NYWIFT Archives - New York Women in Film & TelevisionNew York Women in Film & Television

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Michelle de la Rosa

Let's all give a warm welcome to Michelle de la Rosa! Michelle is a freelance theatre and film director based in New York City. She is a native New Yorker with Puerto Rican and Jewish heritage. As a director, she has participated in several NYC theatre festivals. She studied directing under the mentorship of John Grabowski at the Acting Studio in New York. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and now NYWIFT! As a playwright, her short play Spell It (2021) was produced by the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Continue reading to learn more about Michelle and how she got to where she is today as an artist.

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.

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 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.

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 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!

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Maura Garnett

Welcome to NYWIFT, Maura Garnett! Fresh out of NYWIFT’s internship program, where she played a crucial role on our Muse Awards volunteer team, Maura now joins the NYWIFT community in our Next Wave program. Maura Garnett is a writer/director who is a recent School of Visual Arts graduate. She specializes in directing and casting. Currently, she's in post-production on Treading, about a young woman's quest for belonging in the city, leading to a series of bad dates. Her film Disoriented, about a life-altering phone call, is on the festival circuit. Playtime, addressing date rape and sexual assault, has earned acclaim at over 30 festivals, including Global Indie Film Festival and New York Movie Awards. Aspiring casting director Maura has interned with Stephanie Klapper Casting and Emmy-winning Avy Kaufman. Now, she's a casting assistant for 5-time Emmy nominated Mark Saks. Maura shares what she has learned working alongside some of NYC's top casting directors, how she creatively approaches tough subject matter, and what's coming up on her professional horizon.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Jade Copeland

Welcome to NYWIFT, Jade Copeland! Ready to conquer the world of film and television, the fabulous Jade Copeland is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Producing while interning at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon! These experiences have led to her two recent passion projects, the thesis films, Lemon Bars and Saltwater. Learn more about Jade’s journey, as we converse about the parallels between her enthusiasm for creating fascinating visual content that questions social mores and the discipline she developed while immersed in the competitive world of hip-hop dance as a teenager.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Kira Belin

Cue the music: it’s time to welcome our new NYWIFT member, Kira Belin! Kira is a New York based music editor with a career spanning film, television, contemporary art and more. She’s worked on a variety of high-profile projects including Barbie, And Just Like That…, and Los Espookys. She focuses on building an interdependent relationship between music and the story on screen. Read our full interview with Kira to learn more about her career journey and approach to film music editing.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Ingrid Jean-Baptiste

Let’s give a huge NYWIFT welcome to Ingrid Jean-Baptiste! Founder of the Chelsea Film Festival, Ingrid was born in Paris and spent her early years there and in London. Upon graduating from La Sorbonne University, Ingrid pursued journalism and worked for various French magazines and within the production sphere of cultural television shows broadcasted on national French TV at France Television. After living in LA for some time, she moved to New York in 2010 where she studied acting and graduated from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. In 2013, she began the Chelsea Film Festival, which since its beginnings has provided a platform for filmmakers worldwide and represented 30+ countries through showcasing 220 Official Selections. Currently she is a board member at Easter Seals, Young Minds for Gender Equality, and Chelsea Film Institute, and has received several accolades which include the WOW Award for International Women’s Empowerment and the Trophy of “French Citizens Abroad.” To learn more about Ingrid’s career highlights and how her vision influenced the genesis and evolution of the Chelsea Film Festival, check out our conversation.

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