meet the new nywift member Archives - New York Women in Film & TelevisionNew York Women in Film & Television

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Helen Huang

Welcome to NYWIFT, Helen Huang! Helen Huang (Haitong Huang) is a New York–based creative director, filmmaker, and curator working across film, moving image, and immersive media. She has served as Creative Director for the SOHO International Film Festival and is a core member of Vermilions Theater. Her work explores how cinematic storytelling evolves across new formats, bridging traditional film language with emerging technologies. A fellow at the Harvard Innovation Lab, she has received multiple international awards, with her work featured in Forbes, ELLE, and Harvard Gazette.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Kaia Goudreau

Welcome to NYWIFT, Kaia Goudreau! Kaia Goudreau is a filmmaker and photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. She studied filmmaking and writing at Sarah Lawrence College, cultivating a focus on stories that explore life’s in-between moments—aging, change, and quiet rituals. Kaia is developing a short film slated for production later this year and collaborating with director Linda Yellen on features in development and casting. She has also contributed to creative projects in France and Ireland, expanding her visual lens. Whether narrative or documentary, her work lingers on subtle moments that reveal depth and character. In our interview, Kaia discusses her inspiration and background in filmmaking, as well as her exciting upcoming projects.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Elliana Bertrand

Welcome to NYWIFT, Elliana Bertrand! Elliana is a New York–based producer, assistant director, and script supervisor working across film and television. A graduate of the inaugural cohort at NYU Tisch’s Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, she produced her thesis film The Feather, a Viking short shot exclusively on an LED volume. Over the past year, she has worked in the film unit at Saturday Night Live and contributed to a range of feature films and commercial projects, including a recent Netflix production. A dedicated moviegoer and advocate for the theatrical experience, Elliana has a particular love for Giallo cinema. Alongside her work in the industry, she is completing her Pilates teacher certification, bringing a refined understanding of movement, rhythm, and choreography into her approach to flow and precision on set. In our interview, she discussed her journey into assistant directing, the lessons she’s learned working in production, and the projects she hopes to explore in the future.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Naomi Pemberton

Welcome to NYWIFT, Naomi Pemberton! Naomi is a Bronx-born healthcare leader and storyteller whose work centers on resilience, faith, and the lived experiences of women navigating complex systems and personal transformation. An Afro-Latina with Jamaican and Dominican heritage, Naomi brings more than 25 years of experience in healthcare administration into her creative work, drawing on real-world insight to shape powerful, socially conscious narratives. Her writing includes the Paradigms of Life trilogy, a series that explores sisterhood, identity, systemic challenges, and personal growth. Her books—including The Paradigms of Life: Sisterhood, Loss, and Unbreakable Bonds, Paradigms: The Experiment, and Life Paradigms: Work-Life Balance—follow women navigating betrayal, bias, ambition, and healing. Through her storytelling, Naomi blends emotional depth with broader social commentary, addressing issues such as workplace bias, faith, and the pursuit of balance in a demanding world. In addition to her writing, Naomi continues to mentor, lead, and inspire through her professional and community work. A dedicated advocate for underserved communities, she has held senior roles across healthcare systems and nonprofit organizations focused on health equity and community engagement, and serves on Bronx Community Board 11. Across healthcare, literature, and media, her mission remains the same: to create impact, amplify voices, and inspire the next generation of leaders and storytellers. In our interview, she reflects on her journey as a healthcare leader and author, the inspiration behind her book trilogy, and how storytelling can be a powerful tool for advocacy.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Simone Butler

Welcome to NYWIFT, Simone Butler! Simone Butler is a New York–based actor and producer originally from California’s Bay Area, and a graduate of the College of Santa Fe and Royal Holloway University of London. She appeared as a recurring day player on the long-running daytime drama All My Children and has worked across mainstream and independent film, with her work screening at festivals including the LA Film Festival, Queens Film Festival, and Coney Island Film Festival. Simone trained with renowned acting coach Larry Moss and studied improv at The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade. As the creator, co-producer, and co-star of the web series Below the Line, alongside writer-producer and fellow NYWIFT Member Erika Yeomans, Simone continues to develop bold, original stories that center complex characters and collaborative storytelling.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Georeen Tanner

Welcome to NYWIFT, Georeen Tanner! Georeen Tanner is a versatile producer with over 15 years of experience working cross-platform for FOX News Media. She has produced live and taped programming for FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network, and has created content for FOX News Digital. With FOX News Audio, she ventured into podcasting, winning an award from the San Francisco Press Club for her 2022 podcast Nightmare in Chowchilla: The School Bus Kidnapping. She now produces for the streaming service FOX Nation. Her latest project is the four-part series He Killed Them All? The Robert Durst Investigation, which she produced and narrated.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Tiána Lynn

Welcome to NYWIFT, Tiána Lynn! Tiána Lynn is the Founder and CEO of Wholistic Vibes Wellness (WVW), a neuroinclusive consulting and training firm focused on Black mental health, workplace culture, and systems-level change. With a background in case management, HR, and operations, she specializes in psychological safety frameworks, burnout prevention infrastructure, and trauma-aware leadership development. Through WVW Academy she is advancing accredited workforce training—particularly for Community Health Workers. Tiána is also the host of the Wholistic Vibes Podcast, where she explores Black mental health, identity, and healing through storytelling. Her work centers on building sustainable environments where people are supported, valued, and able to thrive. We spoke to her about her fascinating work at the intersection of media and wellness.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Esther Casas Roura

Welcome to NYWIFT, Esther Casas Roura! Esther is an award-winning filmmaker known for blending metaphorical storytelling with animation. Originally from Barcelona, Spain, she began her career as a molecular biologist before moving to New York and transitioning into filmmaking, focusing on animation while working across both commercial and narrative projects. She later founded Claymaniak Studios (now ECR Films) to create emotionally resonant films across stop-motion, traditional animation, and motion graphics. Her animated shorts—Check Date: An Underdog Love Story, Creamen, and FLOCKY—have screened internationally at over 150 film festivals. FLOCKY was recently shortlisted for the Goya Awards in Spain, has received 18 international awards, and has gained international recognition for its social impact. Esther is currently developing her fourth short, The Melody Within, and her first animated feature, TAO.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Karen “Dr.K” Baptiste

Welcome to NYWIFT, Karen "Dr.K" Baptiste! Karen "Dr. K" Baptiste is an investigative journalist and media storyteller whose work explores the intersections of race, education, and the criminal legal system. She is an Emmy® award-winning filmmaker of the documentary Preschool to Prison, and also works as a speaker, leadership wellness coach, and organizational strategist. Her work centers lived experience, elevating voices that are often overlooked while connecting personal narratives to broader systems of accountability. Dr. K brings a rigorous, human-centered approach to storytelling that is grounded in care, amplification, and long-term generational impact. Originally from the Bronx, she collaborates with mission-driven organizations, creatives, and community leaders across the country to support storytelling and leadership practices that foster meaningful change.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Nicole Murray

Welcome to NYWIFT, Nicole Murray! Nicole is a producer, writer, actor, and co-founder of Svelte Dog Productions. She has produced and acted in various productions, including the feature films Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox and Death Perception, both receiving distribution this year. Under the Svelte Dog umbrella, she has also produced, co-wrote, and starred in the award-winning short 3 Easy Steps and the short Run Out Groove, which premiered in the Platinum Showcase at Outfest. Svelte Dog prioritizes representation in film, and both projects consisted of a team of an entirely women and non-binary cast and crew. Nicole comes from a science background, with years of research experience in the addiction and individual differences fields. Get to know her in our latest interview!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Rachel Fleit

Welcome to NYWIFT, Rachel Fleit! Rachel is a writer, director, and producer known for her intimate, character-driven storytelling across documentary and narrative film and television. With a background in fashion and business, Rachel brings both creative sensitivity and an entrepreneurial mindset to her work, balancing artistic vision with thoughtful leadership. Rachel directed the acclaimed documentary Introducing, Selma Blair and has helmed projects including Bama Rush and Sugar Babies, each reflecting her commitment to emotional honesty and layered storytelling. Her latest award-winning documentary, The Slightest Touch—which follows the extraordinary friendship between Emma Fogarty, who lives with epidermolysis bullosa, and actor Colin Farrell—has been acquired by HBO Documentary Films and is slated to premiere later this year on HBO Max. In our interview, she reflected on building trust with her subjects, navigating personal and cultural storytelling, and the creative directions she’s most excited to explore next.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Alyssa Lomuscio

Welcome to NYWIFT, Alyssa Lomuscio! Alyssa Lomuscio is a TV editor, story producer, and assistant director based in NYC. Her work as a story producer has earned her two Daytime Emmy award nominations in the Outstanding Lifestyle Program category. She is also a science fiction writer of short stories, novels and screenplays under the pen name A.M. Lomuscio. A 2019 Clarion writer’s workshop alum, her short fiction can be found in Apex magazine and Uncharted. In our interview, Alyssa discussed her time balancing being an AD and a writer and shared stories of working in TV.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Aurora Caruso

Welcome to NYWIFT, Aurora Caruso! Italian-Belgian artist and former journalist and production assistant Aurora Caruso works with video to explore the relationship between reality and art. After several years in the Italian film industry, she is currently studying Communication and Art & Design at John Cabot University, an American university in Rome. Driven by her passion for cinema, she moved to New York to continue her studies at The New School and has just returned to Italy after a semester there, with the goal of finding work in the United States. She aims to become a director, and her work is shaped by innovation, curiosity, and critical thinking.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Kate Dolan

Welcome to NYWIFT, Kate Dolan! Kate Dolan is a New York City-based actress with a passion for storytelling. Her commitment to authenticity and restless pursuit of refining her craft is a reflection of her energetic dedication. Kate is interested in playing characters that both challenge her and resonate deeply with audiences. Having been booked for her first feature film, she is already emulating the actors that have inspired her since childhood. Her experience interning at NYWIFT and Prospect Musicals have given her an advantage as a young actress, providing her with a behind-the-curtain perspective on many aspects of the entertainment industry. In our interview, Kate discusses her experiences, inspirations, and goals.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Alison Hirsch

Welcome to NYWIFT, Alison Hirsch! Alison Hirsch is a native New Yorker, with a background spanning development, production, and representation. She bridges storytelling with commercial strategy, bringing a keen understanding of how content is identified, shaped, and circulated. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton, Alison assisted Linda Yellen on her film, which won the Indie Spirit Best Picture and Best Director awards at BIFF. At Little Monster Films, Alison researched potential projects and evaluated their market viability. Following two years at WME in the Motion Picture and Scripted TV departments, Alison recently joined Assemble Media as their Coordinator.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Delfine Paolini

Welcome to NYWIFT, Delfine Paolini! Delfine is a multifaceted filmmaker whose critically recognized work explores themes of life and loss. Her unique and powerful visions draw from an intimate familiarity of cinematic storytelling, philosophy, and a deeply thoughtful reflection of self. Her feature debut, A Wonderful Way with Dragons, has won numerous international awards. Its distinct style and emotional evocations are reflective of Delfine’s creative journey. Coming from a background of photography, she is highly attuned to expressive visuals. Community and mentorship have remained essential values to Delfine, who has faced both hurdles and victories on her directorial path. Delfine’s resolve and creative momentum have led to the development of multiple exciting projects. She is a director to watch; her upcoming films Le Rouge Originel, Reds Hearten, and Sky, Zyprexa, Night will continue to push boundaries and explore the profound power of the film medium. In our interview, Delfine discusses her background and inspirations.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Sophia Baldassari

Let’s welcome screenwriter, script supervisor, and playwright Sophia Baldassari to NYWIFT! She was most recently an Associate Producer on the Radio Silence thriller LOSER, directed by Colleen McGuinness. Her plays and pilots have been developed/produced at Luna Stage, George Street Playhouse, the McCarter Theatre Center, Haddonfield Plays and Players, and Manhattan Repertory Theatre, and have received accolades from the O’Neill Center Young Playwrights, Theatremania Young Playwrights, Beardance International Playwriting Festival, the Neil LaBute New Theatre Festival, the Austin Film Festival, among others. She’s studied Writing at Sarah Lawrence and Egyptology at the University of Oxford, an experience she used to write a buddy comedy about the mummy of a Pharaoh’s 29th Favorite wife. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America East, The New York Script Supervisors Network, and IATSE Local 111. In our interview, we discussed uniting accessible and female driven stories with comedy and surrealism, the structural switches between playwriting and screenwriting, and the unexpected comedy of life in ancient Egypt. Let’s dive in!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Ida Elina

Welcome, Ida Edina, to NYWIFT! Ida is a multi-hyphenate singer-songwriter, composer, and filmmaker who started playing the Finnish harp at 13. She brands herself as a modern pop kantele queen from the nordics. Ida truly is an ethnomusicologist obsessed with the ancient Kalevala poems of her homeland. Her work currently has over three million views on her YouTube channel. Ida's award-winning short film, Under the Northern Skies, is a journey through her 13-song album that combines original music with an audiovisual concert experience. It premiered in Finland in February 2025. Read on to learn more about Ida's art and her dreams for the year ahead.

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