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Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Val Dowd

We’re thrilled to welcome our new NYWIFT member, Val Dowd! Val is a film sales manager with a passion for highlighting underrepresented voices. Some of her career highlights thus far include doing outreach for Matthew Heineman’s documentary The First Wave and working with her team on Hulu’s The Jewel Thief. She’s very motivated by community and finding films that can open doors for people and offer fresh perspectives. Read our interview with Val to learn more about the role of a film sales manager, how she approaches selling and distributing projects, and her love for film.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Katharine Chin

Mic up. Headphones on. Press record for Chapter 1: NYWIFT’s Newest Member. We’re pleased to welcome Katharine Chin to the NYWIFT community! Katharine is an actor, writer, and audiobook narrator who has worked on numerous audiobooks for Harper Collins, Penguin Random House and more. As an actor and writer, her career spans television, film and theater. She’s a founding member of The Nobodies Collective, which offers a space to nurture new work for the stage and screen. Read our interview with Katharine to learn more about her creative journey, what it’s like recording audiobooks, and her advice for other artists.

HBO Original Limited Series “The Penguin” Now Streaming on Max

The HBO Original limited series The Penguin from Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, began with the series premiere on Thursday, September 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and is now available to stream on Max. New episodes debut on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max. NYWIFT members Tammy Reese and LaKisa Renee attended the red carpet premiere in NYC and share their exclusive interviews below!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Bella Pechaty

We are pleased to welcome new NYWIFT member, Isabella (Bella) Pechaty! Bella Pechaty is a young professional working in freelance film journalism programming. She has worked at a number of arts nonprofits, independent publications, and in film publicity. She is interested in pursuing a career in film PR, creative development, and film criticism. She holds a BA in Film Studies from Barnard College of Columbia University, and is currently based in New York City.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Leslie Cunningham

Everyone please take a moment to welcome our new NYWIFT Member, Leslie Cunningham! Leslie is a director, writer, and producer with experience spanning documentary, branded, podcast, narrative, and digital video. She is a Supervising Producer and Head of Branded Content at the NYC-based creative agency Diagonal Media. She approaches storytelling as a writer first, understanding the central “why” of a story to unveil the universal truths that create compelling and authentic narratives. She was recently featured as a panelist at the NYWIFT FinanceHER Institute at The New School in September 2024, discussing all things branded content.

Meet the New NYWIFT Board Member: Toni R. Isreal

This month, NYWIFT announced the results of our latest Board Elections. This included the election of new board member Toni Isreal! Toni has been a NYWIFT member for over five years and we are thrilled to have her join our leadership team. Isreal is no stranger to arts and entertainment. The former accounting specialist sought and secured key apprenticeship opportunities to thrive from her greatest interests in film, television, and theater, leading to decades of experience in group sales and brand management. Isreal is the Founder of REALEMN Productions, Broadway and Touring with a focus on partnerships, marketing, PR, and producing.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Eli Zavala

Welcome to NYWIFT, Eli Zavala! Eli is focused on bringing better representation, and fighting misrepresentations, of minorities on the screen. She founded La Filmadora (NY) and Numina (Mx), is part of the shorts team at Tribeca & AFI Fest, is the Festivals Commissioner & Producers Liaison of The Independent Film Industry Convergence of Mexico and Latin America, and is the Executive Programming Director at Latitudes Cinema, a NY microcinema.

NYWIFT @ TIFF: In Conversation with Costume Designer Rosemary Lepre Forman

Writer-director-actor Edward Burns’ latest feature film, Millers in Marriage, made its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). An ensemble drama with a stunning cast including Gretchen Mol, Patrick Wilson, Julianna Margulies, Campbell Scott, Benjamin Bratt, and Minnie Driver, Burns’ latest follows the thorny emotional lives of three siblings adrift in middle age, surveying the vagaries of long-term love while championing the possibilities for personal change. NYWIFT Member Rosemary Lepre Forman was costume designer for the film. She sat down with us to discuss her creative journey with the project and her experience at TIFF.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Angela Inez

Welcome to NYWIFT, Angela Inez! Angela is a screenwriter, podcaster and SAG/AFTRA actress with a deep love for words. Her upcoming audio drama “Where Loyalties…Lie” will debut in Fall of 2024. She was in the Writers Guild Fellowship for military veterans where she developed a supernatural drama television pilot. Read our interview with Angela below to learn more about her creative journey, her upcoming audio drama and her advice for pursuing careers in podcasting and television.

A Celebration of Film and Exchange of Knowledge: Previewing the NY Greek Film Expo with Maria Miles

Maria C. Miles is a well-known presence at NYWIFT gatherings, having served two consecutive terms on the NYWIFT Board of Directors and now as legal counsel for the organization. Mary – as friends and fellow members know her – frequently welcomes new faces to the organization with her warmth, generous spirit, and quick wit. And now she brings her leadership and expertise to another organization near and dear to her heart. Committed to promoting diversity in the film and television industry, Miles was named President of the Board of the Hellenic Film Society USA in January 2024. Mary offered us a unique glimpse into what the organization has in store this year, including its partnership with New York Women in Film & Television.

Meet the new NYWIFT Member: Stacey Messina

Let’s all give a warm welcome to our new NYWIFT Member, Stacey Messina! Stacey began her career in tourism and hotel marketing, eventually moving into the academic fundraising arena. She most recently finished a freelance gig in nonprofit theatre production and fundraising, and is now fully investing herself in her creative screenwriting projects. She recently completed a semester at NY Film Academy and will begin pursuit of her MFA in Film and Television Production at the New York campus in January. After 25 years of only dreaming of the movies, Stacey is finally engaged in the pursuit of writing and producing the stories that take shape in her head as scenes from a film. Check out the rest of the article to learn more about Stacey and her big leap towards her dreams!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Nicole Paré Ein

The NYWIFT community is happy to welcome Nicole Paré Ein! With 25+ years in the entertainment industry, she got her start working alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City and Ed Harris in the critically acclaimed film Pollock. Since 2005, she has explored various roles at Avalanche Creative Services where she is currently helping lead as the Vice President of Operations. In this interview we discuss her longevity at the company, the importance of resourcefulness, and the memorable moment when she was stuck inside an elevator with an iconic television actress!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Rachel Cheung

Welcome to NYWIFT, Rachel Cheung! Rachel is a dynamic writer and producer born and raised in New York City and Long Island with Chinese and Irish roots. With a BFA in Film and Television from NYU, she has honed her craft through diverse experiences, including roles as an assistant to the President of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences and at WME in the Brand Partnerships department. Rachel's background enriches her unique perspective in the industry, driving her storytelling prowess. Get to know her in our latest interview!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Rita Damirón

On the move. Roll sound. Interview Take 1. Welcome to NYWIFT, Rita Damirón! Rita is a producer and director who has worked in various areas of production from news to animation to documentaries to post-production. She is a founding team member of Cheddar and was a lead producer for MSNBC’s Leguizamo Does America. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she’s passionate about creating strategic media content for Latinos. Read our full interview with Rita to learn more about her career journey, what makes a great producer, and her advice for creatives pursuing their passions.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member Gabrielle Schonder

A warm welcome to new NYWIFT member Gabrielle Schonder! Gabrielle is a multi- Emmy Award-winning documentary director who has covered politics, national security, and foreign policy for over a decade at 60 Minutes and FRONTLINE about insider trading by members of Congress led to the passage of The STOCK Act. She had her directorial debut in 2020 with NRA: Under Fire and was a member of the FRONTLINE team that covered the insurrection on January 6th in America After 9/11. Gabrielle is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America, East, and a 2022 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. We asked Gabrielle to tell us more about what it’s like to work as a journalist, producer, and director for some of the most respected news programs in the country.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Gina Moore-Herring

Welcome to NYWIFT, Gina Moore-Herring! Writer, Filmmaker, and Digital Content Creator Gina Moore-Herring is a proud New Yorker and graduate of NYU where she studied Digital Communication & Media. Gina, also known as “G”, started her creative journey in the Fashion Industry in production, and as a designer. Her dream job with Calvin Klein led her to Gerber Technology where she worked for 10 1/2 years learning the importance of technology in global business. Her “can do” fearless approach allowed her to build lifelong business networks and travel the world. It is also the catalyst to spearheading her own consulting company, where she uses her business savvy skills to work with corporations, large and small, saving them time and money through her strategic, transformative thinking.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Amanda Ramirez

Let’s all give a warm welcome to our new NYWIFT member, Amanda Ramirez! As an actor, Amanda has appeared in All My Children, As the World Turns, and Fox's Canterbury's Law. As a producer, she has credits in the documentary Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies, the horror film Welcome to Willits, and the holiday feature My First Miracle. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and the Independent Filmmakers Guild of America (IFGA). Amanda holds a BA in Theatre with minors in Dance and Education from Long Island University - C.W. Post, and an MA in Communications from the New York Institute of Technology, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Check out our full article to learn more about Amanda and her passion for meaningful storytelling!

An Excursion into Indie Film: Shining a Light on the Filmmakers that Mainstream Media Doesn’t See

A travel journal from NYWIFT Member Stephanie Okun: "On June 19, I flew out to LA for the independent film festival Dances with Films to meet independent filmmakers ready to showcase their new work to industry professionals. Most notably, this was my first time going to LA– as well as the state of California. I couldn’t help but wonder: how does the other half live? What will I find in the wild, wild west? I tried to play it cool and decided to throw all my preconceptions about LA– good and bad– to the wind. However, by the time I was on my way to LaGuardia Airport, I was simply ecstatic. Sunny California’s laidback atmosphere and smiling faces were the perfect backdrop to my four-day assignment. There, I had a fabulous time and met several fabulous filmmakers along the way."

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