NYWIFT Blog

Terry’s Picks: Blockchain Technology, The Tale, Barbican Program

Blockchain Technology: The industry is abuzz with excitement – and questions – about Blockchain technology, so NYWIFT is holding a panel this Thursday to discuss its potential power for filmmakers. Member Heidi Philipsen also recently wrote a guest post for Women and Hollywood exploring the technology’s possible impact on indie filmmaking.  The Tale: We are...

READ MORE

Terry’s Picks: Diversity Study, Ms. Factor Toolkit, Sally Field

#OscarsSoWhite, Male AND Straight: USC Annenberg’s Media, Diversity, & Social Change Initiative has released a groundbreaking new study which shows the breadth and depth to which Hollywood tends to be straight, white and male. The report evaluates every speaking character across 414 films, television and digital stories released in 2014-2015, and 11,000 speaking characters are...

READ MORE

Terry’s Picks: Women Directors, ‘Obvious Child’ & ‘Reckless’

Not surprised by: this infographic (above) from Women and Hollywood about how major studios have released very few films directed by women over the last five years. Really loved: Obvious Child, a funny, well-made and important movie about the realities of women’s lives. Caught the premiere of: Reckless, a new show that has many more women working on every...

READ MORE

Terry’s Picks: ‘No Cannes Do’ and #readwomen2014

Love: the NO CANNES DO info graphic by Melissa Silverstein of Women and Hollywood showing the appalling lack of opportunities extended to women directors by the Cannes Film Festival—a reflection of the situation of the industry as a whole, but this does not excuse it. Checking Out: the report on women working in independent film by...

READ MORE

Weekly Film & TV News Roundup

//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/183669878?et=XYPnmei_4068PYiAqEE8jQ&sig=SX4RxzmMCycPW_AXxiuqo2Q2XifTOs0kFYxLOqeoFp0= Netflix is bringing Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin back together. Hope Dolly Parton makes an appearance. Now Hiring! Women and Hollywood is looking for new columnists. These changes at Getty Images are most welcome and long overdue. (Video) Audition news: You may be too attractive to book a commercial. You should read this before entering that screenplay contest. The...

READ MORE

The 2014 Athena Film Festival Is This Week

//player.vimeo.com/video/84185523?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 The fourth annual Athena Film Festival kicks off this Thursday (Feb. 6) and runs through Sunday (Feb. 9) on the Barnard College campus in NYC.  The lineup includes feature films (Short Term 12, In a World…), documentaries (Alice Walker: Beauty In Truth), a variety of shorts, as well as panels (A Conversation With Lexi Alexander, The Women...

READ MORE

Terry’s Picks: October 15

still from Desert Runners Congratulations To: NYWIFT Member Yael Melamede. She is the producer of Desert Runner and it just won  Audience Award for Documentary at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Excited For: NYWIFT Member Melissa Silverstein, founder of Women and Hollywood. She just was honored with a Susan B. Anthony Award from NOW NY. Another Great...

READ MORE

Cannes Can’t Seem to Get it Right With Women

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, director of Un Chateau En Italie (A Castle in Italy). Photo via Norde Claire. Never one to mince words, the Women and Hollywood blog held not only Cannes accountable this year but also many of the male attendees, who’s offhanded comments do nothing to raise the profile of women in the industry. This...

READ MORE

Member Focus: Melissa Silverstein

As the saying goes: if you want success, see a need and fill it. That’s what NYWIFT member Melissa Silverstein has done with her popular blog Women and Hollywood. It was 2007 and not many people were writing about women who work in the male-dominated film industry. To fill that void, Silverstein launched a blog,...

READ MORE