NYWIFT Blog

By Tammy Reese

NYWIFT member Fredgy Noël is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker whose work weaves lyrical visuals with raw emotional honesty, and her latest short film, New York Day Women, is no exception.

Making its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, the film is a tender, visually stunning adaptation of a short story by Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat. As the director, writer, producer, and editor, Noël brings her unique perspective—shaped by her Haitian roots, background in dance, and years of experience across major media networks—to a story that explores the quiet revelations between mothers and daughters.

NYWIFT spoke with Noël about the inspiration behind the film, what it means to premiere at Tribeca, and her ongoing mission to amplify marginalized voices through bold, resonant storytelling.

 

 

Congratulations on the world premiere of New York Day Women at the 2025 Tribeca Festival! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this short film and what drew you to this story?

New York Day Women is an adaptation of a short story by Edwidge Danticat, a Haitian American author and professor and one of my literary heroes. I first encountered her work, Krik? Krak!, in undergrad, and the poetry in her storytelling made me feel seen in a way few works had before. It affirmed that my voice and stories like mine belonged in the world.

When I reached out to Edwidge about adapting one of her stories, she generously offered me free rein. I knew immediately it had to be New York Day Women. It is set in the city I love, the characters felt achingly familiar, and as a filmmaker, I saw the opportunity to create a visual language that could echo the lyrical beauty of her prose. It’s a quiet story, but one filled with discovery, longing, and a tenderness that stays with you.

 

What do you hope audiences take away from this film, both emotionally and intellectually?

I hope it invites people to pause and reconsider the stories we think we already know; especially those of our parents. There’s this tension between seeing your mother as a whole person versus the role she’s played in your life.

Emotionally, I hope audiences feel the complexities of that realization. Intellectually, I want them to consider how care, sacrifice, and identity play out in small, everyday moments.

 

 

The film is premiering at one of the most respected festivals in the world. What does it mean to you to debut New York Day Women at Tribeca?

It’s incredibly meaningful. New York Day Women speaks to so many New Yorkers, and to have it premiere at Tribeca—a festival that champions bold, New York-rooted voices—feels like everything is in alignment.

This is actually my second time screening here, so it’s also a return. As a Tribeca alum and a filmmaker who has built both a life and a creative practice in this city, sharing this work here is not only a professional milestone but also a reminder to keep going—to persevere.

 

You wear many hats — writer, director, producer, editor. Which role felt most personal to you while making this film, and why?

Directing was the most personal for me. As a filmmaker, I come from a dance background, so I’m always thinking about the choreography of people, space, and silence. This film relies so much on restraint and what is not said. So as a director, I had to trust the actors and myself to sit in that quiet. It felt intimate and like a meditation on exactly what filmmaking is. We watch, we listen, and we find a truth that people can connect to and be activated by.

 

 

When did you first realize storytelling was your path? Do you remember a defining moment?

It’s hard to pinpoint just one moment. My path to storytelling was shaped by a constellation of artistic experiences.

Music videos like Madonna’s Vogue showed me beautiful queerness taking up space, boldly and unapologetically. Harlem Nights transported me to the elegance of the Harlem Renaissance and revealed how film could be both history and magic. MTV was a world where music, story, and visuals coexisted, and l absorbed all of it. Then there was Love Jones—a film that portrayed intimacy in a way that was both delicate and visceral. All of these moments led me here.

 

What inspired you to join NYWIFT?

Community. NYWIFT is one of the few spaces where women’s leadership in film is centered and celebrated. I wanted to be part of that legacy and help move it forward.

 

 

What else are you working on as of late?

I’m currently developing my thesis film at the NYU Graduate Film program, Pick-Me President—a political satire set in a Yonkers high school that reimagines the legacy of the women who’ve run for U.S. president. It’s quirky, sharp, funny, and like most of my work, it’s rooted in identity, ambition, and reclaiming erased histories.

I’m also developing my first feature, Cicely. After a scandal tanks her career, Cicely—a usually unbothered Black copywriter—is forced to start over and chooses the most obvious, practical landing spot: film school. It’s a dramatic comedy about reinvention, delusion, and the messy path to self-discovery.

Both films explore the absurdity of ambition and the power of starting again, especially when the world expects you to disappear.

As a multi-hyphenate filmmaker, what advice would you give to women who want to break into the film and TV industry — as writers, directors, producers, or editors?

Don’t wait for permission. Be audacious in telling your story, even if it doesn’t fit the mold. Surround yourself with people who remind you who you are. And when in doubt, keep going, because the alternative is boring and uninspired.

 

Follow Fredgy Noël on Instagram at @FredgyNoel. and learn more on her website www.fredgynoel.com. 

Learn more about New York Day Women at the Tribeca Festival: https://tribecafilm.com/films/new-york-day-women-2025

Learn more about the rest of the NYWIFT member projects at Tribeca 2025!

 

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Fredgy Noël is a director and writer whose work blends sharp comedic sensibilities with a grounded, visually rich approach to storytelling. Drawing on her background in dance, she seamlessly integrates compelling visuals, rhythmic sound, and vibrant color palettes to uncover the lyrical truths at the core of her narratives. Her films are rooted in the exploration of women’s voices, marginalized perspectives, and the complexities of human emotion — told with a distinct mix of humor, empathy, and raw authenticity.

Her past work includes creating powerful call-to-action content for high-profile non-profits such as Black Girls Rock and Planned Parenthood, alongside esteemed branded collaborations with clients like Doc Martens, Jergens, Vaseline, Warner Bros Discovery, MTV, and NBCUniversal. Noël’s ability to craft emotionally resonant, visually dynamic, and culturally relevant stories has earned her recognition in the industry, including a Clio Bronze, a Promax Gold award, and screenings at numerous prestigious, Academy Award-qualifying festivals such as the Tribeca Film Festival, the British Film Institute, Outfest, and DocNYC.

Having spent her formative years between Haiti, Washington, DC, and Miami, Noël’s early exposure to music videos and films shaped her storytelling voice from a young age. As a child, she learned English by watching MTV and by the age of 9 was writing original video treatments for songs. After earning her college degree, Noël moved to New York City, where she honed her craft working for iconic networks like MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, and BET. She later pivoted to writing and directing short films and documentaries, earning an MFA from Hunter College’s Integrated Media Arts program, and is currently a graduate student at NYU’s prestigious Kanbar Institute of Film and Television.

Noël’s storytelling is characterized by its ability to blend humor with nuance, inviting audiences to smile, reflect, and connect with characters that feel deeply real and relatable. Whether addressing social justice, identity, or personal growth, her films offer an unflinching yet insightful lens into the worlds of women and marginalized communities. With her work, Noël continues to push boundaries, amplifying voices that are often overlooked, while grounding her narratives in the powerful beauty of life’s complexities.