Join us for the third annual NYWIFT Summit.
This four-day free virtual program consists of keynote speakers, panels, and film screenings, and will bring together some of the most unique and diverse voices of women working in the entertainment industry to establish forward-moving strategies to create change and mobilize support and leadership for the future.
The NYWIFT Summit is made possible with funds provided by The Ford Foundation. Additional support by Academy Foundation, WarnerMedia, AMC Networks, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, The New York Community Trust, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), David Yurman, eMinutes, and the Tribeca Film Festival.
The Creative Industry Radically Reimagined
The goal of the NYWIFT Summit: The Creative Industry Radically Reimagined is to spotlight best practices of how indies and media companies are restructuring their objectives, staffing, and community response to produce creative projects.
In addition, we have survived the pandemic – we will showcase who is thriving during the pandemic and what lessons were learned during the Black Lives Matter Movement, financial downturn, and the health crisis.
Conference Schedule
DAY 1: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 from 4-6 PM EST
Welcome Address by NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer
Welcome from Chi-hui Yang, Ford Foundation
NYWIFT Annual Summit in Review: Executive Director Cynthia Lopez
Opening Keynote Conversation with: Christy Haubegger, EVP, Communications and Chief Inclusion Officer, WarnerMedia
Panel: WarnerMedia Executives Present Inclusion Initiatives
WarnerMedia Executives in conversation with journalist about how they implemented diversity and inclusion initiatives across all platforms.
Speakers:
MyKhahn Shelton: SVP Equity & Inclusion, WarnerMedia
Karen Horne: SVP Equity & Inclusion, (Programs), WarnerMedia
Samata Narra: SVP Equity & Inclusion, (Content), WarnerMedia
Asif Sadiq: SVP Equity & Inclusion, International, WarnerMedia
moderated by Natasha Del Toro, journalist
DAY 2: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 4-6 PM EST
Welcome Keynote: Fireside Chat with Tina Tchen, President and CEO, Time’s Up
moderated by NYWIFT Board Member, Yvonne Russo: Filmmaker
Panel: Advocates for Change
Advocates for Change will highlight leaders advocating on the front lines to raise awareness about the representation of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the media, encouraging a nuanced and multi-dimensional approach to shatter stereotypes and celebrate the full breadth and depth of their community. These activist have opened many doors for discussion on what needs to change in the entertainment industry to ensure equity and safety.
Speakers:
Christina Chou: Motion Picture Lit Agent, CAA
Christine Choy: Filmmaker and Educator, NYU
Peilin Chou: Producer, Netflix Animation
moderated by NYWIFT Board Member S. Casper Wong: Filmmaker
Closing Keynote by Renee Tajima-Peña: Filmmaker and Educator, UCLA
DAY 3: Thursday, June 24, 2021 from 4-6 PM EST
Welcome Keynote: Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Anne del Castillo
Panel: Organized Labor and the Future of the Workplace
Organized labor and trade associations have been at the forefront of setting the standard for safety protocol to keep production alive during COVID-19. How did they do it, and how are they tackling other issues of safety in the workplace, from racism to sexual harassment and more?
Speakers:
Ann Burdick: General Counsel, WGA East
Rebecca Damon: Executive Vice President and New York Local President, SAG-AFTRA
Mayra Ocampo: Assistant Executive Director, Directors Guild of America
moderated by Simon Moya-Smith: writer & journalist
Closing conversation: Unionizing Non Fiction Labor, A Year later
This conversation revisits the lack of organized labor for documentary makers with a case study where producers, showrunners, APs and other freelance workers at a major production company have recently voted to unionize with the WGAE.
Speakers:
Laura McCune, Documentary Line Producer
Andrew Greenberg, WGAE East
Hannah Smith, Jigsaw Productions
moderated by Maggie Bowman, International Documentary Association
DAY 4: Friday, June 25, 2021 from 4-6 PM EST
Partnerships and the Artist’s Journey with AMC Networks
Speakers:
Aisha Thomas-Petit: Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, AMC Networks
Daniel Rosenberg: VP Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Staff Me Up
Carole Kirschner: Director, Writers Guild of America Showrunner Training Program
Valerie Armstrong: Series Creator, Kevin Can F**k Himself
J. David Shanks: Showrunner and Executive Producer, 61st Street
moderated by Melanie McFarland: TV Critic, Salon.com
Closing Keynote: Victoria Rowell, Award-Winning Actor, NY Times Bestselling Writer, Producer, Director, Activist
