By Miss PENK
On Sunday December 8, 2024 I drove to to Sag Harbor Cinema in The Hamptons for the 2024 Breakthrough Director Award Screening, followed by a much-needed Q&A of Daughters at the Hamptons Doc Festival. This Netflix film was directed by two women, Angela Patton and Natalie Rae. These two brilliant women put their minds together and their individual crafts to work and got to showcase their talent. It was obvious that they took their time to perfect such a wonderful film.
Still from Daughters (image courtesy of Netflix)
In this powerful documentary, four girls prepare to reunite with their fathers through a special dance at a DC jail in this moving documentary about the healing power of love.
A large audience came out to fill the seats and who did not hesitate to show their emotions throughout the hour and forty-five-minute-long film. The audience bonded together as they sat comfortably in the theater, sharing laughs with their neighbors. The directors’ amazing work left tears rolling down the audience’s eyes. It was a relatable message, as many audience members were daughters and fathers and thus they felt the impact of the film. Myself included, I couldn’t hold back my tears as I watched certain scenes. It was a real tearjerker!
On December 8, Cynthia Lopez, left, CEO of NYWIFT (NY Women in Film & Television) and Hamptons Doc Fest executive director Jacqui Lofaro, right, had presented the festival’s first Breakthrough Director Award to Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, directors of the film “Daughters,” which screened at the Sag Harbor Cinema and is now shortlisted for an Oscar. |. Jim Lennon photo for Hamptons Doc Fest
Also, major shoutout to NYWIFT’S CEO Cynthia Lopez for moderating the Q&A. She held no punches on asking crucial questions to these directors on their journey, aspirations, and what inspired the women to create their film. She even left leg room for the audience to ask their individual questions. If I had to rate this film out of 1-10 based on the storyline, cinematography, and the compassion of the film, I will rate it a strong 100. I encourage everyone to watch the film Daughters available on Netflix.
Watch the film on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81760652
And check out the Q&A below:
Miss Penk
NYWIFT Member Tara “Penk” Morrison is a visionary from Brooklyn now based in Jamaica, Queens, NY. She’s a determined self-starter with a unique creative style, inspiring others with her confidence and passion for storytelling. Tara found her niche in film and TV behind the scenes, launching Sweet Penk Films in 2020 to produce her own projects and support fellow creatives.
From writing screenplays on her stoop to directing her debut project, Faith Tribulation, Tara’s journey reflects her resourcefulness and community spirit. With multiple screenplays and a docuseries treatment in the works, she advocates for finishing what you start and believing in yourself.
Related Posts
Meet The NYWIFT Member: Melody Tally
Melody is a multi-hyphenate artist, award-winning actress, screenwriter, filmmaker and engineer. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and her Masters in Business Administration at Trinity Washington University. She studied acting and directing with Vera Katz and Haile Gerima at Howard University and can be seen on Tubi, Netflix, and Amazon Prime in acclaimed films including Residue and Silent Brave. Melody told us about balancing her multidisciplinary skills, how her engineering background influences her approach to artistic and creative projects, including a math book and limited series.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Jamie Kiernan O’Brien
Welcome to NYWIFT, Jamie Kiernan O’Brien! Jamie is a filmmaker based in New York City and a current M.F.A. candidate at New York University’s Graduate Film program. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., she began her career as an actor before shifting her focus behind the camera. Jamie’s films have screened at Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival, Wicked Queer Boston, and TRANSlations Film Festival in Seattle. She loves highly stylized work that plays with and subverts genre, having made films inspired by horror, screwball comedy, erotic thriller, and melodrama. Her debut short film, an adaptation of The Yellow Wallpaper (in which she also stars), won several awards in the festival circuit and premiered at TRANSlations Film Festival in Seattle in 2022. Her most recent short, Egg, debuted at Wicked Queer in Boston, and went on to screen at Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival and World Pride DC. She received her B.A. in English Literature from New York University. Jamie is an openly trans woman. In our interview, Jamie discusses her transition from acting to directing, recent projects, and the filmmakers who have inspired her work!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Rudaba Zehra Nasir
Welcome to NYWIFT, Rudaba Zehra Nasir! Rudaba is a Pakistani-American, conservatory-trained actress, writer, and singer as well as a humanitarian and life coach based in Manhattan. She is currently producing her solo show Halal-ish which is about her journey from Pakistan to America to find love. On screen, she has starred in award-winning films The Foreign Patriot and The Train I’m On, and was a series regular in Kabhi Na Kabhi (Someday) on Hum TV. Her New York theater credits include sold-out, Off-Off Broadway shows such as Novecento (Paradise Factory Theater), Arsinoe IV (Chain Theatre), Talk of the Town (The Players), and Measure For Measure (Resident Acting Company). Rudaba spoke to us about how she uses art to cultivate connection, finding her voice as an actor, and her humanitarian initiatives.
READ MORENYWIFT Member Spotlight: Karen Goeller
Karen Goeller is a gifted storyteller whose work spans literature, film, television, and live performance. Since launching her film career in 2012, she has contributed to more than 100 productions both in front of and behind the camera. As a long-standing member of NYWIFT, Karen has built a reputation as a talented actor, script supervisor, writer, and producer. And as a writer, she’s earned awards for three screenplays — Escape Artists, Best First Dates...NOT, and Missy’s Voice. Also the author of 20 published books spanning gymnastics, fitness, and children’s literature, Karen continues to inspire across multiple platforms. With a unique background in law, health sciences, and athletics, her work reflects creativity, strength, and authenticity — qualities that define her as a dynamic and enduring force in storytelling. Karen’s latest project, Missy’s Voice, highlights themes of resilience and triumph through the story of a bullied young singer who eventually finds her voice. She spoke to us about exciting new developments for Missy’s Voice and what we can look forward to next.
READ MORE
Comments are closed