We’re counting down the 40 days to NYWIFT’s 40th Anniversary Muse Awards with a look at some of our favorite honorees, all women of vision and achievement who have contributed to the film and television industry. Join us as we look back at #Muse40for40, and buy your tickets for the Muse Awards on Tuesday, December 10th at nywift.org/muse!
#31: Lisa Nishimura
By Kathryn O’Kane
13-year Netflix veteran Lisa Nishimura was the VP of Original Documentary and Comedy Programming when we honored her at 2018; just three months later, she was named the head of Independent Film and Documentary Programming. In 2017, she was named one of the 100 most powerful women in entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter.
Under her leadership, Netflix has provided a global platform for critically acclaimed documentary work including Making a Murderer; Wild Wild Country; Chef’s Table; Icarus; What Happened, Miss Simone?; 13th; White Helmets and Salt Fat Acid Heat. In addition, her team has produced global stand-up comedy specials including Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette and Ali Wong’s Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife as well as work from the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, and Amy Schumer, with forthcoming specials from Ellen DeGeneres and Chris Rock. The current slate of films including Reversing Roe, Shirkers and Quincy, showcases Netflix’s commitment to female documentarians and compelling storytelling.
“I think this is the very reason why I absolutely love and feel so privileged to do the work I do. I get to support incredible storytellers — documentarians, comics – true creators who are the brilliant social commentators of our day.” – Lisa Nishimura at the 2018 Muse Awards
busyk
Related Posts
NYWIFT Member Spotlight: Shahnaz Mahmud
When award-winning journalist Shahnaz Mahmud set out to write and direct her first narrative film, she landed on a deeply personal story inspired by her parents’ own arranged marriage. And when it came time to a select an editor to collaborate with, she turned to the NYWIFT membership directory, where she found veteran editor Susan B. Ades – the perfect match for her project. Members Shahnaz and Susan sat down with us to discuss their adventures (and misadventures!) making the short film The Blossom, how their partnership brought new elements of the story to light, and the unique path to bringing such an intimate tale to the screen.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Kate Dolan
Welcome to NYWIFT, Kate Dolan! Kate Dolan is a New York City-based actress with a passion for storytelling. Her commitment to authenticity and restless pursuit of refining her craft is a reflection of her energetic dedication. Kate is interested in playing characters that both challenge her and resonate deeply with audiences. Having been booked for her first feature film, she is already emulating the actors that have inspired her since childhood. Her experience interning at NYWIFT and Prospect Musicals have given her an advantage as a young actress, providing her with a behind-the-curtain perspective on many aspects of the entertainment industry. In our interview, Kate discusses her experiences, inspirations, and goals.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Alison Hirsch
Welcome to NYWIFT, Alison Hirsch! Alison Hirsch is a native New Yorker, with a background spanning development, production, and representation. She bridges storytelling with commercial strategy, bringing a keen understanding of how content is identified, shaped, and circulated. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton, Alison assisted Linda Yellen on her film, which won the Indie Spirit Best Picture and Best Director awards at BIFF. At Little Monster Films, Alison researched potential projects and evaluated their market viability. Following two years at WME in the Motion Picture and Scripted TV departments, Alison recently joined Assemble Media as their Coordinator.
READ MORENia Long Invites Audiences to Celebrate Joy, Legacy, and Love in Michael
For more than four decades, renowned actress Nia Long has defined what it means to bring authenticity and emotional depth to the screen. A cultural icon in her own right, she now takes on one of her most meaningful roles to date, portraying Katherine Jackson in the highly anticipated biopic Michael. Tammy Reese sat down with Nia Long for an exclusive conversation about her latest role.
READ MORE
Comments are closed