Voices Heard: NYWIFT Board VP Margarita Sophia Cortes wrote a courageous, empowering take on Hollywood’s sexual harassment firestorm for the NYWIFT HuffPost column.
Muse Awards: We’re thrilled to announce the honorees for the 38th annual Muse Awards: Laura Dern, Judith Light, director Julie Dash, Refinery29’s Amy Emmerich, and filmmaker and philanthropist Regina K. Scully. Actor and CBS commentator Nancy Giles will emcee. We hope you’ll join us on December 14th!
Mad Libs: Have a good laugh – or perhaps a good cry – filling in the blanks for this tongue-in-cheek template for informing the “female love interest” that she will not be in the sequel.
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On a brisk February afternoon, I found the perfect escape from the cold—diving into an eye-opening discussion at the 2025 Winter Film Festival. One of the standout moments? Navigating Film Fundraising with NYWIFT, a must-attend panel for any filmmaker tackling the most daunting part of filmmaking: raising money. Leading the conversation were Easmanie Michel, NYWIFT’s Director of Artists Programs and Finance, and NYWIFT Member Joanna Rudolph, executive producer of Burning Annie and The Co-op: The Kids of Dorie Miller. Their wealth of knowledge made for a powerful session, packed with real-world success stories and actionable strategies. Marchelle Thurman summarized some key takeaways to help you fund your next film.
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READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Amanda Deering Jones
Welcome to NYWIFT, Amanda Deering Jones! Amanda Deering Jones is the director of the new short film Little Mother Lies. She is also the Producer of the Academy Award-nominated animated short film Borrowed Time. She has over 20 years of experience working with Dreamworks Animation and Blue Sky Studios and is currently at Pixar. Her career began in Cooperstown, NY, as House Manager at Glimmerglass Opera before transitioning to film. Amanda is a zero-waste advocate and a published writer for the Producer’s Guild Magazine. She is an active member of the Producers Guild of America, Women in Film, Women in Animation, a Governor of the Emmy’s Northwest Chapter Board, and now a NYWIFT member. Amanda discusses her theatrical roots, getting into animation (without drawing!), and how she creates work that elevates our thinking and highlights the complexities of being human!
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