Weekly Deals, News and Tips

Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film releases New Study!

The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film recently published a study on the state of women film and television makers across streaming services. In 2025-26, the percentage of women working as creators and directors on original U.S. streaming programs plummeted, indicating that last year’s increases were a momentary surge, as opposed to the beginning of a positive trend in employment.

The percentage of women creating streaming series bounced from 27% in 2023-24 up to 36% in 2024-25 and down to 24% in 2025-26. The percentage of women creating broadcast programs contracted slightly from 20% in 2024-25 to 19% in 2025-26. The numbers of women creating programs on both platforms are now lower than they were almost a decade ago in 2017-18. See the full study.

Michelle de la Rosa Wins Audience Choice Award at Blackbird Film Festival!

Michelle de la Rosa‘s film Julienne premiered for the first time at Blackbird Film Festival where it won the Audience Choice Award for their block. Congrats, Michelle!

Remember, each highlight below is just one of many offers we have available! To see the full listing for each, click through after the highlight.

On The NYWIFT Podcast:

While The NYWIFT Podcast is on Summer hiatus, catch up with some of our favorite episodes you might have missed!

In mid-March, we offered a preview of The 2026 NYWIFT Muse Awards, including interviews with honorees Actor/Activist Jamie Brewer and Director/Educator Patricia Cardoso. 

Listen now!

📩 To be featured on the podcast email us at communications@nywift.org

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

From the NYWIFT Blog:

Welcome to NYWIFT, Fozhan (Fou) Gharib! Fozhan Gharib is a New York-based filmmaker, editor, and screenwriter who transitions seamlessly between performance and cinematic storytelling. After studying for her Master’s in Screenwriting at the University of Tehran, she relocated to the U.S. in 2023, earning a Master’s in Media Studies from The New School. Her work weaves psychological drama with a deeply poetic exploration of memory and resilience. Fou’s recent award-winning narrative short, Night of Melancholia, has screened at prestigious festivals globally and across New York City, cementing her voice as a vital new force in independent cinema. In our interview, Fozhan discussed her journey into filmmaking, the various inspirations behind her work, and her passion for building her projects from the ground up. Read on…

Welcome to NYWIFT, Ceilidh Michelle! Ceilidh is the author of Butterflies, Zebras, Moonbeams (Palimpsest Press 2019), shortlisted for the Hugh MacLennan Award for Fiction and Vagabond: Venice Beach, Slab City and Points In Between (Douglas & McIntyre 2021). Her novella, Living Waters, was shortlisted for the Malahat Review’s Novella Prize and The Commonwealth Prize, she’s received an honorary mention from Writers Digest, and has been shortlisted for the Eunice Williams Prize for Nonfiction. The CBC has listed her twice as an author to watch. Her work has appeared in Maclean’s Magazine, 49th shelf, Room, Saltwire, Long Reads, and others. Originally from Nova Scotia, she lives in New York.  Continue reading…

Welcome to NYWIFT, Sydney Sidner! Sydney is an award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter and educator with an impressive resume of work appearing on TV, film and in the theater. In our interview, she encourages creators to be both passionate and flexible. Read on to learn more. Continue reading…

Professional Development:

Saturday, Sep 19  • 9 AM-5:30 PM 
The National Dominican Women’s Caucus (NDWC) and Maria Hinojosa invite you to the 4th Annual Latina Leaders Summit, taking place during Hispanic Heritage Month in New York City. This year’s theme, “Leading with Purpose, Healing with Power, Building with Vision,” celebrates the resilience, leadership, and collective strength of Latina women. Join professionals, entrepreneurs, advocates, students, elected officials, and community leaders for a day of inspiration, learning, and meaningful connection.

Hear from trailblazing women from the United States and Latin America as they share their expertise, personal journeys, and strategies for creating stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities. Through engaging keynote conversations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the Summit will explore the issues that matter most to our communities, including civic engagement, education, health equity, housing, economic empowerment, and leadership development. RSVP.

Tuesday, Sep 29  • 6 PM-7:30 PM 
No Show Starts on Broadway – whether you’re an aspiring theatre maker, supporter, performer, or an ardent fan curious about how new musicals are born, this virtual session will offer a candid look at the collaborative and exhilarating process behind creating the next generation of musical theater—because no show starts on Broadway. Join award-winning director, choreographer, and writer Joe Barros and Tony Award-winning Broadway and West End producer Robin Gorman Newman (Buena Vista Social Club, Parade) for an inside look at the vibrant and creative ecosystem that transforms an idea into a fully realized musical. Drawing on decades of experience developing new work, they’ll explore how original musicals are conceived, nurtured, and ultimately make their way to the stage. RSVP.

Registrants will receive an email with a link to join the event. If you have questions about this event, please email alumni.artsandentertainment@nyu.edu.

Nov 12-13 and Nov 15-19
Early bird passes for our renowned DOC NYC PRO Fall Conference are now on sale! The annual conference brings together the global documentary community for a week of conversation, connection, and practical insight. Across seven thematic days, we’ll explore the challenges, opportunities, and big questions shaping the field.

New this year is the standalone Solutions Lab on November 14, a day dedicated to collective problem-solving. The morning looks at the future of funding, distribution, and audience-building through panels and facilitated discussions. In the afternoon, participants bring a real challenge to the table and work through it alongside peers and industry experts, leaving with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and stronger connections. Save on single-day and multi-day passes! Early bird pricing ends Monday, September 7. Register with the Early Bird discount.

Monday, Nov 30 – Thursday, Dec 3 
Content London brings together producers and TV channel/streamer buyers/commissioners from 30+ countries, creating exceptional opportunities to buy and sell projects. This year, the event will explore key areas focused on helping producers adapt to the new content economy: for example, case studies in how producers can make money by going direct to consumers. Following the success of Content London Connect in 2025, the curated speed-meeting agenda returns, allowing producers to meet with new sources of funding, film commissions and tax incentives.

The ticket price increases as we near the event, BUT C21 is happy to again offer WIFT members a highly discounted ticket available through September 17. Get your ticket.

The NYWIFT New Works Lab (NWL) will reconvene after its hiatus on August 30 and an invitation will go out on Thursday, August 27. meets every other Sunday via Zoom from 3-6 PM ET. For updates and news about the New Works Lab, please bookmark (or follow!) the Lab’s Facebook page. RSVPs are not necessary, but to be placed on the mailing list for the Zoom links, please email the Lab at: newworkslabs@nywift.org.

Looking to brush up your skills? See more professional development opportunities.

Theatre and Live Events:

Wednesday, Sep 9 • 6:30 PM
Storytelling360: StorySocial New York City hosts special guest Q&A with Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, creators/showrunners of FX series Adults. Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw got their start as the youngest writers in the history of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Today, they are the creators and showrunners of Adults, the FX series named to Best of 2025 lists by The Atlantic, Vulture, Marie Claire, Decider and TV Guide. Hear how two staff writers became showrunners before 30, what the FX pitch process actually looked like, and how a writing partnership survives the jump from late night to prestige TV—moderated by Aramide Tinubu, Variety TV Critic.

Includes: 2 drink tickets per person, light food, moderated Q&A, photo opportunities, post-Q&A networking hour, sponsor gift bags, 3 months of online access to the Q&A recording via the Storytelling360 online community. Limited to ONLY 30 seats; get 10% off with code: WFTV.

Can’t join live? Online access to all Storytelling360 conferences and Q&A events from Los Angeles, New York and London, as well as the full archive of previous events, is included with the All Access Membership. $99 per year. Save 20% with code WFTV. RSVP.

Saturday, Sep 12 • 12 PM-5 PM
Queer Voices: NYC Film Festival invites you to the Creator Recharge Lounge at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center (51 Christopher St, New York, 10014). The Creator Recharge Lounge will convene filmmakers, artists, media professionals, emerging creatives, festival audiences, and LGBTQIA+ community members for an afternoon of connection and resource sharing. Attendees will be able to connect with organizations such as yours, as well as explore career opportunities, access professional and community resources, and network in an informal setting. We’d be delighted to have NYWIFT join us as a participating organization. RSVP for free.

See a full list of theatre and live events. 

Screenings, Streamings, and Festivals:

Friday, Sep 4 — Thu, Sep 10 
Directed and produced by NYWIFT member Vaishali Sinha, Give It A Shot is coming to DCTV (87 Lafayette Street)! The film follows the indomitable, 83-year-old Dr. Sujoy Guha, in India, the California-based team of Elaine Lissner and L.R. Fox, as well as Kevin Eisenfrats in Virginia, on a quest to successfully launch the first reversible male contraceptive, the first of its kind since the modern condom, invented 200 years ago. A character-driven story, it is a funny, moving and ultimately urgent film about the disproportionate burden of birth control on women. Get tickets. 

Friday, Sep 18 — Sunday, Sep 20
The Grove & Pines Film Festival honors Fire Island’s legacy as a queer refuge by preserving and elevating stories that reflect the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ life. Rooted in Cherry Grove and the Pines, GAP Film Festival celebrates queer culture on its own terms. Amplifying films that embody nuance, resilience, connection, and joy. GAP Film Festival programs feature and short films, with a focus on short film programming across a range of genres.This festival includes a feature doc about Miss Peppermint, a horror short Executive Produced by Jinkx Monsoon, Bookends starring and created by Noam Ash, a musical coming out story from Alan Cumming and so much more! NYWIFT members get 50% off any passes with discount code NYWIFT50! Schedule.

Monday, Sep 21 • 7:15 PM 
Little Audrey, a supernatural spiritual mystery from an original screenplay by NYWIFT member Caitlin McCarthy, who also served as associate producer, has been selected as the Closing Night film of the Boston Film Festival. Directed and produced by Michael Mailer, alongside producers Jeff Thomas and John Buffalo Mailer, the film stars Emily VanCamp, Jennifer Esposito, Aidan Quinn, and Josh Bowman. Tickets.

See a full list of screenings and festivals. 

Calls for Submissions:

Deadline to submit: Sep 9
This is the last week to submit an application for the AFI DWW+ Class of 2028. AFI DWW+ is a tuition-free, year-long workshop that has championed emerging directors for over 50 years. Participants receive hands-on instruction from industry professionals as they develop and produce an original short film. Alumnae include Siân Heder (Coda), Leslie Linka Glatter (Homeland), Hanelle M. Culpepper (Paradise) and many more. Apply.

Early Bird Deadline: Sep 10
Submissions are now OPEN for The Writers Lab Canada! Supported by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, The Writers Lab is the only program in the world devoted exclusively to script and career development for women and nonbinary screenwriters 40+. Canadian citizens and residents are eligible to apply for TWLC. Features and Pilots (1-hour or half-hour format) in English will be considered. Eight projects will be selected for the in-person intensive.

At TWL Intensives, writers are challenged to bring fresh eyes to their selected projects and undergo deep project development work in one-on-one and group sessions, with revision guidance and career support from the experienced TWL team and some of the industry’s best writers and producers. The Lab aims to build skills, confidence and community, and to prepare writers for collaborative work and market demands. 

Previous TWL winners have gone on to secure management, writing and teaching gigs, win Nicholl and Page prizes, make The Black List, and have their screenplays produced. Regular Deadline: September 24. Apply now!

Deadline to enter: Sep 11
Shiny connects new and diverse directors with the advertising production industry, mainly through the Shiny Awards, held at leading ad agencies worldwide. The USA & Canada Shiny Awards are coming up and will be held at Saatchi & Saatchi’s fantastic event space in LA. As an incentive for emerging filmmakers, there’s a free entry code on the flyer for the first 50 filmmakers to send in their work. Any genre is accepted, and everyone can find more details on the website. Enter your project.

Regular Deadline to submit: Sep 15 
The Film Independent Spirit Awards are an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films and groundbreaking new television series. The show will take place on Saturday, March 6, 2027, at the Hollywood Palladium– submit your project today! This year, Film Independent adds a new category: Best International First Feature! And joining the Emerging Filmmaker Awards, the 2027 Spirit Awards will also introduce a new Digital Creator Award, expanding the celebration to independent storytellers creating original work for digital-first platforms and audiences. Please find the deadlines to submit your film, TV show, or digital work below, and please note, submissions vary in fees. Submit. 

Regular Deadline to submit: Sep 16 
Want the chance to have your work performed and get feedback from industry experts? Then the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition could be for you. A platform for aspiring screenwriters Rocliffe is part of BAFTA’s charitable commitment to supporting the next generation of film, games and TV talent. Calling for entries for Film, Television Drama, Children, Family & YA Media, and Television Comedy scripts on a rotational basis. There is plenty of opportunity to get involved no matter what your specialism. Submit.

Deadline to submit: Sep 20
The Independent Media Initiative and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation are accepting applications for two prizes supporting original science and technology projects for YouTube and other video platforms:
· $100,000 Documentary Prize for a nonfiction project exploring science or technology
· $50,000 Narrative Fiction Prize for a short film or series pilot featuring scientific themes or characters
The prizes support creative, ambitious projects that bring depth, originality, and exceptional perspectives to science and technology. Applications close . Learn more and apply. 

Extended Deadline to submit: Sep 22
Big Apple Film Festival (BAFF) is celebrating 23 years of independent film in the heart of New York City and extending their entry deadline to submit! BAFF is a long-running NYC-based festival dedicated to showcasing innovative films and discovering bold new voices in screenwriting. Named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals” and “Top 25 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” BAFF brings independent storytellers into direct connections with industry professionals. Pitch and Network directly with agents, managers, producers and other industry reps through optional “Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum.” Alumni have created projects streamed on Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Hulu, Disney+, and more. Apply.

Just launched: the Kickstarter Culture Fund, a $1 million initiative supporting independent creators in Fashion, Film, Music, and the Arts through direct contributions to Kickstarter campaigns. See our announcement Reel here! With traditional funding opportunities becoming scarce, Kickstarter Culture Fund encourages independent creators to apply and take advantage of this resource. Applications are now open! Submit.

See a full list of submission opportunities.

Crowdfunding:

NYWIFT member Kasey O’Brien is raising $5000 to cover film festival fees and crew travel for Cue to Cue, a one-take short film written and directed by her and inspired by the Garret Theatre Co. The high-octane, darkly funny, and expertly acted short film Cue to Cue is ready for a world tour! In this one-take short, an anxious theatre director enters a frenzied tech rehearsal where a neurotic playwright, an underslept crew, and a broken toilet threaten to derail his world premiere days before opening night. Help them land a great premiere! 

NYWIFT member Kara Herold invites you to join her campaign to fund her NYWIFT Fiscal Sponsorship Program-backed film,  Live, Laugh, Give Up. May has engineered her entire life around her writing — and she’s done. She’s a 35-year-old professional pet sitter and writer, living rent-free in her employer Candace’s elegant home when she decides to quit writing for good. Her Inner Critic — despite the name, her most ferocious advocate — refuses to let her. Live, Laugh, Give Up is a surreal short comedy for anyone who has ever chosen the artistic life on purpose, and needs one good reason to keep going. Contribute to the campaign.

NYWIFT member Christine McBurney asks fellow members to contribute to the post production campaign for her just wrapped and first film as a writer-producer-actor, Tutto (Everything). Based on her recent sold out one woman show, DNA Doesn’t Lie But My Mother Did! The premise: Surprising DNA test results reveal to middle-aged Christine her Italian heritage, sending her to her new relatives for her first Sunday family dinner. Amid the chaos and pathos, secrets are revealed, a life-long wish comes true, and she learns la famiglia really is tutto, everything. Support Tutto! 

See more member crowdfunding campaigns.

Member-to-Member Discounts + Opportunities:

NYWIFT members are encouraged to check out Splashlight for studio day rentals. Splashlight offers flexible access to premium studios, short-term studio rentals for individual shoots, multiple studio sizes & configurations, onsite equipment rental, digital tech support, production offices, client areas and amenities.

Splashlight also supports dedicated studio partnerships with long-term studio retainers, private studio space tailored to your production needs, flexible footprints & multi-studio configurations, integrated production & equipment infrastructure and on-site studio management & operational support.

Splashlight is currently giving NYWIFT members a 15% discount on studio and in-house equipment rentals with code NYWIFT15. Learn more.

See all member-to-member discounts here.

Give Back:

NYWIFT member Jennifer Saunders‘ People for People Productions is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit film and media arts organization dedicated to using storytelling as a catalyst for change. Their mission is to equip young people with the tools of film media literacy so they can not only analyze the media they consume but also create their own stories rooted in truth, resilience, and justice. People for People Productions believes that film is more than entertainment — it is a means of civic engagement, cultural preservation, and community power. They’re looking for dedicated volunteers who want to be part of this vision. Opportunities range from mentoring youth filmmakers, assisting with production and editing, helping with outreach and community screenings, or offering professional expertise to strengthen their programs. Your time, talent, and presence can make a profound difference in ensuring that diverse voices and stories are not only heard, but celebrated. If you are interested in joining as a volunteer or learning more about how you can get involved, please contact jennifer@people4peopleproductions.org. 

See more opportunities to give back and volunteer.

Did you know?

• Get the latest from NYWIFT on our social media channels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube and Vimeo!
• See a full list of Member Benefits, including healthcare, professional development, travel, entertainment, publications, career coaching and more!
• Subscribe to the NYWIFT #WomenCrushWednesdays Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!
• Learn about our fiscal sponsorship opportunities, grants and scholarship programs!
• Get hired using the NYWIFT job board!

Tell NYWIFT about Your Screenings and Streamings!
Do you have a new project screening in NYC? Did your web series premiere? Is your documentary available for streaming or on demand? Starring in a play? Teaching a workshop? Are you crowdfunding for a project? Email communications@nywift.org so NYWIFT can let the entertainment community know about your work as it premieres.

Please email your news no later than 10 AM on Monday to be listed in that week’s e-blast. The e-blast usually goes out on Thursdays.