In celebration of Black History Month, let’s shine a light on the artists and changemakers in media:
NYWIFT Interviews: Be sure to check out NYWIFT blogger Tammy Reese’s series of interviews that shine a spotlight on Black artists in the NYWIFT community, discussing their favorite inspirational figures and career highlights.
NYWIFT Talks: On next week’s NYWIFT Talks, we return with part 2 of our conversation with NY Media Arts Organization that represent diversity artists with “Making a Way Out of No Way: The Importance of Amplifying BIPOC and Black Women Voices with Visionary New York Media Arts Organizations” on February 24. Learn more and register.
Watch List: There are many Black History Month film and TV recommendations to choose from, but this list of six essential films from Time is a great starting point. It also happens to feature two films with NYWIFT ties: member and our first-ever Nancy Malone Directing Award Muse honoree Julie Dash’s Illusions, which candidly explores racism and sexism in Hollywood both present and past, was recently named to the National Film Registry. It was preserved with support from the NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund and we screened it in our Member Screening Series in the Fall. NYWIFT Muse Kasi Lemmons’ Eve’s Bayou (pictured above), with its nuanced portrayal of family life in the segregated 1960s South, also made the list.
Cynthia Lopez
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Shervonne Brown
Welcome to NYWIFT, Shervonne Brown! Shervonne Brown is a New York-based award-winning actress, writer-director, producer, and science-fiction creator working across science fiction, fantasy, action, and psychological drama. She wrote, directed, produced, edited, and starred in Sureiya: The Eidolon Plane, earning Best Actress at the 2026 WSO Theatre & Film Festival. Her pilot screenplay, Sureiya: Legends of Emperion, was a 2026 finalist in the London International Screenwriting Competition. Before filmmaking, Brown built an international K-pop performance career, co-founded performance groups, created award-winning music videos, appeared on television, and performed across the United States and South Korea, including the K-Pop World Festival broadcast internationally on KBS television. In our interview, Shervonne discusses her creative inspirations, artistic upbringing, and the multiple genres that motivate her work.
READ MORECelebrating Storytelling, Representation, and Independent Voices at the 9th Annual Queen City Film Festival
From October 15–18, the 9th Annual Queen City Film Festival (QCFF) brought filmmakers, creatives, industry professionals, and community members together in Plainfield, New Jersey, for a celebration of cinema, culture, and the power of storytelling. Recognized for its commitment to uplifting underrepresented and marginalized filmmakers, the Queen City Film Festival continues to create opportunities for diverse voices to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Through screenings, special events, and engaging panel discussions, the festival demonstrated how film and media can inspire meaningful conversations, strengthen communities, and help shape the future of entertainment. Tammy Reese and LaKisa Renee bring us the inside scoop!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Molly Rydzel
Welcome to NYWIFT, Molly Rydzel! Molly Rydzel (WGAE) is a screenwriter specializing in female-driven horror and dark satire. She was a staff writer and story editor on Alejandro Iñárritu’s The One Percent for Starz and head writer of the web series Assisted Living. Her horror play, Serial Lover, was developed with Ars Nova and Sanguine Theater Company. Molly teaches screenwriting at New York University and Pace University, specializing in horror, fantasy, and science fiction. She is developing a slate of mythic horror features and is committed to creating more opportunities for women in genre film through bold, commercially viable storytelling.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Julie Pham
Welcome to NYWIFT, Julie Pham! Julie Theresin-Pham is a Vietnamese American actor, storyteller, host, writer, producer, and business strategist based in New York City. A first-generation immigrant and mother, she creates experiences that bring people together through storytelling, hospitality, and community. Her work explores identity, family, belonging, and human connection across film, performance, and documentary storytelling. She trained at the William Esper Studio, graduated from the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) improv training program, serves on the Junior Board of TADA! Youth Theater, and is developing her first documentary, American Daughter: Stories We Carry. She is also an active NYWIFT member who values collaboration, mentorship, and connection.
READ MORE
Comments are closed