lifetime’s Broad Focus initiative to hire more women and already the network’s five most popular original movies in 2015 have all been directed by
women.

Sundance shines: Congrats to this year’s six Women at Sundance fellows!

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nywift New York Women in Film & Television supports women calling the shots in film, television and digital media.

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