NYWIFT Member Heidi Philipsen and a team of University of Michigan alums are heading to Cannes in their efforts to obtain funding for LOVE & VODKA – a fish-out-of-water romantic comedy set in Ukraine.
Personae Entertainment’s producer/director Heidi Philipsen (Darcy) has teamed up with screenwriter/co-producer R.J. Fox to bring his story to the big screen, along with co-producers Niko Meissner (Darcy), Kathryn McDermott (First Knight), and associate producer Jon Wilson.
Heidi Philipsen and Niko Meissner
The team is headed to the renowned Marche du Film (aka the Cannes Film Market) to join indie filmmakers from points worldwide in the quest of finding investors.
“We’re super excited to be taking our second feature film, LOVE & VODKA, with us to Cannes under the umbrella of our company Personae Entertainment Pictures – especially after having just secured distribution for our first feature, DARCY,” says Philipsen. “We now have a proven track record in-the-making and can’t wait to keep up the momentum with this delightful international romantic comedy!”
Heidi Philipsen
R.J. Fox said that a trip to Hollywood to attend a screenwriting seminar lead to a chance encounter with an exchange student from Ukraine, which inspired LOVE & VODKA’s premise: Bobby and Katya meet on the Santa Monica Pier. Bobby is from Michigan; Katya is an exchange student from Ukraine. After becoming pen-pals, Bobby follows his heart to Ukraine to propose. But overbearing parents and cultural misunderstandings abound. Will love conquer in the end?
“This is going to be my solo directorial debut,” says Philipsen, “and I’ve already set up much of the team, creatively speaking, with Director of Photography Jay Feather, Production Design couple Sally and Nando Del-Castillo, and Casting Director Caroline Sinclair ready to rock n’ roll. I know that once we get the whole team together – along with Creative Executives Niko Meissner, Robert Fox and Jon Wilson—we’ll be ready to bring R.J. Fox’s great story to brilliant cinematic life. Let’s make some ‘Love & Vodka!’”
Heidi Philipsen is a longtime NYWIFT member who actively takes part in the Communications Committee and regularly contributes to our blog. Philipsen is also the founder of the upstate chapter UPWIFT, and currently serving on the Board of WIFT in Hamburg, Germany.
Margarita Sophia Cortes
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Hyten Davidson
Welcome to NYWIFT, Hyten Davidson! Hyten Davidson is a SAG-AFTRA actor and award-winning screenwriter, currently serving as one-third of Maternity Leave Films after years of touring the festival circuit with various films. Her short film The West Virginian Starfish, which she wrote and co-directed, won the Long Island Film Expo award for Best Short Film, in addition to a host of other nominations and screenwriting wins. Hyten has additionally been a Featured Female Filmmaker nominee at the Shortcut 100 International Film Festival, PANO grant recipient, and Mary W. Shelley Scholarship winner from the Horror Writers Association. In our interview, Hyten discussed her approach to writing horror, representing motherhood and female-driven stories in film, and her upcoming film Something of a Monster.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Dolores Diaz
Welcome to NYWIFT, Dolores Diaz! Dolores Diaz is a Queens, NY native who grew up in a theater and musical theater world through Once Upon a Time in Richmond Hill. She later attended the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts and joined Angry Jellow Bubbles, an all-female sketch comedy group directed by Eva Minemar. While attending the MA Media and Social Change program at CUNY Queens College, Dolores served as an assistant to media theorist Douglas Rushkoff and co-produced the 1st Annual Queens College Arts Festival. She founded the production company Mulberry Queens Films LLC with Eva Minemar in 2018, and the duo has worked together on features, shorts, music videos, and documentaries. Dolores is now the Chair of the Board for Once Upon a Time Inc. and the Co-League Director for NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association), NY. In our interview, Dolores discussed her production company, transitioning from theater to film, and the project that left the biggest impact on her.
READ MORENYWIFT at Sundance 2026: In Conversation with Jamie Kiernan O’Brien
NYWIFT Member Jamie Kiernan O'Brien is celebrating a remarkable achievement: still a student at NYU, her narrative short film Gender Studies is premiering at 2026 Sundance Film Festival…with screenings at SXSW to follow! In Gender Studies, a trans college student learns the girl she idolizes is sleeping with their teaching assistant and takes drastic steps to emulate her. Jamie was also Production Sound Mixer for Crisis Actor, directed by fellow NYU student Lily Platt. The narrative short follows an impulsive actress – recently fired from her day job – as she crashes a support group and spirals into a chaotic night that forces her to face her addiction to drama. Jamie spoke to us about this exciting milestone in her career.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Samantha Herrera
Welcome to NYWIFT, Samantha Herrera! Samantha Herrera is a queer Filipina artist born and raised in Queens, NY. Her roots began in theatre with training at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, The Neighborhood Playhouse, and LAMDA. Saint Vegas is the first narrative film she has directed, written, and produced. It will internationally premiere in the Philippines hosted by Cine Balikbayan. This November, she played one of the lead roles in Diwata, directed by Shea Formanes. Aside from filmmaking, Samantha works at her alma mater - The Neighborhood Playhouse - and runs a Filipino food pop-up business with her partner. In our interview, Samantha discussed the mentors who shaped her artistry, her inspirations, and her upcoming work.
READ MORE
Comments are closed