NYWIFT Blog

By Jessica Moskowitz

Welcome, Therese Cayaba-Jones, to NYWIFT. 

Therese is a filmmaker with over 15 years of experience with films, documentaries, and series across the Philippines, Singapore, and the U.S.  

She just finished the feature screenplay for UnMarry, which was recently announced as one of the entries for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025. 

Currently, Therese is producing the film Tales My Father Told, and raising money through NYWIFT fiscal sponsorship. 

Read on to see Therese’s story of moving to New York, her role in the 48 Hour Film Project, and her take on the state of independent filmmaking in the Big Apple. 

NYWIFT Member Therese Cayaba-Jones

What brings you to NYWIFT? 

I moved here a little over a year ago from the Philippines. I have great filmmaker connections back home, have friends and people I worked with all the time, but now that I’m here, I had no help. 

I just didn’t want to give up on being a filmmaker, so I joined classes and went to as many filmmaker and screenwriter meetups I could to find a place and a community. One classmate told me about NYWIFT and how it’s a great way to connect with women filmmakers. It got me excited. I love working with women, and all my stories and films are very women-centric. I would love to meet collaborators through NYWIFT!

How do you define your work to someone just meeting you?

I tend to write drama comedies. Very character-driven and always woman centric. 

Talk a little about the 48 Hour Film Project. It happened in September. What can you share about behind-the-scenes producing that event?

There was already pressure that came with it when I joined. I had four months to organize the entire event… and it’s NY. 

New York is supposed to be competitive when it comes to filmmaking, and whoever wins the 48 Hour Film Project New York competes with other cities worldwide. In 25 years, New York had never won the 48 Hour Film Project. I am a highly competitive person, so I want New York to win.  

That meant finding and recruiting the best filmmakers. That meant going out and attending every filmmaker meetup and talking to as many filmmakers as I can to have them join. I had my husband, Will, who is also a producer, join me so we could divide the work.

We organized filmmaking mixers, so solo filmmakers could find other people to work with. We had casting calls for actors, so we could connect them with other filmmakers. We hosted talks from film insurance and rental companies, negotiated sponsorships and discounts, just so this year’s New York filmmakers have everything they needed to make successful films.

We had a few hiccups along the way, but I’m proud of our work for our first year, and this year’s filmmakers and films. 

How has living in New York influenced your work? 

When I moved here, I thought I’d only write what I knew: the Filipino diaspora. 

But after putting myself out there, meeting all these wonderful filmmakers and actors, seeing cool locations, I was inspired to write around them. I want to work with so many people I’ve met here in New York.

You and Sher Bautista have worked together before. Talk about that relationship.

We met back in 2009 in film school. We’ve been friends for a long time and collaborated on so many projects, I sometimes forget how many. She was my producer for my feature film, my actress for one of my short films, and I’ve worked under her when she was a producer for a production company back home, and for her short films and documentaries. We’ve seen each other’s highs and lows throughout our filmmaking career.

We didn’t even know we were both moving to New York around the same time – and in the same neighborhood! That gave me a sense of relief. I had Sher, and my husband, Will, both filmmakers from the same film school who I’ve collaborated with for a long time. 

I’m producing a film she’s directing, Tales My Father Told, which we are trying to raise money for through the NYWIFT fiscal sponsorship.

Is there an ability for independent filmmakers to make a living in this entertainment climate? You hear big name celebs doing podcasts because they can’t find jobs in LA with work going to Canada and abroad. 

I hope there is! I hope I didn’t come here at a bad time! I’m still trying to break into the industry here, and I’m honestly still reliant on the screenwriting work from back home. 

But like I’ve said earlier, I refuse to give up being a filmmaker. 

I’ve met too many active filmmakers to believe there’s nothing out there and that filmmaking is dead in New York. I’m starting to accept that maybe our stories are not always meant to be on the big screen too. I’ve slowly learned to accept the idea of content creation being a job, of podcasts being legitimate news sources, and just the idea of vertical films meant for phones — even with all the advancements of digital cameras and shooting in 8K (ok, maybe I’m reluctant with that one.)

I’ve already taken the risk of moving out here in NY, so might as well learn and explore those while I’m working to make my next film. 

Connect with Therese Cayaba-Jones on Instagram @imspacemonkey and view her portfolio at https://theresecayaba.myportfolio.com.  

(All images courtesy of Therese Cayaba-Jones)