New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is proud to announce the projects selected for the 9th Annual NYWIFT Online Shorts Festival, presented in partnership with iWomanTV. Congratulations to the selected projects and filmmakers, including those who won category awards.
The Online Shorts Festival will run on iWomanTV from now through October 16th
Category Winners Announcement – September 29th
Audience Choice Award Announcement – October 30th
NYWIFT was founded in 1977 by a handful of women who saw a pressing need in New York for a networking and education forum for women in the entertainment industry. Nearly 50 years later, NYWIFT’s diverse membership is made up of professionals who work in all aspects of television, film and media, from behind-the-scenes to in front of the camera to the executive suite. We are thrilled to showcase some of our established and rising stars through the Online Shorts Festival!
The selected films and webisodes are available to stream on:
(Please note you will have to sign up for a free account with iWomanTV to watch the films.)
The film with the most views at the end of August will be awarded the Audience Choice Award from iWomanTV!
First Place (Most Watched Film) – $1,000
Second Place – $500
Third Place – $250
How to create an iWomanTV account
Here are important instructions to help you create your iWomanTV account so you can watch this year’s selections!
Thank you to our friends at iWomanTV for offering this incredible opportunity to the NYWIFT community.
Watch the films online now:
$13
NYWIFT Member Melissa Skirboll
(Director, Writer & Actor)
When a long-time New Yorker introduces her niece to her beloved city, a doughnut and a waterfront view ignite memories of her greatest, but luckiest, loss.
WINNER – Best Writer (Drama)
A Diwali Dilemma
NYWIFT Member Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
(Director, Writer & Producer)
Overlooked and overworked, Mala has one last night to get things right in A Diwali Dilemma which offers a fresh Desi twist on a Christmas classic. Charles Dicken’s timeless tale, is retold for a new culture and generation. 3 female mentors from Mala’s past visit her on the first night of Diwali. Will they be too late?
WINNER – Best Comedy
WINNER – Best Actor (Comedy) – Priya Pappu
WINNER – Best Director (Comedy) – Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
A Junkyard. An Auction. A Legacy.
NYWIFT Member Katja Haecker
(Director & Producer)
Behind every rusting classic car lies the possibility of a masterpiece. Set against the prestigious auction of the world’s most famous automotive junkyard, this short documentary explores the passion, craftsmanship, and dedication that bring forgotten cars back to life.
WINNER – Best Short Under 5 Minutes
WINNER – Best Cinematography (Documentary)
Against Interpretation
NYWIFT Member Jiyeon Kim
(Director & Writer)
Through a New York cab driver, one learns to appreciate small things and moments of life.
WINNER – Best Supporting Actor (Dramedy) – Hee Sunwoo
Black Women Euphoria
NYWIFT Member MéLisa Best
(Producer)
Black Women Euphoria is a celebration of presence, rest, and Black femme joy. Shot in Brooklyn, NY, this award-winning film is an invitation to return to their softness, stillness, and sovereignty through immersive portraiture, reflection, and intimate storytelling. Featuring eleven muses, the film shifts the cultural narrative of how Black women are seen in art, in media, and in life, focusing on what would it look like for Black women to reclaim their rest, joy, and ease. Through shared storytelling and unlearning, the film’s a powerful reminder that our rest and joy is, and always will be ours.
Being Here
NYWIFT Member Janet Oh
(Producer)
Before leaving for Brooklyn, Valerie must navigate one last boat day with her sister.
Within the muted beauty of a conservative coastal town, Valerie navigates life with her sexuality kept carefully hidden. The constant, unspoken weight of expectation is embodied by her younger sister, Riley, a model of straight success who makes Valerie’s yearning feel like a radical act.
WINNER – Best Cinematography (Drama)
Can We Talk?
NYWIFT Member Nora Armani
(Lead Actor)
Through multiple visitations with her father in prison, a teenager is faced with a difficult decision that will affect Mouloud tries to strike up a conversation with a woman in a park, but she seems uninterested in what he has to say and wards him off… until the tables are turned on her.
WINNER – Jury’s Choice Award
Change Gonna Come
NYWIFT Member Nadine Mann
(Writer, Director & Executive Producer)
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of government have been abolished following a special election. Today, the newly elected government consisting of 5 female Black Justices hold their first meeting. They’re eager to state their agendas and offer solutions. Although they aim for unity, they’re not in total agreement. Someone has a hidden agenda. Still, as they take their place at the bench, they make it perfectly clear they shouldn’t be underestimated.
WINNER – Best Cast (Comedy)
Children No More: “Were and Are Gone”
NYWIFT Member Yael Melamede
(Producer)
In Tel Aviv, activists gather weekly to demonstrate their opposition to the war in Gaza with a silent vigil for the children killed in Israeli attacks.
WINNER – Best Film Editing (Documentary)
Cool Headed Girl
NYWIFT Member Lisa Isaacson
(Writer, Director & Producer)
A successful elevator interiors sales executive juggles career wins and personal challenges while moving on from Mr. Wrong and embracing her self-worth.
Cowgirl Way
NYWIFT Member Nancy Cohen
(Writer, Director & Performer)
A singing cowgirl teaches kids not to own or carry guns.
Darwin Fick in NY
NYWIFT Member Eve Austin
(Actor & Producer)
Colleen Coles (Kristin Samuelson from Sunset Drive and Every Day) is a best-selling and prolific author known as the “female Stephen King.” When she reveals to talk-show host Julia Louis-Childs (Samantha Robinson from The Love Witch and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) that she will retire after her next book, she is suddenly plagued by writer’s block, much to the dismay of her agent Henry (Moe Jeudy-Lamour from Ted Lasso). Colleen is then approached in a bar by a mysterious stranger named Darwin Fick (Eve Austin from In Fidelity, Junction, American Fango) and is offered an incredibly high-stakes life-or-death.
Deborah at Work
NYWIFT Member Linda Manning
(Director, Actor & Writer)
After throwing a birthday party for her boss, Deborah finds herself in an unexpected sparring match with the office’s intelligent cleaning robot, unearthing startling revelations about her past, and the possibility of a remarkable new future.
Don’t Be Late, Myra
NYWIFT Member Afia Serena Nathaniel
(Writer, Director, Producer & Editor)
A missed school bus leaves ten-year-old Myra stranded in Lahore, where her journey home spirals into a tense fight for survival against the men who stalk her every step.
WINNER – Best Director (Drama)
Excuse Me
NYWIFT Member Mary Beth Warner
(Producer & Writer)
Ignored because of her age, 50-year-old Amanda leaves a coffee shop on her way to a job interview without the last chocolate croissant, but maybe something even sweeter.
WINNER – Best Writer (Dramedy)
FLOCKY
NYWIFT Member Esther Casas Roura
(Writer, Director & Producer)
An animated allegory navigating pregnancy, exploring the connection between a mother and her unborn child. Set in a melancholic and enchanting world, the story captures the essence of love, and the poignant nature of loss.
WINNER – Best Animation & Visual Effects
If…Then…Now…
NYWIFT Member Anne Kmetyko
(Producer, Writer & Director)
Caught in a “no man’s land” where time, space and memory merge, a man searches desperately to find his partner who has been swept away by a tsunami.
WINNER – Best Wardrobe
Jar
NYWIFT Member Jiyeon Kim
(Writer & Director)
Two roommates, initially dependent on men for even the simplest household tasks, come to realize that what they truly needed was the confidence and contentment found within themselves.
WINNER – Best Screenplay (Dramedy)
WINNER – Best Director (Dramedy)
Kankantri
NYWIFT Member Gabri Christa
(Director)
A woman enters a house of worship, and cannot leave until she surrenders to the dances and rituals of her many ancestors ones that call her into an ancestral plan.
Katti & Mr. Patti
NYWIFT Member Karla Linette Braithwaite
(Producer, Writer & Director)
Katti & Mr. Patti tells the poignant story of Katti, a woman processing the heartbreak of shattered motherhood dreams, whose healing is guided by the gentle, comforting presence of an old friend named Mr. Patti.
Lay Lefty Down
NYWIFT Member Traven Rice
(Director & Co-Writer)
Two women unexpectedly unite through stories of grief and laughter, after their family throws a surprise memorial for a left breast.
WINNER – Best Dark Comedy
WINNER – Best Director (Dark Comedy)
WINNER – Best Writer (Dark Comedy)
WINNER – Best Cinematography (Dark Comedy)
Limerence
NYWIFT Member Brianne Neira
(Director & Editor)
Two roommates suffer the consequences of exploring a romantic relationship.
WINNER – Best Thriller
Love Letters
NYWIFT Member Andrea Weiss
(Executive Producer)
Love Letters follows the remarkable love story of feminist scholar Catharine Stimpson and Australian musicologist Liz Wood, the mother of four young children. Both women, now in their 80s, recall a time when the desire to live authentically and love unapologetically was a radical act. Driven by their fierce desire to be together, Liz fought a battle in Australian family court to keep custody of her children. Although her lesbianism was used against her, she ultimately prevailed. This unlikely court victory made legal history, establishing the precedent that lesbian mothers could not be considered unfit simply for whom they love.
WINNER – Best Documentary
LOVE MUSIC SHELTER
NYWIFT Members Alixx Schottland
(Producer, Writer & Actor)
In a concrete jungle of despair, a homeless teenage girl, Nat, and her
struggling mother, Lila, find solace in music’s raw power amidst addiction and past demons. Against all odds, a performing arts school and a budding teen romance become their beacon of light, weaving a melody of resilience from the harsh symphony of their lives. Busking on the streets for survival, their spirits rise as a fierce anthem of determination echoes through the relentless pursuit of a brighter future.
On The Streets, your only Home is the Song in your Heart..
WINNER – Best Original Music
Love Zuri
NYWIFT Member Okema T. Moore
(Director & Producer)
Left alone with his non-verbal daughter for the weekend, a father’s fears about her autism give way to joy when her song teaches him how to truly hear her.
WINNER – Best Actor (Drama) – Montana Monroe Jenkin
Martorell: Sculpting a Poem
NYWIFT Member Rita Damiron
(Director)
Martorell Sculpting a Poem is a short documentary piece that features Artist Antonio Martorell as he creates the monument ‘My Cry Into the World’. Located in Manhattan’s Battery Park, the monument was dedicated to the victims of Hurricane María in 2017, and was inspired by groundbreaking Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos’ words and some of nature’s most unforgiving forces. Through a deeply introspective journey, Antonio Martorell creates a stunning piece of art for all audiences to connect with and enjoy.
Mejor Sola (Better Alone)
NYWIFT Member Rita Damiron
(Producer)
A couple on holiday discovers where the source of their discontent lies after day drinking in the heat and an unexpected text from back home divulges into an argument and separate nights out. Their secret truths are revealed with the sunrise.
WINNER – Best Romance
Metamorphosis
NYWIFT Member Chiara Padejka
(Director & Producer)
Metamorphosis is a cinematic exploration of transformation, identity, and rebirth. Directed in collaboration with songwriter and performer Jenny Kravitz, Metamorphosis is a whimsical and evocative digital odyssey that blends surreal visuals with emotional storytelling to capture the beauty of personal evolution.
WINNER – Best Music Video
Mira Chai: Godmother of Men’s Grooming
NYWIFT Member Nadia Voukitchevitch
(Director & Producer)
Mira Chai’s story was personal. As a mixed Asian woman just like Mira, I’ve faced years of silent discrimination for simply being myself. Mira’s resilience, artistry, and survival mirrored my own journey—and inspired me to spotlight women who embody strength, creativity, and complexity. We share roots in the Philippines and families who’ve quietly battled mental health challenges— stories often left untold.
Through this documentary, I hope to amplify voices like Mira’s, challenge harmful narratives, and empower young Asians to feel pride in who they are. Documentary filmmaking has been my way of advocating for justice and visibility.
WINNER – Best Producer (Documentary)
Missy’s Voice
NYWIFT Member Karen Goeller
(Writer & Producer)
Missy’s Voice is about more than music—it’s about resilience, courage, and finding strength in the face of adversity. The story follows a young singer who endures years of bullying but ultimately discovers her power through her passion. On stage, she shines, reminding us all that even after the darkest times, triumph is possible.
This inspiring, character-driven film takes viewers on an emotional journey filled with unexpected twists, unforgettable characters, and moments of hard-won victory. Missy’s Voice is not just a film, it’s a powerful statement against bullying and a story that resonates with audiences of every age.
WINNER – Best Picture
Nina
NYWIFT Member Maria Eleni Zollo
(Actor, Writer & Director)
The apparition of Nina, an unknown painter, has a discussion about the meaning of art and her work with the prospective buyer of her home, which was put up for sale after her death.
PARANOIDIGM
NYWIFT Member MéLisa Best
(Director, Creative and Executive Producer, Actor)
Who are you when your world starts to shake? Do you let yourself be rattled, or do you find a way to recenter and rise?
In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, PARANOIDIGM, an award-winning film is a reminder that we still hold the power to shift. It’s about claiming a new paradigm when the old one no longer serves us, choosing possibility over fear, and alignment over complete collapse. When we dare to shift our perspective, we don’t just survive whatever unnerves us, but we transform our lives.
Change your paradigm; change your life.
WINNER – Best Experimental
Revolving Door
NYWIFT Member Jiyeon Kim
(Writer & Director)
Through the eyes of a young nurse, we navigate the thin line between life and death, finding solace and connection in the delicate moments of birth and passing.
WINNER – Best Screenplay (Drama)
Run Wild
NYWIFT Member Roxanna Lewis
(Writer, Director & Producer)
An autobiographical story based on a true life event of writer, director, producer Roxanna Lewis.
Rayla, an 8-year-old love child from a broken home, is torn between adoring and fearing her estranged alcoholic father, Taz. When the obligatory weekend visitation finally transpires, Rayla is forced into a terrifying task in the desert.
WINNER – Best Producer (Drama)
SAVERIO
NYWIFT Member Ellen Ancui
(Director & Writer)
When a young Korean woman finds an elderly Mexican man dumped in her car, her hustle screeches to a halt, and she collides with her mother, her identity, and the empathy she’s long outrun, in this “coming of aging” dramedy,
WINNER – Best Actor (Dramedy) – Qincy Cho
Someone You Know
NWIFT Member Asha Dahya
(Director)
Meet 3 women – Mindy Swank, Valerie Peterson and Sharon Lagos – who have had abortions later in their pregnancies. There are no abortion services in at least 90% of U.S. counties. Only a handful of states offer abortion services after the first trimester. Later abortion patients often become the target of misinformation and harassment. Use their real names, each of the women share their complex and heartbreaking stories of having to overcome numerous barriers to get the care they needed, at a time when reproductive freedom is being rolled back at an alarming pace.
WINNER – Best Director (Documentary)
Sunflower Girl
NYWIFT Member Holly Kaplan
(Writer, Director & Producer)
Rosie, a 13-year-old Chinese-American girl, embarks on a skateboarding escapade through the streets of New York with her crush and his best friend – at the cost of abandoning her little sister and never delivering a forgotten lunchbox.
WINNER – Best Drama
The Blossom
NYWIFT Member Shahnaz Mahmud
(Director & Writer)
After her mother’s suicide, a woman revisits childhood memories and uncovers a hidden truth about her family that changes everything she thought she knew about her past.
WINNER – Best Supporting Actor (Drama) – Leah Khambata
The Blue Jay
NYWIFT Member Marlene Shigekawa
(Director, Executive Producer & Writer)
During World War II, Sam, the Japanese American police chief of an incarceration camp, clashes with Pohache, a Native American lawyer, until a guard kills Sam’s uncle, Toshi, forging a wary alliance. When Sam’s newborn needs formula camp director Ken claims were lost to a hijacked truck, the two uncover Ken secretly selling rations to a local cowboy. Pohache quietly secures the formula, and friendship deepens when Sam’s wife Mariko gifts him the wooden blue jay Sam has been carving. Their bond widens when Pohache introduces Sam to Thomas, an ACLU attorney determined to challenge the camp’s injustices in court.
The Delivery Guy
NYWIFT Member Lisa Romagnoli
(Director & Writer)
A date is interrupted when the food delivery guy is an ex-boyfriend.
WINNER – Best Dramedy
The Journey
NYWIFT Member Nadine Mann
(Director & Writer)
Mrs. Sneed encourages immigrant children in her class, to share their background via pics that will be included in a photo gallery exhibit.
The Law of Series
NYWIFT Member Sousana Maragkou
(Writer, Director & Producer)
A man becomes obsessed with a female singer, his fixation merging her body of work with the deep parasocial tendencies fans often fall into. This is an atmospheric piece that captures a bygone era- a time when everything hinged on hearing the right song in the right place, or scoring tickets to those rare, game-changing gigs.
Featuring a captivating score by Rafael Anton Irisarri and a haunting exit song by Nick Cave, this is a story about the lengths a person will go to make a memory feel real.
WINNER – Best Score (Drama)
The Lion
NYWIFT Member Abigail Zealey Bess
(Director & Producer)
A surreal dark animated comedy combining live action with stop animation. Katherine wins a Make a Wish Contest. Her wish? To pet the lion at the zoo. A tale about loss, about looking a “lion in the eye,” and ultimately a reminder of how love and acceptance can heal us in grief.
WINNER – Best Producer (Dark Comedy)
WINNER – Best Actor (Dark Comedy) – Judith Roberts
The Shower
NYWIFT Member Guneet K. Singh
(Lead Producer)
A woman’s grief turns a baby shower into a test of motherhood, worth, and survival…because the one and only guest may never get to leave.
WINNER – Best Score (Thriller)
The Text
NYWIFT Member Kareemah Muhammad
(Producer, Director & Writer)
Tanya, a kind-hearted dreamer and music lover, moves in with her new boyfriend Samuel, a controlling NYC music producer, believing it will help her DJ dreams. Cut off from friends and family for two years, Tanya finally attends her best friend Michelle’s engagement party, where she reunites with Michelle and college friend Taj, who encourages her to DJ. When Tanya defies Samuel’s demands to leave the party, he shows up unannounced and forces her to leave in fear. His rage escalates nearly ending in tragedy, giving Tanya a chance to escape.
WINNER – Best Cast (Drama)
The Wanderer
NYWIFT Member Lois Drabkin
(Casting Director)
An immortal woman offers a dark proposition to a dying man, but struggles to persuade him to accept her curse.
WINNER – Best Screenplay (Thriller)
Willow
NYWIFT Member Kaitlyn Diehl
(Writer, Lead Actor & Producer)
Two sisters grapple with the changing nature of their relationship.
WINNER – Best All-Female Cast
WINNER – Best Film Editing (Drama)
