Love, Gilda: Congratulations to Lisa D’Apolito and her documentary Love, Gilda, which opened the Tribeca Film Festival to phenomenal reviews (and received an emotional introduction from Tina Fey). The film was fiscally sponsored by NYWIFT.
Farewell Scandal: Last week we said goodbye to Shonda Rhimes’ groundbreaking series Scandal, which broke barriers, tackled controversial subjects, and proved not all anti-heroes have to be white and male.
Harlem Summit: Our friends at the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment will host the first-ever “Made in NY” Media Summit in Harlem on May 10th.
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Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Sun Roller
Welcome to NYWIFT, Sun Roller! Sun Roller is a Chickasaw creative and producer raised in Oklahoma and based in New York City. With a career spanning production design, art direction, project management, and large-scale leadership, Sun Roller brings a deeply intentional, intuitive approach to every project she touches—grounded in spirituality, connection to nature, and collaboration. Sun Roller has worked across film and television on projects including Reservation Dogs, I Saw the TV Glow, Poker Face and The Lowdown. In recent years, she has expanded her work into producing, with a focus on Indigenous-led stories and community-centered narratives. When she’s not on set or behind a computer, Sun Roller can often be found outdoors soaking up the Sun and enjoying time in nature with her elder pup, Wrigley, and her partner, Annie H. In our interview, Sun Roller reflects on her path into film and television, building a career across male-dominated industries, and the stories she’s most excited to bring to the screen next.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Jackie Yunchang Zhang
Welcome to NYWIFT, Jackie Yunchang Zhang! Jackie Yunchang Zhang is a non-fiction filmmaker and video artist from Hangzhou, China, now based in New York. Working across lens-based media and animation, she uses a hybrid non-fiction approach to explore identity, resilience, and cultural displacement. With a strong sensitivity to emotion, memory, and interpersonal dynamics, her work examines how people navigate relationships, belonging, and the quiet negotiations of everyday life. Through an observational yet personal style, she creates films that reveal the subtle ways we understand ourselves and the world around us.
READ MORENYWIFT at Sundance: In Conversation with Carolyn Hepburn
NYWIFT Member producer Carolyn Hepburn attended the 2026 Sundance Film Festival with her latest project with EPSN Films, The Brittney Griner Story. This documentary, directed by Alexandria Stapleton, explores the circumstances that led to Brittney Griner playing basketball outside the U.S. despite being one of the best players in the sport, including her harrowing detainment, unwavering determination to secure her freedom, and her advocacy for the release of other wrongful detainees. Carolyn Hepburn is an Emmy, Peabody, Gotham, and Critics’ Choice Award-winning producer who joined ESPN Films in 2022. She spoke to us about her return to Sundance, the power of her latest doc, and the ethical responsibilities of producing socially impactful work.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Louisa Brown
Welcome to NYWIFT, Louisa Brown! Blogger Marchelle Thurman had the pleasure of interviewing Louisa Brown. She is a storyteller, connector, and unapologetic champion of underrepresented voices in film and media. At Urbanworld Film Festival, she builds bridges between artists, audiences, and cultural institutions, creating moments that matter. She’s a founding member of M.A.D.E., where she produces the award-winning MADE Talks series, celebrating Black creativity and bold ideas. Her own films, including Family Time and Mila and Mimi Too, have won Lionsgate recognition and festival accolades. In addition, she has collaborated on various projects, headed initiatives for commercial brands, and serves on the management team for musical artist Laila! Louisa brings heart, humor, and a global perspective to everything she does.
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