By Mellini Kantayya
NYWIFT’s Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF) received The Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York’s 2019 Outstanding Support of Archives award on October 21st. The ceremony was held at the Brooklyn Historical Society as part of 2019 New York Archives Week. WFPF steering committee member and former NYWIFT Executive Director Terry Lawler introduced the award, which was accepted by NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer.
From left: WFPF grantee Maxi Cohen, NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer, WFPF Steering Committee Member and former NYWIFT Executive Director Terry Lawler, and WFPF Steering Committee Member Susan Lazarus at the 2019 Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York Awards. (photo by: Mellini Kantayya)
The Archivists Round Table’s Outstanding Support of Archives Award recognizes an individual or organization for notable contributions to archival records or archives programs through political, financial or moral support. NYWIFT’s Women’s Film Preservation Fund, founded in conjunction with the Museum of Modern Art, has been working closely with archives, filmmakers, and preservation specialists since 1995 to preserve nearly 150 American-made films by and about women. These important films—many made by independent pioneers and under-represented voices—span silent era to contemporary works of all genres that would have been lost from cinema history without preservation.
“When the Women’s Film Preservation Fund was founded, few if any women’s films were part of the canon taught in film schools,” Zelermyer said upon accepting the award. “Since then we have preserved nearly 150 American films in which women have played key roles. These include works by early feminists, social activists, and artists that represent unique and irreplaceable contributions to American cinematic history.”
Learn more about the Women’s Film Preservation Fund: https://www.nywift.org/womens-film-preservation-fund/
And the WFPF is looking for both donor and volunteer support! If you would like to get in touch email wfpf@nywift.org.
Mellini_Kantayya
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