Urgent Action: A few months ago, the State Assembly and State Senate passed legislation that incentivizes the hiring of women and people of color to write and direct television in New York. The bill has now arrived at Governor Cuomo’s desk and he has only a few business days left to sign the bill. Please contact the Governor’s office and urge him to sign it.
Hedy Lamarr: Congratulations to NYWIFT member Alexandra Dean on her recently released critically-acclaimed documentary Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, which focuses on the Hollywood star’s work as an inventor who helped revolutionize modern communication.
Muse Raffle: You can support NYWIFT at the Muse Awards or even from afar when you buy Muse Awards raffle tickets on our website. You have the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes, including spa vacations, Broadway tickets, a free legal consultation, designer accessories and more. You don’t have to be at the awards to win! (Though we do hope to see you there – register now for the December 14 event.)
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READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Vanessa Hope
Welcome to NYWIFT, Vanessa Hope! Vanessa Hope is an award‑winning filmmaker whose work sits at the intersection of cinema, foreign policy, and human rights, with a focus on women’s leadership in volatile political landscapes. She has directed and produced fiction and nonfiction films across the United States, China, Afghanistan, and Taiwan that have premiered at major festivals such as Sundance, Cannes, and IDFA. Her latest documentary, Invisible Nation, offers intimate, unprecedented access to Taiwan’s first female president, Tsai Ing‑wen, and has been embraced as a landmark portrait of a small democracy confronting mounting authoritarian pressure. She co‑founded Double Hope Films with producer Ted Hope. She also writes the Substack newsletter Dream of a Better World and hosts the podcast vHopeful Conversations, where she champions the independent film and documentary community through in‑depth, craft‑driven dialogues.
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