Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Sara Newton
Welcome to NYWIFT, Sara Newton! Sara is a director and cinematographer based in New York and Los Angeles. She is the creator of the MDR Sketch Comedy Show on PBS and has recently returned from an expedition in Antarctica, where she filmed a documentary. Her digital comedy sketches, produced under brands like Made by Tom and Sara, Nightpantz, and Conservation Comedy, have collectively garnered over 5 million views. With a strong foundation in television production, Sara has coordinated hit reality shows such as Love & Hip Hop (VH1), Bridezillas (WEtv), and Nellyville (BET). Her extensive experience in physical production led her to spend six years at Gunpowder & Sky, where she managed production across various platforms and developed sizzle reels for network pitches. Additionally, she served as the cinematographer for the experimental film Dust Flow: A Meditative Experience, also produced by Gunpowder & Sky. As of 2025, Sara is Head of Content for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and is set to direct a feature film this fall. Sara shares her journey as an unconventional storyteller who is not afraid to explore new platforms and storytelling formats.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Lauren Hale-Rieckhoff
Welcome to NYWIFT, Lauren Hale-Rieckhoff! Lauren is a Strategic Advisor and Producer of feature films and documentaries. She began her career as a Casting Associate on HBO’s Sex and the City, then spent over ten years at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where she represented talent across music, film, TV, and sports, facilitating over $200 million in deals for A-list clients like Ron Howard, Jamie Foxx, Hilary Swank, Eva Longoria, John Legend, Dwyane Wade, and Sarah Jessica Parker. In 2017, she co-founded WilyfoXX Collective, a boutique agency advising, among others, tech giants and legacy fashion brands, with a client portfolio exceeding $10 million. Now, as the founder of Andiamo Pictures, Lauren is producing The Florist, starring Carla Gugino as Vivien Leigh, and has upcoming projects including Savage House (Paramount, 2025) and a documentary on Dita Von Teese. Her film financing and production approach combines industry experience with a talent-first, future-focused philosophy. Lauren shares her journey in the film industry, beginning as a Casting Associate and progressing to producing her own films.
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