By Itu Phalane
Welcome to NYWIFT, Chloe Derian!
Chloe Derian is a filmmaker, photographer, and creative strategist who combines artistry and strategy to craft stories that inspire and connect audiences.
With a strong background in marketing and multimedia production, she has led campaigns and creative projects that elevate brands and highlight authentic voices. Her expertise spans event production, photography, and film, focusing on visual storytelling that balances emotional resonance with strategic impact.
Chloe values collaboration and innovation, keeping pace with trends in film, photography, and digital media. She is dedicated to projects that amplify diverse perspectives and spark meaningful conversations.
In our interview, Chloe describes how her multidisciplinary background drives her passion for combining art and strategy to tell compelling stories.
NYWIFT Member Chloe Derian
Can you give our readers a short introduction to who you are?
I am Chloe Derian, a filmmaker, photographer, and creative strategist who thrives at the intersection of art and strategy. I love shaping stories that move people and make brands unforgettable.
What brought you to NYWIFT?
I wanted to join a community of women who are creating real change in film and media. NYWIFT feels like the right place to share ideas, learn from others, and collaborate on meaningful projects.
Can you describe a marketing campaign at Mezrah Consulting that you are especially proud of?
For Mezrah’s 30th anniversary, I built a campaign that honored their legacy while refreshing their voice. From concept through visuals, I led the creative approach, and the result was stronger client loyalty and new recognition in the industry.
How has your background in marketing influenced the way you approach multimedia production?
It always begins with the audience. Marketing taught me to ask who is watching and why they should care. That focus keeps my work both visually compelling and strategically sharp.
How has your experience as a photographer and filmmaker shaped your approach to marketing communications?
Visual storytelling guides everything I do. Whether in a campaign or a film, I approach it like a scene where every image and every beat must serve the story.
Can you share an example of a cross-functional project that combined digital marketing with video production?
I produced a video series paired with a digital ad rollout. I scripted, shot, edited, and aligned the launch strategy so that creative and analytics worked in sync. The project not only boosted brand credibility but also generated new business leads.
How do you stay up-to-date with trends in film, photography, and marketing?
I attend panels, read industry news, and constantly test new tools. I weave these trends into my work so each project feels current while still rooted in timeless storytelling.
What types of projects are you interested in working on in the future?
I am excited to be part of any project where I can bring my creativity and unique perspective. I especially enjoy opportunities that merge film, photography, and marketing in fresh and innovative ways.
Connect with Chloe Derian on LinkedIn and via her websites, chloederian.com and stillandmotions.com.
(All images courtesy of Chloe Derian.)
Itu Phalane
Itu Phalane is a student at CUNY Hunter College, where she studies film and media. In addition to her academic pursuits, she is an aspiring photographer, a passion that complements her interest in film.
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Juleyka Lantigua
Welcome to NYWIFT, Juleyka Lantigua! Juleyka is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, and the Founder of LWC Studios, a digital media studio dedicated to creating socially conscious storytelling for rising-majority audiences. As a filmmaker, she has executive produced multiple short films and documentaries, including the Peabody Award-nominated podcast series 70 Million through LWC Studios. A Fulbright Scholar with a Master’s degree in Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing, Juleyka brings a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling—one that blends rigorous reporting with deeply human narratives across platforms.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Danielle Bancroft
Welcome to NYWIFT, Danielle Bancroft! Danielle is a recent Chapman University graduate who earned a BFA in Film Production, with an emphasis in Production Design and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Throughout her undergrad years, Danielle was able to design many short films including her thesis, Protégé, where she was able to build 1950s French ateliers utilizing her schools scene shop and sound stage. In addition to building sets, Danielle co-founded The Portal Productions, a student-led non-profit dedicated to getting students real world experience while providing small businesses in Orange County with affordable media production. Danielle was also a stylist intern at Macy's, working on print, digital, and video ads, and she recently went back to work as an assistant stylist for the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. With her entrepreneurial spirit and natural creativity, Danielle is excited to assist designers with anything from solving logistical issues to fabricating furniture, props, or set pieces.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Bakhtawar Tagar
Welcome to NYWIFT, Bakhtawar Tagar! Bakhtawar is a Pakistani-Canadian documentary filmmaker and editor based in Brooklyn. Her work is rooted in amplifying marginalized voices through stories centered on indigenous land rights, environmental and human rights justice, decolonization, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. A lifelong storyteller, Bakhtawar grew up devouring books, magazines, and news stories. In her 20s, witnessing the persecution of minority communities in Pakistan, while much of the world remained unaware, she felt a responsibility to bring these stories to light, with the hope of making the world a little more just, one story at a time. Bakhtawar’s short documentary Naaz, which follows her aunt, Dr. Farah Naz, a healthcare provider in a rural village in Pakistan working to keep her not-for-profit maternal health clinic open amid systemic and personal challenges, recently won Best Editing at the Delhi International Short Film Festival and is set to screen at the Athena Film Festival in New York City in March. In our interview, she discussed her journey into documentary filmmaking, her commitment to social justice storytelling, and the responsibility she feels toward the stories she tells.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Jackie Yunchang Zhang
Welcome to NYWIFT, Jackie Yunchang Zhang! Jackie Yunchang Zhang is a non-fiction filmmaker and video artist from Hangzhou, China, now based in New York. Working across lens-based media and animation, she uses a hybrid non-fiction approach to explore identity, resilience, and cultural displacement. With a strong sensitivity to emotion, memory, and interpersonal dynamics, her work examines how people navigate relationships, belonging, and the quiet negotiations of everyday life. Through an observational yet personal style, she creates films that reveal the subtle ways we understand ourselves and the world around us.
READ MORE
Comments are closed