Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Ceilidh Michelle
Welcome to NYWIFT, Ceilidh Michelle! Ceilidh is the author of Butterflies, Zebras, Moonbeams, (Palimpsest Press 2019), shortlisted for the Hugh MacLennan Award for Fiction and Vagabond: Venice Beach, Slab City and Points In Between (Douglas & McIntyre 2021). Her novella, Living Waters, was shortlisted for the Malahat Review's Novella Prize and The Commonwealth Prize, she's received an honorary mention from Writers Digest, and has been shortlisted for the Eunice Williams Prize for Nonfiction. The CBC has listed her twice as an author to watch. Her work has appeared in Maclean’s Magazine, 49th shelf, Room, Saltwire, Long Reads, and others. Originally from Nova Scotia, she lives in New York.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Fozhan Gharib
Welcome to NYWIFT, Fozhan Gharib! Fozhan (Fou) Gharib is a New York-based filmmaker, editor, and screenwriter who transitions seamlessly between performance and cinematic storytelling. After studying for her Master’s in Screenwriting at the University of Tehran, she relocated to the U.S. in 2023, earning a Master’s in Media Studies from The New School. Her work weaves psychological drama with a deeply poetic exploration of memory and resilience. Fou’s recent award-winning narrative short, Night of Melancholia, has screened at prestigious festivals globally and across New York City, cementing her voice as a vital new force in independent cinema. In our interview, Fozhan discussed her journey into filmmaking, the various inspirations behind her work, and her passion for building her projects from the ground up.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Aayushi Shah
Welcome to NYWIFT, Aayushi Shah! Aayushi is an award-winning South Asian screenwriter/filmmaker based in New York. Her screenplays have gained recognition from Oscar-qualifying festivals across the USA, while her filmmaking work (directing/producing/assistant-directing) includes shorts and features that’ve been showcased at festivals around the world or have streamed on Netflix and other platforms. Throughout her film career, she has worked for leading organizations like Bloomberg, The Juilliard School, PVH Corp., Industrial Scripts, and the Berlinale. Recently, she served as a juror for the FOLCS International Short Film Competition. Her writing has been published online and her work has been featured in the press.
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