NYWIFT Blog

NYWIFT Member and Founder of Carolines on Broadway Caroline Hirsch Gears Up For The New York Comedy Festival 19th Year

Longtime NYWIFT member and 2019 NYWIFT Made in NY Muse Honoree Caroline Hirsch, the founder and owner of Carolines on Broadway and the New York Comedy Festival, is a visionary in the comedy industry. Her keen eye for talent has led her to discover some of the biggest names in comedy, including Jerry Seinfeld and Paul Reubens. Now, as the New York Comedy Festival enters its 19th year, Hirsch is once again making waves by expanding the festival from 7 to 10 days. From November 3rd to November 12th, comedy enthusiasts can expect an even bigger and better lineup of shows, performances, and events.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Kilara Sen

Welcome to NYWIFT, Kilara Sen! Kilara is a Japanese female stand-up comedian and actor, moving to New York this summer. Kilara currently is hosting "Japanese Whisky Lockdown" and "Japanese Whisky World" on Dekanta TV. She also appeared on international TV such as Asia's Got Talent, Paul Hollywood Eats Japan, and Welcome to the Railworld. Kilara is gender non-conforming (she/they), a "hikikomori" survivor (a form of severe social withdrawal), and had a wonderful year at Historically Black Colleges. Based on her experiences, she shares her strong and funny voice on mental health, feminism, and diversity. She believes that everyone should be as special and unique as a unicorn. Also, she is the voice breaking stereotypes of Japanese women: the New Pink. Kilara thinks of herself as a  Pink Unicorn. Kilara spoke to us about breaking down stereotypes, community support, and finding liberation through comedy.  

#SummerHours #BingeWatch-Worthy Comedy Picks

Our #SummerHours series makes a triumphant return just as the NYC temperatures start to heat up! In the first edition of our Summer '18 series, Mellini Kantayya offers her side-splitting #bingeworthy comedy picks.

Terry’s Picks: Changing Times, Tiffany Haddish, Agnès Varda

Changing Times: Every day brings another story of sexual harassment (and worse) in Hollywood, from Louis C.K., to Kevin Spacey to Supergirl’s Andrew Kreisberg. Kudos to all the women and men who continue to speak out and support one another. Tiffany Haddish: Tiffany Haddish made Saturday Night Live history on Saturday by becoming the first...

Terry’s Picks: Dialogue Study, Rachel Feldman, Dope Queens

Dialogue Study: The Signal Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory at USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering recently released preliminary results of a study on the representation of gender, race, and age in a collection of about 1,000 films. One of the major goals of the study was to determine the extent to which female characters were essential...

Terry’s Picks: Spring Drive, Tribeca Films, Black Comediennes

Spring Drive: Now through May 15th is the NYWIFT Spring Membership Drive, during which we offer 50% off the initiation fee for new members. If you’re thinking of joining our community of women calling the shots, now is the time to do it! Tribeca Films: I’m looking forward to next week’s Tribeca Film Festival, which...

Women in Film & Television History: Meet Lucille Ball, Actor, Comedian, Producer

Most people are familiar with the extensive body of work that made Lucille Ball famous. I Love Lucy is one of the most popular television shows of the 1950s, and she co-starred with her husband, Desi Arnaz, for 10 years. But did you know that Ball was also a savvy business woman?

Made in NY: Comedy Makers Brings Laughs and Insight to Carolines

"Made in New York." What could be better? As New York Women in Film & Television, it's who we are and what we do. NYWIFT presented an eclectic group of talented and dynamic comedy makers who "make it all happen" in NYC - from behind the scenes to the front lines – at this year’s Women in Comedy panel at Carolines on Broadway. Member Jean Criss recounts the highlights of the evening.

Terry’s Picks: Comedy Makers, Women Pioneers, DOC NYC

Comedy Makers: Join us at Carolines on Broadway this Thursday, November 3rd for our Made in NY: Comedy Makers panel. Now in it’s 4th year, our annual Women in Comedy panel has been named one of the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment’s 50 for 50 programs, highlighting the best of the best of the...

Terry’s Picks: Director Talks, Funny Girls, Gender Swapping

Director Talks: Check out filmmaker Pamela Romanowsky’s insightful look at being a female director, and all the pressures that come along with it. Funny Girls: Women’s E-News discusses how teen girls interested in comedy could use a confidence boost – and where they might find it. Gender Swapping: Is remaking male-driven classics with female leads...

Terry’s Picks: Sara Bareilles, Male Privilege, Julie Schumacher

Sing it: The Sara Bareilles musical Waitress, based on the 2007 Adrienne Shelly indie film, will open on Broadway April 24th. NYWIFT partners with the Adrienne Shelly Foundation on grants for women filmmakers. It features the gorgeous and heartbreaking song “She Used to Be Mine”– give it a listen! Living proof: Yet another man with zero directing experience is helming a big...

NYWIFT Recap. Laughing Matters: Diverse Voices From the World of Comedy

Diversity in comedy has been all the buzz as of late, and on February 20, 2014, New York Women in Film and Television joined the conversation with Laughing Matters: Diverse Voices From the World of Comedy, a panel of seven female comedians. With much laughter and a riveting discussion, Laughing Matters unfolded into a memorable...

L-R: Alessandra Stanley, Delia Ephron, Fran Drescher, Samantha Bee, and Whitney Cummings at NYWIFT’s Women in…Comedy panel. Photo via CINEMATIQ magazine.  Women in…Comedy: Changing Times A few weeks ago, NYWIFT brought together Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Whitney Cummings (co-creator, 2 Broke Girls), Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced), and Delia Ephron (writer, You’ve Got Mail) to discuss the changing landscape for...

L-R: Alessandra Stanley, Delia Ephron, Fran Drescher, Samantha Bee, and Whitney Cummings at NYWIFT’s Women in…Comedy panel. Photo via CINEMATIQ magazine.  Women in…Comedy: Changing Times A few weeks ago, NYWIFT brought together Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Whitney Cummings (co-creator, 2 Broke Girls), Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced), and Delia Ephron (writer, You’ve Got Mail) to discuss the changing landscape for...

L-R: Alessandra Stanley, Delia Ephron, Fran Drescher, Samantha Bee, and Whitney Cummings at NYWIFT’s Women in…Comedy panel. Photo via CINEMATIQ magazine.  Women in…Comedy: Changing Times A few weeks ago, NYWIFT brought together Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Whitney Cummings (co-creator, 2 Broke Girls), Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced), and Delia Ephron (writer, You’ve Got Mail) to discuss the changing landscape for...

L-R: Alessandra Stanley, Delia Ephron, Fran Drescher, Samantha Bee, and Whitney Cummings at NYWIFT’s Women in…Comedy panel. Photo via CINEMATIQ magazine.  Women in…Comedy: Changing Times A few weeks ago, NYWIFT brought together Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Whitney Cummings (co-creator, 2 Broke Girls), Fran Drescher (Happily Divorced), and Delia Ephron (writer, You’ve Got Mail) to discuss the changing landscape for...

Terry’s Picks: November 5, 2013

Scene from The Revolutionary via SFWeekly Just Read About: the 3rd Annual South Asian Film Festival in San Francisco where the focus is on women filmmakers. Looking Forward to: our panel opening the New York Comedy Festival that features some of the industry’s top female comedians. AND THE BIG NEWS IS: Variety just announced this year’s Muse Awards amazing honorees! I hope to see you...

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: Women in Comedy

Samatha Bee hanging with the Muppets It was almost two years ago that NYWIFT members Terry Greenberg and Susan Ades came up with the idea to produce a program focusing on women in comedy.  Both being “ardent comedy lovers,” shares Greenberg, they knew they wanted a fresh take on the topic so they looked to...