Join Among Other Things and NY Women in Film & Television for an evening exploring how film shapes our understanding of womanhood and motherhood through insights from industry leaders across film, television, and publishing. The panel will examine how media representations silently influence family dynamics, workplace expectations, and the messages our children absorb about gender roles. The narratives we consume establish powerful templates affecting how we navigate our identities as women who are mothers, among many other things. Join us as we build a community of informed consumers ready to advocate for authentic representation.
Speakers include Monica Castillo (New York City Critic & Film Programmer), Nicola Kraus (NY Times #1 Best-Selling Author, The Nanny Diaries), Cynthia Lopez (CEO, NY Women In Film & Television), and Autumn Moran (Cinematographer & Camera Operator).
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Time: 6:00pm ET
Location: Union Square Ventures (817 Broadway)
Price: $35 Pre-Sale Ticket until Oct 1 / Regular price: $45 (Includes drinks & lite bites)
Please note: You will be prompted to Venmo or Zelle your registration fee to Among Other Things after completing your registration.
Speakers:
Monica Castillo is a critic and film programmer based in New York City. Her curatorial work has appeared at the Jacob Burns Film Center and the Paley Center for Media, and her journalism and criticism has appeared in NPR, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Colorado Public Radio, KCRW, RogerEbert.com, The Wrap, Remezcla, Elle Magazine, Mashable, and Vulture among others. She is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle, Critics Choice Association, and National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Nicola Kraus co-authored The Nanny Diaries, which became an international #1 best-seller selling over 6 million copies in 32 languages and inspiring the movie starring Scarlett Johansson & Alicia Keys. In addition to co-authoring 9 more novels, Nicola has contributed to The London Times, The New York Times, Redbook, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Town & Country, and others. In 2015 she co-founded the creative consulting firm The Finished Thought, which helps the next generation of aspiring authors find their voice and audience. The Best We Could Hope For is her first solo novel.
Cynthia López is an award-winning media strategist, and former Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, where she implemented strategies to support film and TV production throughout the five boroughs. López is the recipient of many coveted industry awards including: 11 News and Documentary Emmy Awards, a Special Emmy Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking, three Peabody Awards, and two duPont-Columbia Awards. Prior to working as Commissioner, López was Executive Vice President and co-Executive Producer of the award-winning PBS documentary series American Documentary | POV, and was involved in the organization’s strategic growth and creative development for 14 years. Notable partnerships include: New York Times, Reuters, Al-Jazeera Network, Discovery Communications, The Moth, Story Corps, Harpo Studios and ABC News, NIGHTLINE with Ted Koppel. López is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), and is proud to have spent her career collaborating with independent filmmakers across all portions of the film and television industry. She served on the Board of Trustees for the Paley Center, NYC & Company, Museum of the Moving Image and the Tribeca Film Institute Latin America Fund Advisory Board. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Color Congress, Latino Public Broadcasting, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors, and Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI).
Autumn Moran is a New York based Cinematographer and Camera Operator. She developed a passion for cinematography and the craft of visual storytelling while working in advertising. She delves into each new story she lenses, and seeks to find the emotional essence within the action. She credits a childhood immersed in sports, specifically gymnastics, with her appreciation of how the body moves through space, and therefore the frame.
Since beginning her career as a DP, she has shot various commercials, music videos and narrative projects. Clients include Uniqlo, Hulu and Planned Parenthood among others. On the narrative front, recent work HOME AT NIGHT (dir. Allison Geller) premiered at NY Short Fest and short film, AMONG THE LOST, was a ASC Heritage award nominee. She has also acted as 2nd Unit DP on Tubi Original narrative feature HIDDEN EXPOSURE directed by Todd Boggin and DP’d by Barbie Leung.
In addition to her DP work, Autumn has operated on HOCUS POCUS 2: BLACK FLAME, EVIL, THE REMIX (Tribeca Film Festival 2019), and HALF THE PICTURE (Sundance, SXSW 2018) among others.
Autumn was a recipient of the SOC mentorship program, as well as Local 600’s Inaugural mentorship program, of which she now sits on the committee. Additionally, she is a co-chair of the Local 600’s Eastern Region Women’s Committee. When she is not on set, she volunteers for the New York Junior League. And whenever possible, can be found at the beach.
Co-Presented with:
*Photos courtesy of Among Other Things
Union Square Ventures
817 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
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NYWIFT programs, screenings and events are supported, in part, by grants from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
