Goodbye, Alicia: This weekend we bid farewell to The Good Wife, a classic made-in-New-York show with a marvelously complex female-driven storyline, starring our own 2009 NYWIFT Muse Honoree Julianna Margulies as power attorney Alicia Florrick. It will be missed.
Independent Women: A new study from Martha Lauzen at the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University shows that though women directors fared better in the independent realm than with major studios, the percentage of women behind the camera is “stagnant.” Women account for 28% of all directors working in indie film during the past year, a five-point increase over 2014-15 and slightly below the historical high of 29% in 2011-12. We must translate the growing awareness of gender disparity into actual change.
Preserving the Legacy: Did you know the NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF) has preserved more than 100 films since its inception 21 years ago? Get to know this history of this amazing organization, and apply for a WFPF grant by June 1.
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READ MORETribeca Festival 2025: Celebrating Stories, Icons, and Impact with NYWIFT
With this article, our coverage of the 2025 Tribeca Festival comes to a close — and what an unforgettable experience it has been. NYWIFT members LaKisa Renee and Tammy Reese had the incredible opportunity to represent the organization on the ground, capturing exclusive red carpet moments, world premieres, and powerful conversations highlighting the festival’s spirit of storytelling, advocacy, and artistic excellence. One of the most moving moments came when EGOT icon and past NYWIFT Muse Honoree Whoopi Goldberg gave a heartfelt shoutout to New York Women in Film & Television. Her support meant the world to our team.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Hayley Pace
Today, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on new NYWIFT member Hayley Pace, an award-winning production designer and actor whose unique blend of skills and passions continues to inspire us! Hayley Pace hails from Toronto, Ontario. They are known for their work on Schitt’s Creek (CBC), In The Dark (CW), and The Expanse (Amazon Prime). In addition to their on-screen work, Hayley has self-produced original projects through their experimental marching band theatre company, The Teeny Tiny Music Show, and has designed for numerous film, TV, and theatre productions across Canada. A graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and York University’s BFA in Devised Theatre & Design, Hayley brings a dynamic and multidisciplinary approach to their artistry. We caught up with Hayley to discuss their career, their creative journey, and what brought them to NYWIFT.
READ MORENYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Ruth Ann Harnisch
To say Ruth Ann Harnisch is a force in the independent film industry is an understatement. She has contributed to the production of almost 400 documentaries and several acclaimed narrative features. Her strategic investments in films, filmmakers, and organizations supporting them have helped open almost every aspect of the business to underrepresented voices. This is evident with each of the seven films featured at this year’s festival that she has supported: She Runs The World, Runa Simi, State of Firsts, We Are Pat, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, Move Ya Body, and Natchez. I spoke with Ruth Ann for The NYWIFT Podcast (listen here) about the importance of Tribeca, which she calls “arguably one of the most important festivals for any film,” how she picks her projects and what she has learned from them. Her wisdom could not be contained! So here is more from our conversation.
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