Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Yossera Bouchtia
Welcome to NYWIFT, Yossera Bouchtia! Yossera Bouchtia is an award-winning filmmaker and educator whose work explores memory, experimental storytelling, and the experience of the sublime. Her films span genres including magical realism, neorealism, biopics, drama, and experimental films. Drawing on her Moroccan-American upbringing, her storytelling bridges East and West, amplifying unheard voices and shedding light on unseen truths. Bouchtia approaches storytelling as a practice of being – an invitation into consciousness, attention, witnessing, and deeper presence. She holds an M.F.A. in Film Directing from Columbia University and she is currently Associate Professor and Program Director of Cinema at VCU School of the Arts.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Jackie Quinones
Welcome to NYWIFT, Jackie Quinones! Jackie is a boundary-pushing filmmaker with a career that seamlessly blends music, acting, marketing, development, and production. From her roots as a hip-hop artist to her evolution in film, she combines a rare mix of artistic vision and business savvy to create heartfelt, socially resonant stories that leave a lasting influence. Bilingual and Puerto Rican, she is a multi-hyphenate talent - writer, director, actor, and producer - whose work centers on emotionally rich, character-driven stories exploring psychology, identity, and trauma. Jackie's hybrid-genre narratives also reflect on social and political issues through the lens of fractured relationships and complex family dynamics. Committed to amplifying unheard and underrepresented voices, her work is both personal and thought-provoking. Her debut feature film Miles Away premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2025. It went on to earn the New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) Award for Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking at the Urbanworld Film Festival.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Danielle Bancroft
Welcome to NYWIFT, Danielle Bancroft! Danielle is a recent Chapman University graduate who earned a BFA in Film Production, with an emphasis in Production Design and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Throughout her undergrad years, Danielle was able to design many short films including her thesis, Protégé, where she was able to build 1950s French ateliers utilizing her schools scene shop and sound stage. In addition to building sets, Danielle co-founded The Portal Productions, a student-led non-profit dedicated to getting students real world experience while providing small businesses in Orange County with affordable media production. Danielle was also a stylist intern at Macy's, working on print, digital, and video ads, and she recently went back to work as an assistant stylist for the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. With her entrepreneurial spirit and natural creativity, Danielle is excited to assist designers with anything from solving logistical issues to fabricating furniture, props, or set pieces.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Alyssa R. Bennett
Welcome to NYWIFT, Alyssa R. Bennett! Alyssa R. Bennet is an accomplished, multifaceted creative who exemplifies a socially conscious career and ambition. Alyssa has worked on a multitude of projects, from music to writing to filmmaking – both in front of and behind the camera. Always drawing from her intrinsic passion, her various mediums often intertwine and inform her expansive creative visions. Her keen ability to boil narratives down to the raw and essential is a reflection of this artistic crossover. As co-founder of Stonestreet Studios, Alyssa brings her vast experience to the service of the filmmaking community, connecting people with opportunities and amplifying diverse stories. Alyssa continuously strives to uplift the filmmaking community and contribute to the invaluable tradition of storytelling. In our interview, Alyssa discusses her career and the motivations that have paved the way for her accomplished journey.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Ginelle Bamfo
Welcome to NYWIFT, Ginelle Bamfo! Ginelle is a talented young filmmaker and recent graduate from NYU Tisch’s Film and TV school. With a background in acting and theater, Ginelle has expanded her creative pursuits into many realms of the filmmaking industry. Having won NYU’s Best Undergraduate Film award for her project Talk Yo’ Shit, her talents and ambitions have quickly proven worthwhile. Ginelle is a staunch advocate of amplifying diverse voices. Her role as President of The Collective at NYU – a club which connects and highlights the work of Black students – is only one example of her commitment to this goal. Ginelle is a flexible and dynamic creative, drawing inspiration from ever-evolving sources. Always excited to learn and collaborate, she is an exciting addition to the entertainment industry. In our interview, Ginelle discusses what her journey to filmmaking has looked like and her current artistic ambitions.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Nancy Pasquariello
Welcome to NYWIFT, Nancy Pasquariello! Nancy is a multifaceted creative with a passion for storytelling. Her background as a professional chef, writer, and filmmaker is a display of her insatiable desire to explore and create. Inspired by the potential that film has to change perspectives and impact lives, Nancy strives to channel her creative energy into the kinds of projects that carry this influence. Nancy’s artistic mediums are often put in conversation with one another during her creative process. Her unique perspective shines through in every project she pursues as a result of her distinct artistic background. In our interview, Nancy discusses her passions and the origins of her creative inspiration.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Gabriela Coronel
Welcome to NYWIFT, Gabriela Coronel! Gabriela Coronel is an up-and-coming filmmaker and visual artist who recently graduated from Ithaca College. Driven and inspired by the diversity of the human experience, Gabriela tells stories through various mediums. Her talent and vision has been appreciated by the likes of Westchester Magazine and Tiny Studios, where she worked on a variety of creative projects and events. Gabriela strives to push herself creatively. She draws from her personal experiences throughout each project she pursues, allowing her to continuously explore new ideas and challenge old ones. In our interview, Gabriela discusses her background and the origins of her creative inspiration.
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