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.
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Jaime Schwarz
Welcome to NYWIFT, Jaime Schwarz! Jaime Schwarz grew up in NJ, the daughter of a Korean immigrant mother and son of Holocaust- survivors, father. Jaime earned her BFA in Acting from PACE University in NYC, appearing Off- Broadway in The Doctor at the Park Avenue Armory and on TV in Difficult People (Hulu), Younger (Paramount+), Jane the Virgin (The CW), Sorry for Your Loss, and Elsbeth (CBS). She is the director, writer, and star of the short film The Sandwich Line, which premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival, and her other writing work has been published in Mixed Asian Media and JoySauce. She’s currently developing several projects and is repped by Gersh + MJ Management. In our interview, Jaime discussed her journey from acting to directing and shared her experience of working in TV.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Esther Casas Roura
Welcome to NYWIFT, Esther Casas Roura! Esther is an award-winning filmmaker known for blending metaphorical storytelling with animation. Originally from Barcelona, Spain, she began her career as a molecular biologist before moving to New York and transitioning into filmmaking, focusing on animation while working across both commercial and narrative projects. She later founded Claymaniak Studios (now ECR Films) to create emotionally resonant films across stop-motion, traditional animation, and motion graphics. Her animated shorts—Check Date: An Underdog Love Story, Creamen, and FLOCKY—have screened internationally at over 150 film festivals. FLOCKY was recently shortlisted for the Goya Awards in Spain, has received 18 international awards, and has gained international recognition for its social impact. Esther is currently developing her fourth short, The Melody Within, and her first animated feature, TAO.
READ MORENYWIFT Board Member Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago on Kaya, Cultural Identity, and Its Tribeca Festival Premier
With more than three decades of experience spanning film, television, theater, and festival leadership across the United States and Asia, Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago has built a remarkable career championing diverse voices and meaningful storytelling. As President of Sitting Cat Productions, Executive Director and Head of Programming for the SOHO International Film Festival, and Board Member for NYWIFT, she has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for filmmakers and bringing impactful stories to audiences worldwide. This year, Reymundo-Santiago serves as Consulting Producer on Kaya (ᜃᜌ), a powerful film featured during the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. The story follows Nia, a half-Filipina young woman who secretly trains with queer outcast Malic in hopes of joining an elite Filipino Martial Arts team and proving she is “Filipino enough.” Through themes of identity, belonging, cultural connection, and self-acceptance, Kaya explores experiences that resonate far beyond its cultural roots.
READ MOREBecky Morrison is Championing a Better Future for Film While Bringing “Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors” to Tribeca
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, producers like Becky Morrison are helping lead the charge toward a more thoughtful, people-centered future in filmmaking. A producer, entrepreneur, and advocate for safer production environments, Becky brings both heart and vision to every project she touches — including Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors, the powerful short film making its World Premiere at the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. Set against the backdrop of New York City’s subway system, Stand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors transforms a seemingly ordinary interaction into a gripping reflection on space, respect, tension, and human behavior. The film captures the emotional complexity hidden within everyday moments, offering audiences a story that feels distinctly New York while speaking to universal experiences of dignity and connection.
READ MORE