NYWIFT Blog

Terry’s Picks: MoMA Event, Joosje Duk, Showing Support

MoMA Event: I hope you’ll join us at MoMA on Monday, January 22nd, where the Women’s Film Preservation Fund will show Four Experimental Films as part of the museum’s To Save and Project Festival. Joosje Duk: We are so proud of former NYWIFT intern Joosje Duk, whose short film Night, which we screened at our...

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Terry’s Picks: Wearing Black, Oprah Winfrey, Laura Dern

Wearing Black: Kudos to all the women and men who wore black at this past weekend’s Golden Globes Awards to show their solidarity with the women speaking out against sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. And speak out they did. From impassioned speeches to quick, smart digs like Natalie Portman’s laser-sharp “Here are the all-male...

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Terry’s Picks: Time’s Up, Hoda Kotb, New Test

Time’s Up: 300 prominent actresses and female agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives have formed the Time’s Up initiative to fight systemic sexual harassment in Hollywood and in blue-collar workplaces nationwide. We are glad that in the face of such trying times so many women in the industry have found value in the powerful...

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Terry’s Picks: Inspiring Muse, Sheila Nevins, Golden Globes

Inspiring Muse: Thanks to all who joined us at the Muse Awards last week, particularly special guests MOME Commissioner Julie Menin and New York’s Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who had the audience on their feet and cheering! Sheila Nevins: Longtime NYWIFT member and supporter Sheila Nevins, who has hosted countless NYWIFT events and given her time...

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Terry’s Picks: Muse Awards, Time Magazine, Francesca Andre

Muse Awards: We hope to see you at the 38th Annual Muse Awards this Thursday! In addition to our usual festivities, we are honored to have Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul give welcoming remarks, and Commissioner Julie Menin will present the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment “Made in New York” award to actor and producer...

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A Report from The American Film Market

NYWIFT member Jane Applegate reports back on her trip to the American Film Market in Santa Monica, CA, in early November.

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Terry’s Picks: Urgent Action, Hedy Lamarr, Muse Raffle

Urgent Action: A few months ago, the State Assembly and State Senate passed legislation that incentivizes the hiring of women and people of color to write and direct television in New York. The bill has now arrived at Governor Cuomo’s desk and he has only a few business days left to sign the bill. Please...

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Terry’s Picks: Voices Heard, Muse Awards, Mad Libs

Voices Heard: NYWIFT Board VP Margarita Sophia Cortes wrote a courageous, empowering take on Hollywood’s sexual harassment firestorm for the NYWIFT HuffPost column. Muse Awards: We’re thrilled to announce the honorees for the 38th annual Muse Awards: Laura Dern, Judith Light, director Julie Dash, Refinery29’s Amy Emmerich, and filmmaker and philanthropist Regina K. Scully. Actor...

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Women Calling The Shots – A swinging pendulum over an active volcano

NYWIFT Board VP Margarita Sophia Cortes wrote about the recent Hollywood sexual harassment firestorm in our HuffPost column - addressing the importance of speaking out, supporting one another, and no longer letting the boys club get its way.

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Five Takeaways – True Crime Stories: Relationships and Responsibilities

True crime producer Dana Rossi shares insights from NYWIFT's panel on the relationships and ethical responsibilities of true crime documentary filmmakers.

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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...

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Positive News for Filmmakers at the New York Film Conference

Entertainment industry experts speaking at the first annual New York Film Conference on October 10, 2017 had some great news for attendees: It’s getting easier to sell your content directly to consumers, consumers are more open to watching films with subtitles and big digital platforms are spending billions on buying new content. NYWIFT member Jane Applegate shares insights from the conference.

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Terry’s Picks: Shorts Festival, Alias Grace, Culture Shift

Shorts Festival: NYWIFT’s first-ever online film festival is underway! Watch 74 short projects by NYWIFT members now through November 17 on our Fall Shorts Festival on Indevue – you can even log in and live chat with the filmmakers and fans during select “live screenings.” See the schedule for details.  Alias Grace: I’m looking forward...

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Terry’s Picks: Ravenal Grant, Wonder Women, Nancy Schreiber

Ravenal Grant: NYWIFT is seeking additional submissions for the Ravenal Foundation Feature Film Grant, which supports a woman second-time feature film director who is over 40 years of age in the production of a dramatic feature film. Learn more here, and submit your project to us by November 1st. Wonder Women: Director Angela Robinson discusses...

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Women’s Stories in Film and the Need for an Authentic Ending

Why is it that when men make poignant films about a male’s coming-of-age, they are allowed to explore the pain, heartache, betrayal, danger, and the need for getting even or choosing a lesser evil to right a wrong—while women-centric films are expected to carry out a fairy tale romance? NYWIFT member Heidi Philipsen tackled this question as she made her first feature film.

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NYWIFT’s Statement on Sexual Harassment and Abuse in the Entertainment Industry

NYWIFT's thoughts on Harvey Weinstein, systemic sexism, community support and legal guidance.

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Terry’s Picks: Swim Team, Shonda Rhimes, Nancy Malone

Swim Team: Tune in or set your DVR for Swim Team’s PBS premiere on POV at 10 PM next Monday, October 2nd! The documentary was a recipient of NYWIFT Loreen Arbus Disability Awareness Grant. Congratulations to director Lara Stolman!  #SwimTeamPBS Shonda Rhimes: The must-see TV mastermind launched a new website, Shondaland. As she notes in...

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Introducing the New WFPF Series From the Vault: Women’s Advocacy on Film

History is perfectly capable of repeating itself. Issues from the past that seem dated have a way of rearing their ugly heads once more to become present-day concerns. In an age when our collective memory can be short, and in the era of “disposable media,” the NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF) and UnionDocs (UNDO) present FROM THE VAULT: WOMEN’S ADVOCACY ON FILM, a series of nine programs of preserved documentary films, screened monthly. The series considers the relationship of these films to contemporary nonfiction storytelling and makes a strong case for their preservation and continued study.

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