NYWIFT member Sweta Keswani plays the lead in short film Tabassum, which follows a day in the life of a housekeeper working for an influential Indian family in New Jersey. On the eve of a grand wedding in her client’s family, Tabassum meets Tommy, a waiter, who learns that she’s never been to New York City, despite living on the other side of the Hudson for 22 long years. The film’s Seed & Spark campaign is now live and filming starts in May. Don’t miss this opportunity to amplify South Asian voices in film. Contribute to the film.
Phoebe Zimmerer is launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund her MFA first-year short film, a gothic-comedy historical satire titled Ghost Stories. The gist: an unexpected death amidst their nightly ghost stories sends the real-life residents of the Villa Diodati into a dangerous spiral of paranoia that turns history on its head. With your pledge, Phoebe will be able to secure a historical location to film in, props, set decoration, and historical costumes–everything needed to bring the world of 1816 Geneva to life. Support the film.
NYWIFT member Cionin Lorenzo‘s documentary feature has won an NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre grant. Directed by Lorenzo, On Three Wheels captures the ups and downs of parents raising children with disabilities through the eyes of Sandra, a bike mechanic who closed down her repair shop to devote herself to a non-profit she founded committed to improving the lives of children with physical disabilities by building and gifting them adapted bicycles, moving them from wheelchair (four wheels) to tricycle (three wheels). NYWIFT members can help Cionin reach her post-production goal and donate today.
NYWIFT member Niva Dorell invites NYWIFT members to dine and sip at Harlem’s Settepani Restaurant in support of her film The Lotto Line. Written and directed by Dorell, the short film is based on an excerpt from Christola Phoenix’s memoir Paper Curls and Peanut Earrings. It follows a hot summer day in Harlem as 65-year-old Christola is in the lotto line waiting to place her day’s numbers. After she sees a young woman who doesn’t have enough money to buy food, Christola returns to her luxury apartment building without helping her. But the young woman’s desperation haunts Christola, who remembers her own childhood growing up poor in 1950’s Harlem. In the spirit of the film’s theme of communal care and reconnecting with humanity, break bread and meet with the filmmakers on December 15 from 5-10 PM. Contribute here.
We’re thrilled to announce that NYWIFT-fiscally sponsored documentary The Co-op: The Kids of Dorie Miller has been awarded the New York Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Support For Artists $10,000 grant. Directed by NYWIFT member Paulina Davis and produced by fellow members Joanna Rudolph and Jesse Ash, the funds raised will support the film’s production. To make a tax-deductible donation to the project, please go here.
Camp Love, a female dystopian psychological-thriller feature film, about choosing your own path at any age, and harnessing your pain and trauma, instead of forgetting is crowdfunding! In Camp Love’s world, conformity is law. Unmarried and childless women are condemned to camps upon turning 40. With time as all of their greatest enemy, the characters must navigate love, betrayal, societal pressures, and sacrifice to evade the grim fate that awaits them. Produced by NYWIFT member Alexandra Engelson and written/directed by Cathy Beasley. Support today.
Writer, producer, lead actress and NYWIFT member Natalie Neckyfarow is currently seeking contributions for post-production for her inaugural short The Spark. The film tells the story of PR Associate Lily as she gets assigned the book launch for Tantra Expert Raven Lucia, played by NWIFT member Sweta Keswani. This project was inspired by Neckyfarow’s personal journey of reconnecting to pleasure post-divorce and aims to deepen the conversation around the relationship between female pleasure and empowerment. Learn more and contribute.
Writer, Producer, Lead Actress and NYWIFT member Natalie Neckyfarow is seeking post-production contributions for her inaugural short The Spark. The film tells the story of PR Associate Lily as she gets assigned the book launch for Tantra Expert Raven Lucia, played by NWIFT member Sweta Keswani. This project was inspired by Neckyfarow’s personal journey of reconnecting to pleasure post-divorce and aims to deepen the conversation around the relationship between female pleasure and empowerment. Learn more and contribute.
NYWIFT member Shanna Riker is seeking contributions for her short film Speechless. Speechless is a whimsical piece that centers around the loss of a childhood friend and first love. Jake and Allison struggle to navigate this newfound grief only to find that they process it differently. Using light and color shifts to guide the viewer in the emotional journey, Speechless touches on themes of grief, friendship, and the importance of mental health awareness. This film is the third in our series, Support on Screen, which showcases films designed to help provide a safe space for people so they don’t have to feel alone in this world. The ultimate goal of this film is to distribute it to mental health facilities to be used as a support tool. Support this film.
NYWIFT member Marisa Camplin is raising funds for her narrative feature film project CALLIOPE and its social impact campaign. The story focuses on one young woman’s emotional journey, though it represents the stories of millions of women affected by breast cancer. Through an entertaining and female-centric storyline, Marisa aims to reach new audiences on a deeper and more personal level. The social impact campaign integrates closely with a global non-profit partner. Together, they plan to raise further and continued awareness for women, so that they can learn about breast cancer risks early and take action. As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please consider supporting this important project. Make your contribution.
Co-writer, director and NYWIFT member Mariluz Guerra-Ariza is raising funds for her project Body Stories: Marta & Fidel. The film is a heartfelt project born out of love, commitment and dedication to the healing power of cinema. Watch her video pitch to learn about her journey in creating a film that explores the mental health struggles and dreams of emerging musicians, a theme more relevant now than ever. Set against the backdrop of Atlanta, Body Stories: Marta & Fidel explores themes of identity, resilience and connection. Watch the video and support here.
NYWIFT member Shari Albert is seeking contributions for her short film Double Happiness. Co-written with Laura Leelun and directed by Albert, the story centers a spicy New York Jewish widow and the tightly wound Chinese restauranteur who served her family every Christmas. After 40 years of patronage, they find themselves drawn into an unexpected late-in-life romance. Watch the video to learn more and make your contribution.
NYWIFT member Kristina Leigh Copeland is raising funds for her latest eye-opening documentary. The Last Ride. The documentary brings awareness to the gruesome mistreatment and slaughter of horses for human use and consumption. Copeland produced, directed and narrated The Wall Street Conspiracy, a documentary exposing the abusive practice of illegal naked short selling that contributed to the USA 2008 Financial Crisis and hopes to illuminate the truth again with The Last Ride. Add your contribution.
NYWIFT member Sweta Keswani is seeking contributions to fund The Spark, a 12 minute short film. The film follows the journey of PR Associate Lily after her boss Claudia assigns her the book launch for “A Good Girl’s Guide to Tantra”. As she prepares her presentation, she’s visited by Raven Lucia, a Fairy Godmother of sorts, guiding Lily as she attempts to reignite the spark with her husband Mark. As Lily navigates her own discomfort around sex and strives to pull off a successful launch, she must learn to connect with and go after what she really wants. Keswani stars in the film as Raven Lucia. Support the film.
Executive producer and director Melisa Ramos Rivera is seeking support from fellow NIWFT members for first feature film, Hoop Warrior. Hoop Warrior delves into the power of basketball in Puerto Rico and the journey of baller Jorge Matos journey, coming from street basketball to winning a Gold Medal FIBA 3×3. Transitioning from street basketball beyond national level in Puerto Rico, depicting the challenges, and rewards of Latinx athletes. Hoop Warrior follows his story of adversity, perseverance and resilience from the hood to the international hoops. Donate today.
Co-writer, director and NYWIFT member, Mariluz Guerra-Ariza is raising funds for her project Body Stories: Marta & Fidel. The film delves into the transformative power of music to break barriers, heal and unite. Follow Marta and Fidel’s journey as they navigate challenges to pursue their dreams. Set against the backdrop of Atlanta, Body Stories: Marta & Fidel explores themes of identity, resilience and connection. Support here.
NYWIFT member Catherine C. Ryan is seeking community support for her film Lifesaver. After hearing “boys will be boys” one too many times, 6-year-old Daisy makes a dangerous discovery and decides to take matters into her own hands with a schoolyard bully. Lifesaver isn’t just a movie; it’s a call to action that aims to spark conversations on how to make a difference through active listening, stepping in, and supporting each other. Learn more and support the project on Seed & Spark.
NYWIFT Member Erin McGuff-Pennington is raising money for her short film Rosalie. Rosalie is about how an unplanned pregnancy leaves an overwhelmed mother of four determined to end it—and her infertile best friend determined to stop her. The film explores how obsession and desire can intensify the mounting pressure that women and mothers regularly face, and too often face alone. Learn more and support the project on Seed & Spark.
The Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival in NYC is seeking donations. BHFF NYC is held every year in April and, this year, will be celebrating 20 years since its inception. Each year, BHFF brings a colorful tableau of Bosnian and Herzegovinian stories to diverse New York City audiences. Over the years it has grown from a simple film revue event to a New York City institution; its audience includes people with Bosnian heritage, people from other Balkan expatriate communities, as well as a wide cross-section of all New Yorkers who cherish international and independent film productions. Learn more and donate.
NYWIFT member & UPWIFT Founder Heidi Philipsen-Meissner (producer and director) is raising funds for her upcoming film, Love and Vodka. The Ukrainian-American rom com is deep in post-production and could use an added boost! “To be precise, we’re in need of $20,000 to complete post-production, color grading, music composition and sound mix/design. Be a part of our grassroots indie film community and help us to finish the film that will not only make you fall in love with falling in love all over, again, but also raise funds for Ukrainian artist refugees in need. Yes, that’s right. We’ve found fantastic post-production creatives to finish post and your donations will help not only pay them for their artistic talents, but also lend a sense of stability for those who have fled the war and relocated.” – Heidi Philipsen-Meissner. Love and Vodka is a NYWIFT fiscally sponsored project. All donations are tax deductible. Learn more and donate.
The creators of Welcome to Belle View are crowdfunding. Welcome to Belle View is a TV pilot dramedy. It follows a newly widowed stay-at-home mom who’s desperate to find work after 20 years away and agrees to take on the job of an admissions coordinator in the skilled nursing facility where her husband recently passed away,as she learns to navigate this sometimes crazy new world from the other side of the bed. The project is Executive produced and starring NYWIFT member Maureen VanTrease and directed by NYWIFT member Debra Markowitz. Learn more and donate.
NYWIFT Member Bettina Marks (director) is raising funds for her series The Hidden Scream. The Hidden Scream is a scripted anthology tv series that has been adapted from Bettina’s short film The Scream. The series is a psychological drama about the bystander effect that is inspired by true events. Violence in America and apathy is increasing not only in its urban centers but in general. Good Samaritans can fear getting involved. This series sheds light on the complexities of the psychological issues surrounding bystanders’ reactions. It reflects where we are as a society in the hopes to better the outcome of events like these for both the victims and bystanders. Because of the overwhelming impact that social media has had on society and this phenomenon, its visual style and technical elements will reflect this world. The series is currently in pre-production. The Scream is a NYWIFT fiscally sponsored project. All donations are tax deductible. Learn more and donate. Bettina is also looking for a producer for the series. Email bettinainc@hotmail.com for more info.
NYWIFT Member Jelena Puskic is raising funds for her short film, Twins. The film follows estranged twin sisters on a journey to re-connect. Vastly different lifestyles and personal issues get in the way. This is Jelena’s first film after graduating from New York Film Academy. Learn more and donate.
Indiegogo has launched a free online resource for filmmakers looking to crowdfund – The Indiegogo Arts Campaign Handbook. The handbook includes:
- Expert guidance on launching a crowdfunding campaign in the arts world
- Learn how to take your project from concept to distribution
- Crowdfunding Support & Resources
Launching a crowdfunding campaign? Submit your project to communications@nywift.org for inclusion on this site and in our weekly e-blast.
