Thumbs Down: The latest study from Dr. Martha Lauzen from the Center for the Study of Women in Film & Television at San Diego State University shows that male reviewers dramatically outumber female reviewers, which can in turn affect how female-driven content’s visibility.
Marvel-ous Director: Cate Shortland will be the first woman to direct a Marvel superhero movie solo when she takes on the upcoming Black Widow film. (Anna Boden is co-directing next year’s Captain Marvel with Ryan Fleck.)
Photo Exhibit: I’m looking forward to toasting the end of NYWIFT’s 40th anniversary year tonight at the summer edition of our NYWIFT Night Out, which will feature the “Women Calling the Shots” Photography Showcase, an exhibit of photos of and by our members, celebrating their diverse roles throughout the entertainment industry. A big thanks to our friends at Adorama for sponsoring the event and to WhiteBox NYC for hosting.
nywift
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Jaime Schwarz
Welcome to NYWIFT, Jaime Schwarz! Jaime Schwarz grew up in NJ, the daughter of a Korean immigrant mother and son of Holocaust- survivors, father. Jaime earned her BFA in Acting from PACE University in NYC, appearing Off- Broadway in The Doctor at the Park Avenue Armory and on TV in Difficult People (Hulu), Younger (Paramount+), Jane the Virgin (The CW), Sorry for Your Loss, and Elsbeth (CBS). She is the director, writer, and star of the short film The Sandwich Line, which premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival, and her other writing work has been published in Mixed Asian Media and JoySauce. She’s currently developing several projects and is repped by Gersh + MJ Management. In our interview, Jaime discussed her journey from acting to directing and shared her experience of working in TV.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Esther Casas Roura
Welcome to NYWIFT, Esther Casas Roura! Esther is an award-winning filmmaker known for blending metaphorical storytelling with animation. Originally from Barcelona, Spain, she began her career as a molecular biologist before moving to New York and transitioning into filmmaking, focusing on animation while working across both commercial and narrative projects. She later founded Claymaniak Studios (now ECR Films) to create emotionally resonant films across stop-motion, traditional animation, and motion graphics. Her animated shorts—Check Date: An Underdog Love Story, Creamen, and FLOCKY—have screened internationally at over 150 film festivals. FLOCKY was recently shortlisted for the Goya Awards in Spain, has received 18 international awards, and has gained international recognition for its social impact. Esther is currently developing her fourth short, The Melody Within, and her first animated feature, TAO.
READ MOREFrom Set to Screen: Katherine Filaseta and Ellie Sachs Celebrate Lucy Shulman at Tribeca
The 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival is shining a spotlight on bold storytelling, unforgettable voices, and films that capture the spirit of New York City — and Lucy Shulman is doing exactly that. Premiering as part of the festival’s prestigious U.S. Narrative Competition, the sharply funny and deeply heartfelt feature follows a young woman navigating heartbreak, family dynamics, bad dates, and the complicated journey of finding herself again. Written, directed by, and starring filmmaker Ellie Sachs, the film blends humor with emotional honesty in a way that feels both intimate and universally relatable.
Behind the scenes, NYWIFT member Katherine Filaseta played a vital role as Second Assistant Director, helping keep the ambitious production moving while supporting the creative vision that brought the story to life. In this exclusive conversation, Ellie Sachs and Katherine Filaseta open up about collaboration, creative trust, independent filmmaking, the realities of balancing multiple roles on set, and what it means to premiere a deeply personal New York story at one of the city’s most celebrated film festivals.
NYWIFT Member Spotlight: Shahnaz Mahmud
When award-winning journalist Shahnaz Mahmud set out to write and direct her first narrative film, she landed on a deeply personal story inspired by her parents’ own arranged marriage. And when it came time to a select an editor to collaborate with, she turned to the NYWIFT membership directory, where she found veteran editor Susan B. Ades – the perfect match for her project. Members Shahnaz and Susan sat down with us to discuss their adventures (and misadventures!) making the short film The Blossom, how their partnership brought new elements of the story to light, and the unique path to bringing such an intimate tale to the screen.
READ MORE
