indie film Archives - New York Women in Film & TelevisionNew York Women in Film & Television

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Joyce Hills

Welcome to NYWIFT, Joyce Hills! Joyce Hills is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch, where she co-wrote and directed the culturally-rich epic Viking short film The Feather, featuring out-of-this-world SFX hair and makeup, practical stunts, and generative workflows on a virtual production volume. She was the First Assistant Director and VFX Supervisor on the Seed & Spark-awarded short film Night of Melancholia, interned in Virtual Production at Gum Studios in Brooklyn, and performed as Sugarsop, The Widow, and assorted household servants in Will Kempe’s Players’ The Taming of the Shrew. Joyce is developing her first feature film, a dark fantasy inspired by mystical quests, heroes’ journeys, and time and destiny in popular culture. She is also developing a science fiction feminist short, and is pursuing additional education in XR mediamaking and STEM. In our interview, she discussed her childhood inspirations, emerging technologies, and the future of storytelling.

NYWIFT Member Spotlight: Kelcey Edwards

NYWIFT Member Kelcey Edwards found her way into documentary filmmaking through Iron Gate Studios, a nonprofit gallery and artist workspace she cofounded in her early twenties in Austin, Texas. At the time, she was making small narrative films alongside many other Austin-based filmmakers involved in the “mumblecore” scene; her first film, Letter, screened at SXSW in 2006. Since cameras and equipment were always present in the gallery, she began interviewing many of the artists who visited the space. Over time, the habit of recording conversations and documenting artists’ lives became a steady part of her practice. That interest eventually led her to pursue an MFA in Documentary Film at Stanford and later to move to New York, where she continued developing their work. About a decade later, she directed The Art of Making It, a feature documentary about the art world, which won the Audience Award at SXSW in 2022. It’s currently available on most streaming platforms. Kelcey’s films have received support from the MacArthur Foundation, Sundance, and Tribeca Film Institute, among others, have been broadcast internationally, and have screened at top-tier festivals including SXSW, Berlinale, and Hamptons International. In our interview, Kelcey discussed her teaching philosophy, approach to filmmaking, and upcoming projects.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Therese Cayaba-Jones

Welcome, Therese Cayaba-Jones, to NYWIFT. Therese is a filmmaker with over 15 years of experience with films, documentaries, and series across the Philippines, Singapore, and the U.S. She just finished the feature screenplay for UnMarry, which was recently announced as one of the entries for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025. Currently, Therese is producing the film Tales My Father Told, and raising money through NYWIFT fiscal sponsorship. Read on to see Therese’s story of moving to New York, her role in the 48 Hour Film Project, and her take on the state of independent filmmaking in the Big Apple.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Sen-I Yu

Welcome to NYWIFT, Sen-I Yu! Sen-I Yu is a New York-based, award-winning filmmaker originally from Taiwan. Her feature directorial debut My Heavenly City garnered international recognition, including a NETPAC Award nomination at the 43rd Hawaii International Film Festival, Best Picture and IndiePix Vision Award at the 2025 Winter Film Festival, among others. The film secured worldwide theatrical distribution in 2023 throughout Taiwan, Hong Kong, with limited releases in North America and the UK. The Guardian called it a “fresh, thoughtful take on immigrant experience, Sen-I Yu’s sympathetic and humane film traces three loosely woven stories of people dealing with loneliness in New York City…” In our interview, she discusses her debut feature, how her immigrant experience influences her creative process, and the types of stories that inspire her.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Veanne Cao

Welcome to NYWIFT, Veanne Cao! We had the opportunity to interview Veanne Cao, a Vietnamese-Chinese writer and director whose work spans both the personal and the playful. Her short films—ranging from intimate dramas that explore memory, identity, and the Asian diaspora to comedies inspired by life’s absurdities—have screened at festivals around the world. Beyond the indie film space, she brings her storytelling sensibilities to the commercial and editorial world, producing content for global brands and publications. Veanne currently lives in Brooklyn with her partner and two shih-tzus.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Andrea Ocampo

Welcome to NYWIFT, Andrea Ocampo! Andrea is a first-generation Colombian filmmaker. She is drawn to the quiet forces that have shaped her: obsession, memory, and identity in flux. She is a proud artist who directs with a lens for the psychological and surreal, blending documentary realism with fiction laced in intimate mystery. Her latest short Blackout is a psychological thriller set in the NYC subway, and it premiered to a sold-out crowd on September 13th, 2025, at Imagine This Women’s Film Festival. She navigates global crises and inner landscapes with equal urgency. Her work has a raw, honest, and quietly haunted feel to it. Chances are you’ll feel it before you understand it. We spoke to Andrea in late Summer. She recounts her experience in the film industry, tracing her path from a passionate young filmmaker in her early childhood to the successful professional she has become.

Maria Miles Previews the 2025 New York Greek Film Expo

As former NYWIFT Board Member Maria C. Miles finishes up her first year as President of the Hellenic Film Society, we sat down with her on the eve of the New York Greek Film Expo to discuss her time with the organization and what we have to look forward to at this year’s fest. Mary is the founder of an entertainment law practice with offices in New York. Maria’s practice focuses on all areas of entertainment law, including film (narrative and documentary), music, literary publishing, and digital media. She has represented award-winning producers, directors, writers, actors, television hosts, multi-platinum recording artists, and corporations in the fashion and sports industries related to their entertainment matters. Maria is the Executive Director of the Hellenic Films Society, USA, and served as Secretary of the board of New York Women in Film & Television. She continues to serve NYWIFT as their legal counsel. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema and the School for Visual Arts, as well as an Adjunct Instructor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Patricia Hess

Welcome to NYWIFT, Patricia Hess! Patricia Hess is an accomplished DGA UPM and line producer with extensive experience in feature films, TV, and streaming content. She is New York-based professional with both domestic and international credits, including Angels in America, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Philomena, and Raising Arizona, among many others. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Patty divides her time between her family farm in Virginia and New York. During our interview, Patricia shared the remarkable story of her journey in the industry. We often admire the success of individuals who achieve their vision, yet rarely do we see the humble beginnings, the sacrifices made, the moments of doubt and fear, or the times they considered giving up. Patricia’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience, perseverance, and mindset of gratitude and acceptance that often underpin true success.

Tribeca Festival 2025: Celebrating Stories, Icons, and Impact with NYWIFT

With this article, our coverage of the 2025 Tribeca Festival comes to a close — and what an unforgettable experience it has been. NYWIFT members LaKisa Renee and Tammy Reese had the incredible opportunity to represent the organization on the ground, capturing exclusive red carpet moments, world premieres, and powerful conversations highlighting the festival’s spirit of storytelling, advocacy, and artistic excellence. One of the most moving moments came when EGOT icon and past NYWIFT Muse Honoree Whoopi Goldberg gave a heartfelt shoutout to New York Women in Film & Television. Her support meant the world to our team.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Hayley Pace

Today, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on new NYWIFT member Hayley Pace, an award-winning production designer and actor whose unique blend of skills and passions continues to inspire us! Hayley Pace hails from Toronto, Ontario. They are known for their work on Schitt’s Creek (CBC), In The Dark (CW), and The Expanse (Amazon Prime). In addition to their on-screen work, Hayley has self-produced original projects through their experimental marching band theatre company, The Teeny Tiny Music Show, and has designed for numerous film, TV, and theatre productions across Canada. A graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and York University’s BFA in Devised Theatre & Design, Hayley brings a dynamic and multidisciplinary approach to their artistry. We caught up with Hayley to discuss their career, their creative journey, and what brought them to NYWIFT.

NYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Ruth Ann Harnisch

To say Ruth Ann Harnisch is a force in the independent film industry is an understatement. She has contributed to the production of almost 400 documentaries and several acclaimed narrative features. Her strategic investments in films, filmmakers, and organizations supporting them have helped open almost every aspect of the business to underrepresented voices. This is evident with each of the seven films featured at this year’s festival that she has supported: She Runs The World, Runa Simi, State of Firsts, We Are Pat, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, Move Ya Body, and Natchez. I spoke with Ruth Ann for The NYWIFT Podcast (listen here) about the importance of Tribeca, which she calls “arguably one of the most important festivals for any film,” how she picks her projects and what she has learned from them. Her wisdom could not be contained! So here is more from our conversation.

NYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Chantel Simpson

Congratulations are in order for multi-hyphenate filmmaker Chantel Simpson, whose compelling short film A Drastic Tale will make its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. As a proud member of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), Simpson brings a unique perspective to the screen, having served as the director, producer, screenwriter, and editor of the film. Centered around the Drastic Auto Club — one of the oldest lowrider groups in New York City — A Drastic Tale offers a raw and moving exploration of brotherhood, identity, and the soul of car culture in the urban Northeast. In this exclusive interview, Simpson shares her journey, creative process, and hopes for how her story will resonate with audiences everywhere.

NYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Eileen Zyko Wolter

Please meet NYWIFT Member Eileen Zyko Wolter, a creator, writer, and actress whose journey has taken her from a Connecticut childhood shaped by a first-generation Muslim Albanian father and a mother descended from the Revolutionary War and Salem Witch Trials to the set of Queens of the Dead, premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. With a background in art history and film from Vassar College and training from The Atlantic Theater Company, The Actors Studio, and The Beverly Hills Playhouse, Eileen brings a unique blend of intellect, passion, and grit to every role. In this interview, Eileen shares what it was like to portray a zombie in Tina Romero’s thrilling directorial debut, her lifelong dream of joining SAG-AFTRA, and her love for the NYWIFT community that helped reignite her acting ambitions.

NYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Director, Producer, and Screenwriter Toby Perl Freilich

Award-winning filmmaker, writer, and NYWIFT member Toby Perl Freilich returns to the spotlight with her latest documentary, Maintenance Artist, making its world premiere in the Documentary Competition at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. Known for her deeply researched and socially resonant films such as Moynihan and Inventing Our Life: The Kibbutz Experiment, Freilich turns her lens to pioneering feminist artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, whose groundbreaking concept of “maintenance art” challenged the boundaries between art, labor, and gender. In this compelling new work, Freilich not only brings Ukeles’ vision to life but also preserves a vital historical record of performance art. In our exclusive interview, she opens up about the inspiration behind the film, the importance of platforms like Tribeca, and her journey as a multi-hyphenate creator paving the way for women in documentary filmmaking.

NYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Producer and Casting Director Lois Drabkin

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is proud to spotlight member Lois Drabkin, a dynamic force in the world of independent cinema. As the Co-Producer and Casting Director of Ride or Die, premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Festival as part of the prestigious U.S. Narrative Competition, Drabkin continues to champion bold, character-driven storytelling. With a career spanning acclaimed features such as Nancy, Colewell, and Glass Chin, and casting credits on groundbreaking projects like HBO’s The Wire and Showtime’s Years of Living Dangerously, Lois shares insights into her creative process, the evolution of Ride or Die, and her enduring commitment to supporting women in film.

Curtain Raiser: 2025 Tribeca Festival Ushers in a Powerful Celebration of Storytelling

It’s that time again! The Tribeca Festival returns to New York City from June 4–15, 2025, bringing together visionaries, changemakers, and creatives across film, television, immersive experiences, games, audio storytelling, and more. Stay tuned — we’ll be bringing exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes content, red carpet snapshots, and insight into the premieres and panels that everyone will be talking about. In the meantime, Tammy Reese offers us a sneak peak of some festival highlights.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Guneet K. Singh

Welcome to NYWIFT, Guneet K. Singh! Former NYWIFT intern Guneet K. Singh is a producer and writer with a passion for diverse storytelling. She was most recently the producer for the poignant play, Irreparable, which premiered at the Act One One-Act Theater Festival. She has worked in television development for NBC and Peacock, working on programs such as That’s My Jam, Password, Joyelle Nicole Johnson: Love Joy and 5 More Sleeps ‘Til Christmas. Her first producing role was as the Digital Producer for the Emmy nominated The Kids Tonight Show. She began her career as an NBC Page, working on shows like Saturday Night Live and The TODAY Show. In our interview, Guneet discusses her exciting time in NBC’s legendary Page Program, the power of networking, and finding her calling as a writer and producer.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Herrana Addisu

Welcome to NYWIFT, Herrana Addisu! Herrana Addisu is a multi-disciplinary artist and social impact strategist. Her family's journey to the United States and her personal experience growing up in Ethiopia and immigrating to the U.S. have shaped her career in human rights. She works to uplift marginalized communities through advocacy initiatives, research, and programming. She incorporates her expertise in various human rights issues into her artistry through Chucha Studios LLC, a creative production agency that aims to reduce social disparities within marginalized communities by connecting the art of visual storytelling with systemic change. NYWIFT was proud to present Herrana with the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Short Film Directing at the 2024 UrbanWorld Film Festival for her short film The River this past Fall. She spoke to us about her short film, upcoming projects, and what types of creative work resonate with her most.

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