Below are just a few of the most recent accomplishments of our talented members! If you would like to join this dynamic community, we invite you to consider applying for NYWIFT membership.
NYWIFT members, do you have an upcoming screening, event, campaign or other news to share? Tell us! Contact communications@nywift.org.
Andrea Ocampo’s Blackout, which had its sold-out world premiere at the Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival, has been officially selected to screen at both the SoHo International Film Festival and the Queens World Film Festival this fall. See the film at SIFF‘s Shorts Program N: Grand Street Series on October 12 at 8:40 PM(Regal Union Square Theater 10) or at Queens World Film Festival Take This: 7 Films that Don’t Back Down showcase on November 10 at 7 PM (Kaufman Zukor Theater). Blackout is a NYC Subway thriller about a woman and a duffel bag she can’t get rid of— a story about the baggage we all carry and the demons we can’t outrun. Watch the official trailer.
Director, screenwriter and NYWIFT member Lisa Romagnoli will premiere her film The Delivery Guy at the New Hampshire Film Festival on October 16, with a second screening October 19! Logline: A date is interrupted when the food delivery guy is an ex-boyfriend. Get tickets.
Festival Founder and member Ingrid Jean-Baptiste encourages NYWIFT members to attend the 13th annual Chelsea Film Festival — from emerging filmmakers to seasoned voices, this is where stories that matter take the spotlight. Join this year’s edition! Get tickets at www.chelseafilm.org
Costume designer and NYWIFT member Rosemary Forman has a new film coming to theaters this month. 30 years after Edward Burns’ The Brothers McMullen wowed audiences with its exploration of the lives and struggles of three Irish American brothers from New York, the family returns in the long-awaited follow-up, The Family McMullen. In theaters for one day only, October 15. Watch the trailer and learn more.
NYWIFT member Janet Hyojo Oh warmly welcomes support for her most personal project: We Meet Again, a Korean-American fantasy-drama proof of concept short film. This Korean-American historical drama explores inherited strength, dual identity, and female power across centuries. Logline: When a mystical bronze mirror awakens the vengeful spirit of a Korean queen silenced at the height of her power, a Korean-American teenager is forced to confront a legacy of pride, pressure, and power. Please consider supporting this film that celebrates female strength and legacy and amplifies Korean-American voices here.
Documentary filmmaker and NYWIFT member Cionín Lorenzo is honored to be a moderator for the Documentaries That Change The World: Storytelling For Social Impact panel at the Reel Magic Hour during the 13th annual Chelsea Film Festival on October 18 at 2:45 PM. Meet at Trinity Broadcasting Network of New York (111 E 15th Street) to join an inspiring discussion with filmmakers Hannah Rafkin, Ronnie Kay, Harvey Hubbell V, and Jane Centofante! RSVP.
Member Pamela Gaye invites members in the New Hampshire area to her reading at Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center. Part comedy, part drama, Little Big Mouth introduces us to Penelope, an actress determined to pass down her stories, resilience, and hard-earned wisdom to her granddaughter. Through eighteen characters — from family members to famous spirits like Georgia O’Keeffe — Penelope revisits her theatrical past, the challenges of misogyny in show business, matrilineal trauma, and the triumph of still being able to create, no matter the obstacles. No registration needed. A Q&A with Pamela will follow the reading. Learn more.
Kristina Libby invites fellow NYWIFT members to the premiere of her solo show, Holy Shit I Almost Died for This?, as part of the United Solo Fest on November 12 at 7 PM. The show explores how the narrative of the good girl oppresses women and shares the journey of one woman as she nearly dies attempting to live up to those ideals, and how she eventually escapes. A funny, touching and heartwarming story from a Moth StorySlam winner, New Yorker humorist, and 2021-awarded Top Artist for Social Change. Get tickets.
NYWIFT member Yixin Cen is producing Mottainai, a bold 10-minute short film directed by Kimberly Han. The film is a surreal, subversive exploration of the deep anxieties around what society says a woman’s role should be. Think Everything Everywhere All At Once meets Being John Malkovich. This project is for all women, mothers, and anyone who has ever felt like they were not “enough.” They are launching their Kickstarter today to raise $25K. Supporting this campaign would amplify the voices of their team of filmmakers of color, working together to tell stories that matter during such a difficult time in our industry and society. Yixin extends a thank you from the bottom of her heart for your continued support of women filmmakers.
Stage Fright, from Mia Lastrella‘s production company, Western Star Entertainment Group, is a spooky showcase happening October 17 and 18, 6 PM at artXnyc. Stage Fright offers an industry-focused platform for artists to showcase their work before an audience, while providing exposure, professional opportunities, and networking opportunities. The showcase will feature the following new works:
October 17: Abby, Abby, Abby by Aidan La Poche (Modelland, Daughters of the Ruling Class), Fearless by Diana Rendon (Wigs!), Boutonniére by Cael Sullivan (previous premiere at Brooklyn Center for Theater Research), and Bloodline by Molly Longwell (Bad Mother, winner of NY International Shorts).
October 18: Summer of Sin by Emily Wilson (Danny’s Girl at Sundance and SXSW), Chainsaw Tits by Nicole Streger (The Suitcase Play, Young Arts Winner), Rip Her to Shreds by Isabelle Barbier (Ladies in Waiting, Actual People), and The Game by Orly Lewittes (Upright Citizens Brigade’s Maude Night). Get tickets.
NYWIFT member and director Chloë Levine‘s short film Bloom is coming to Bushwick Film Festival on Saturday, Oct 4 at 1:45 PM. Bloom follows a teenager with violent tendencies who is forced to reconcile with her past after a particularly volatile and random outburst. See the film at Williamsburg Cinema (217 Grand St, Brooklyn). Get tickets.
NYWIFT member Janet Hyojo Oh‘s Delicates, which she produced and executive-produced, will have its world premiere at Bushwick Film Festival on Saturday, October 4 at the Williamsburg Cinemas. Delicates is a romance drama about Colin, fresh out of a relationship, who shuffles through the motions of his life and his laundry. When his treasured sock is left behind in the wash, it is taken in by a promising new love, Megan. They soon discover they can communicate telepathically whenever they each wear their half of the pair. Attend the premiere and get tickets.
NYWIFT member Roberta Pyzel‘s Dworkin, her documentary about the life and work of writer-activist Andrea Dworkin, will be featured at the FiLiA Women’s Liberation Now Conference on October 10, followed by a panel discussion. Gloria Steinem called the film “a gift.” Pyzel also recently discussed the documentary on FiLia’s podcast. Listen to the episode and learn more about FiLia.
The Unburdened will have its world premiere at SOHO International Film Festival on October 9 at 9:35 PM, as part of the festival’s The Spring Street Series Shorts Program B. The Unburdened tells the story of a dedicated mother who is racing to assemble a Holocaust memorial program for her daughter’s school while facing opposition from an anonymous parent. Amidst preparations, a faded friend from childhood interrupts with news that the land containing their buried time capsule is about to be sold. As the women hurriedly dig it up, buried secrets emerge. NYWIFT Member Eve Austin stars and is an Associate Producer. The film’s line producer is NTWIFT Member Jen Plotzke. Get tickets and use this code at checkout for a discount on VIP passes: 19SDLV9E31US5U2.
Kim Snyder’s The Librarians opens October 3 at Film Forum. Book banning is as old as public libraries, but the battlegrounds are freshly polarized and the stakes as high as ever, as witnessed by Oscar-nominated Kim A. Snyder in her paean to librarians, and the parents and students who flank them, on the frontlines. Film Forum’s run of The Librarians is presented in association with Banned Books Week (October 5 – 11, 2025). Members Ruth Ann Harnisch (Executive Producer), Cynthia Kane (Co-Producer) and Janique L. Robillard (Producer/Second Camera) also helmed the film. Get tickets.
Kristina Libby invites fellow NYWIFT members to the premiere of her solo show, Holy Shit I Almost Died for This?, as part of the United Solo Fest on October 23 at 7 PM. The show explores how the narrative of the good girl oppresses women and shares the journey of one woman as she nearly dies attempting to live up to those ideals, and how she eventually escapes. A funny, touching and heartwarming story from a Moth StorySlam winner, New Yorker humorist, and 2021-awarded Top Artist for Social Change. Get tickets.
Christiane Arbesu‘s The Weight of Memory: I Am Bernie Furshpan is a deeply personal and timely documentary that follows Dr. Bernie Furshpan, son of Holocaust survivor Moshe Furshpan, as he travels the country educating younger generations. Through a powerful blend of historical fact and personal testimony, Bernie shares his family’s story to inspire action against hatred and its devastating consequences. It is with a sense of urgency that he delivers his mission to empower a new generation to stand against intolerance and ensure that history’s lessons are never forgotten. You can watch the film online now.
New York Women in Film & Television is excited to share that seven of our members are involved in films that have been selected for the 37th annual NewFest New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Congratulations to Monica Anderson (Christy), Emily Friedman (Purple Patrol!), Stephanie Holbrook (Other People’s Bodies), Shaina Holmes (Mamma Mia!), Sheila Nevins (The Celluloid Closet) and Joumana Rizk and Lisa Thomas (The Misadventures of Bucky & Beene). Read more about NYWIFT members at NewFest.
This year’s NewFest will take place October 9-21, 2025 in person at venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn and streaming virtually throughout the US. Tickets and passes are currently on sale and can be purchased here.
New York Women in Film & Television is happy to announce that 19 of our members are involved in films that have been selected for the 33rd annual edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF). Congratulations to Abbesi Akhamie (The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí), Monica Anderson (Christy), Sophia de Baun (Born 2 Lose), Jacqueline Christy (Magic Hour), Katarina Dedicova (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate DiRienzi (Nun’s Beach), Peggy Eisenhauer (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Leslie Fields-Cruz (Seeds), Ruth Ann Harnisch (Ask E. Jean, Natchez, The Librarians), Stephanie Holbrook (Fantasy Life), Cynthia Kane (The Librarians), Gilana Lobel (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Sheila Nevins (Ask E. Jean), Lizbett Perez (All the Empty Rooms), Janique L. Robillard (The Librarians), Rehema Imani Trimiew (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Deborah Wallach (Love+War), Trevite Willis (The President’s Cake) and Cara Yeates (The New Yorker Theater: A Talbot Legacy). Read more about NYWIFT members at HIFF.
The 33rd annual Hamptons Film Festival takes place Friday, October 3 through Monday, October 13, 2025. HIFF screenings and events happen throughout the East End. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased here.
Click to see the full program of films and events at the festival!
NYWIFT member Yixin Cen is producing Mottainai, a bold 10-minute short film directed by Kimberly Han. The film is a surreal, subversive exploration of the deep anxieties around what society says a woman’s role should be. Think Everything Everywhere All At Once meets Being John Malkovich. This project is for all women, mothers, and anyone who has ever felt like they were not “enough.” They are launching their Kickstarter today to raise $25K. Supporting this campaign would amplify the voices of their team of filmmakers of color, working together to tell stories that matter during such a difficult time in our industry and society. Yixin extends a thank you from the bottom of her heart for your continued support of women filmmakers.
Baby Steps, executive produced by NYWIFT members Marchelle Thurman and Lana Young, recently wrapped filming in Atlanta over Labor Day weekend. Written by Maggie Stiggers and directed by Erika Miranda, this sharp, heartfelt short film uses humor to explore infertility, identity, and the messy road toward parenthood. The film stars Stiggers and her husband, features TV star Marilu Henner as the main character’s mother, and is shot by female DP Hilda Mercado with a full female camera department. Backed by an all-female producing team and supported by NYWIFT as its fiscal sponsor, Baby Steps aims to spark conversation, spread awareness, and make women navigating infertility feel seen and less alone. If you feel inclined, please donate here.
Producing Associate at Parity Productions and NYWIFT member Meg Gilbert invites fellow members to a free reading of My Mother The Sun by Paloma Monfiletto on September 26 and 27. My Mother The Sun follows Solana after her mother goes missing in the desert between the US/Mexico border, and she must journey out with a group of activists to bring her back. My Mother the Sun is a meditation on the way borders arrest grief, the transformative power of empathy, and the need for unconditional hospitality in the face of institutional cruelty. Attend the reading at New Perspectives Theatre Company (458 West 37th Street). Get free tickets and learn more about the show.
Kristina Libby invites fellow NYWIFT members to the premiere of her solo show, Holy Shit I Almost Died for This?, as part of the United Solo Fest on October 23 at 7 PM. The show explores how the narrative of the good girl oppresses women and shares the journey of one woman as she nearly dies attempting to live up to those ideals, and how she eventually escapes. A funny, touching and heartwarming story from a Moth StorySlam winner, New Yorker humorist, and 2021-awarded Top Artist for Social Change. Get tickets.
NYWIFT member Myrakel Baker invites you to The Gotham Week Shorts to Features Showcase: Turning Points, where her short film Bittersweet will screen at Nitehawk Cinema (Prospect Park) on October 1 at 7 PM. Eighteen short films will be shown in their entirety for film lovers, filmmakers and industry players. Each of the blocks will be followed by a brief Q&A with the filmmakers. Bittersweet is an immersive, non-linear look at a timeless love that is cut short by maternal mortality. Get tickets.
Former NYWIFT Board member Yvonne Russo has won the Humanitas Prize for the second episode of Vow of Silence, “Wounded Knee 73” on September 7. on Humanitas honors and empowers film and television writers whose work explores the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way. It’s a tremendous honor for Russo and her team – Executive Producers/Producers Amy Kaufman, Caroline Waterlow and Ezra Edelman and Co-Executive Producer Mark Becker. The awards ceremony took place . Congratulations on this milestone, Yvonne! Learn more.
Variety announced that NYWIFT Member Lily Hayes Kaufman‘s documentary Occupy Cannes, will have its New York Premiere as part of the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival lineup, screening on October 18. Featuring a post-screening Q&A with Kaufman and cast/crew, the film takes place in 2017, where Lloyd Kaufman and his faithful Troma team are once again storming the streets of the Cannes Film Festival to promote their latest work. Surrounded by costly studio billboards and installations, Troma’s signature attention-stealing street-level marketing tactics are now being met with constant opposition by police, leaving this found family wondering if their days of championing independent film are over. Get tickets.
NYWIFT member Catherine C. Ryan invites you to the Northeast premiere of her film, Lifesaver at Lady Filmmakers Festival on September 28. 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. See the film as part of the festival’s “Ladies Illuminate” Block #15. Get Tickets.
Join us at Harlem’s Schomburg Center for the 25th anniversary screening of NYWIFT member Pam Sporn’s Cuban Roots/Bronx Stories, on Wednesday, September 24 at 6:30-8:30 PM. Now restored in 4K, the film documents an Afro‑Cuban family’s personal history, tracing their migration from Jamaica to Cuba to the South Bronx. The Foster family recounts pivotal historical moments throughout the documentary — from the Bay of Pigs and the Vietnam War to settling into a multilingual, racially diverse Bronx neighborhood. Through these intergenerational oral histories, Cuban Roots/Bronx Stories explores the complexities of Afro-Latinx diasporic belonging. The film will be followed by a Q&A with director Pam Sporn and writer Rosed Serrano. Get tickets.
Caper, the feature-length comedy from NYWFT member Elizabeth Wiseman‘s production company 17D Productions, has had its theatrical run at LOOK Dine-In Cinema (W 57th St) extended until September 19. The film premiered at SXSW’s 2025 Narrative Spotlight block and follows a group of clueless men racing against the clock after a friend’s disastrous sext accidentally lands in his boss’ phone, embarking on an all-night odyssey through New York City’s underbelly to hack, bribe, and bluff their way to deleting the evidence. Over the course of seven hours, this misguided, toxically masculine mission to save a friend from ruin exposes their own fears, flaws, and misconceptions about women. Get tickets.
Producing Associate at Parity Productions and NYWIFT member Meg Gilbert invites fellow members to a free reading of My Mother The Sun by Paloma Monfiletto on September 26 and 27. My Mother The Sun follows Solana after her mother goes missing in the desert between the US/Mexico border, and she must journey out with a group of activists to bring her back. My Mother the Sun is a meditation on the way borders arrest grief, the transformative power of empathy, and the need for unconditional hospitality in the face of institutional cruelty. Attend the reading at New Perspectives Theatre Company (458 West 37th Street). Get free tickets and learn more about the show.
Entertainment Career Coach/Talent Agent Consultant/NYWIFT Workshop Facilitator Jim Arnoff is teaching “Pitch Your Scripted Television Series to the Industry Experts” online at the School of Visual Arts, 10 classes, Wednesday nights, 7:30 – 9:30 PM ET/4:30 – 6:30 PM PT, starting 9/24 through 12/10. Tuition is $350. Access to industry pros – showrunners, network development executives, production companies. Learn the in’s and out’s of development, networking, pitching and writers rooms. This is a Continuing Education course so you don’t need to go for a degree or have a pilot script – all you need is a passion for scripted television. If you miss any classes, each one is recorded.. Each student that enrolls will receive a complimentary 30 minute coaching session. Register now at sva.edu/ce and enter Course #CFC-1334-OL or the course name, “Pitch Your TV Series.”
MOM Film Fest 2025 returns online August 22–24, showcasing independent films created by moms from around the world. The festival was created by NYWIFT Member Tonya Mollineau. With a $35 all-access pass, audiences can stream the full lineup of films all weekend. 30% of ticket sales go directly to the winning filmmakers, turning every ticket into both access and impact. The festival concludes with an awards ceremony and community mixer at Stuart Cinema & Cafe in Brooklyn on Sunday, August 24 at 4 PM. Learn more.
Claire Jamison invites fellow members to contribute to the shoot and post-production of her narrative short film, Celeste & the Cyan Sun. This MFA thesis film is Claire’s most intimate, ambitious, and personally evocative project yet. The premise: Prince meets Celeste on her last day in Italy. What begins as a liberating and joyful experience becomes corrupted when Celeste won’t respect Prince’s boundaries, and the two hurtle towards a breaking point on the edge of the rocky Italian coast.
Contributors can receive thank-you gifts, including handmade cyanotype prints, photos from set, and producer credits for larger contributions. Learn more and support the film.
Join Poster House on August 26 for a special screening of the newly restored 4K edition of Building Bombs (1990), the Academy Award–nominated documentary by Mark Mori and Susan Robinson at 6 PM. This event is presented in conjunction with the museum’s exhibition Fallout: Atoms for War & Peace.
Building Bombs is a powerful investigation into the human and environmental costs of the atomic age, centering on South Carolina’s Savannah River Plant, the nation’s largest Cold War–era facility for the production of hydrogen-bomb materials. Through rare archival footage, personal interviews, and narration by four-time Academy Award nominee and activist Jane Alexander, the film traces the impact of the nuclear weapons industry on American lives and landscapes—while offering an eloquent message of hope through stories of ordinary people working to change the course of history. The 4K restoration was produced by NYWIFT member Kirsten Larvick with Mark Mori, Susan Robinson and Bob Judson.
This screening will be followed by a live conversation with Emmy-nominated Executive Producer Mark Marabella and Building Bombs Director Mark Mori. Arrive early to enjoy light bites and a cash bar. After the Q&A, don’t miss our pop-up featuring complimentary wine and restoration posters for sale, with the opportunity to have yours signed by Academy Award–nominated director Mark Mori. RSVP.
NYWIFT member and multi-disciplinary artist Shoshanna Gleich invites NYWIT member to see her painting featured in a group show at The Long Story Short Gallery (52 Henry Street, NYC). The reception for the show is August 7, from 5 PM-8 PM. Shoshanna is selling her newest series of paintings to raise funds for her one-woman show. Anyone interested can contact her on Instagram @shoshannagleich or through email shoshannayawannaproductions@gmail.com.
Congratulations to the NYWIFT members included in the 2025 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival lineup! We are thrilled to see 10 members of our community with projects featured at the festival this year.
The festival takes place August 1–9, in-person at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center. Tickets and packages can be purchased from the official website. Showings of different films, both full-feature and short, are presented throughout the day, starting at 11 AM. Congratulations to members Lianne Becker (Producer, Harlem Fragments), Evolyn Brooks (Director & Co-Executive Producer, Good Home Training), Emily Fleischer (Casting Associate, Highest 2 Lowest), Imani Garner (Music Supervisor, Jean & I), Tiffany Ann Jackman (Director, I Hate My Love Life), Emily Kordovich (Director of Photography, Sugar Honey), Kimberly Mayhorn (Co-Producer & Editor, Good Home Training), Okema T. Moore (Director, Laundry; Producer, Chocolate with Sprinkles), Geneva Peschka (Director, Black Longevity), Stacey Smith (Additional Crew: Business Affairs, Hoops, Hopes & Dreams)!
NYWIFT member and screenwriter Caitlin McCarthy’s spiritual mystery Little Audrey — inspired by the extraordinary true story of Audrey Santo — officially began production on July 21 in Buffalo, NY. Helmed by director/producer Michael Mailer, the film features an all-star cast: Aidan Quinn, Emily VanCamp, Jennifer Esposito, and Josh Bowman. Check out the full scoop in Deadline. Congrats, Caitlin!
Black Longevity, a short film directed by NYWIFT member Geneva Peschka, is making its world premiere at Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAAFF). Black Longevity is a poetic meditation on Black life that captures the wisdom and resilience of elders who redefine aging through love, legacy and generational strength. The film will be shown as part of the festival’s BLK#18 Shorts Program from 11 AM-1 PM on August 5. Get tickets.
NYWIFT member Linnette Harrigan is celebrating Caribbean Heritage Month. Linnette has been in development for the last couple of years producing a Caribbean-inspired documentary film titled Rediscovering Lucien. It’s a heartfelt story exploring the life and music of late Jon Lucien, jazz singer/musician who was born in the Caribbean Virgin Islands, later moving to New York City and was discovered by RCA Records in the 1970s. His music has been called a ‘special force’ that can still be heard today. The documentary features Linnette along with Grammy-nominated jazz artists Will Downing, Dave Koz and many others who knew and were inspired by Lucien. NYWIFT is the proud Fiscal Sponsor for the film. Help Linnette Harrigan make a documentary film that can change lives. She is now accepting submissions for production crew, expenses, etc. Get more information and donate.
Director and NYWIFT member Roberta Pyzel‘s short film The Eye of the Storm is available to watch on YouTube. Based on the song from Nanette Natal, the film has received positive viewer reactions, remarking on the “absolutely stunning” singing and visuals. Watch now.
Lilly, starring NYWIFT 2015 Muse Honoree Patricia Clarkson, written/directed by NYWIFT Ravenal Feature Film Grant recipient Rachel Feldman, and co-produced by former NYWIFT Board President and President’s Circle Chair Simone Pero is now available through video on demand everywhere you find your digital media. Experience the power, perseverance, and legacy of #LillyLedbetter. Join the film on socials (@lillymovie) and learn more about the film. Watch the trailer.
Award-winning author and NYWIFT member Marilyn Horowitz‘s new book, Bad Girl Pie, pairs love and loss and it’s a wicked read – a dark comedy set in New York City. Dorothy Sherlock, a prolific ghostwriter who experiences a near-fatal encounter with her abusive father and his sudden death. Dorothy resolves to write her own book, blending her expertise in dieting and dessert. Can Dorothy’s sense of humor and talent save her and help her find success?
Roundfire Books calls Bad Girl Pie, “a deliciously dark, culinary-infused women’s comedy that’s as sharp as it is satisfying. Packed with rich storytelling, irresistible wit, and real-life recipes woven into the narrative,Bad Girl Pie is a delicious read from start to finish.” Pre-order on Amazon or order independent, Congratulations, Marilyn!
Join entertainment career coach, talent agent consultant and NYWIFT member Jim Arnoff in an immersive, interactive career coaching workshop for one-on-one coaching, group coaching, networking and resourcing to accelerate your entertainment career. Bring all those challenges that are getting in the way of moving forward in your entertainment career to Career Coaching: Recharging and Accelerating Your Entertainment Career on July 17 at 6:30. Whether it’s how to pitch yourself/your projects powerfully, what does it really take to build your truly aligned career step-by-step, how can you craft a compelling biography/emails, how to collaborate effectively, how to nail every meeting or wherever else you need coaching for support. You’ll learn coaching techniques to envision your ideal entertainment career with precision, release those career blocks that have been holding you back and create a powerful action plan to have the entertainment career you deserve.
Join members of other NYC entertainment organizations for networking and resourcing on the 12th floor at 16 Madison Square West (1115 Broadway @ 25th St). Feel free to bring your colleagues in the industry. RSVP at jim@jimarnoff.com.
On July 3, Gifford House – Wilde Playhouse (6 Carver Street Provincetown, MA 02657) welcomes the internationally acclaimed NYWIFT member, lesbian artist, writer, director and producer, Ann P Meredith and a cast of stellar actors for a compelling scripted performance titled Special. An award-winning theatrical stage script, Special swept the Audience Awards at The Fringe Festival and was a breakout hit at the New Work Theatre Festivals’ Broadway Showcase. The performance starts at 4 PM and is free and open to the public. Learn more.
Sunday, June 15, marked a powerful moment of truth for NYWIFT member Caitlin McCarthy, who appeared on 60 Minutes Australia to share her family’s connection to DES (diethylstilbestrol)—a drug whose tragic legacy continues to unfold. Viewers worldwide can tune in to the 60 Minutes Australia YouTube channel (@60MinutesAU) to watch the segment. Watch the preview. Watch the full episode.
Angel screens this Friday, June 20 at 3 PM at Cinema Village (22 E 12th St, NY) as part of the Manhattan Film Festival lineup. Angel is a dark comedy short film exploring the shock of grief, family bonds and an unorthodox path to forgiveness, written nd directed by NYWIFT member Anna Koukouli Born. In the film, two adult children of an alcoholic retired Navy Officer navigate their grief and his funeral preparations by trying to sneak his unfinished last beer into his coffin so he won’t get sober in the afterlife. The film is inspired by real events from Anna’s own experiences during her father’s funeral preparations. It stars Rachael Hip-Flores (Anyone but Me, Liberty Falls), Jarrod Bogan (Masters of Sex, Where the Bears Are) as the adult kids, and Nicole Ansari-Cox (Succession, What a Feeling, Deadwood) as the mother. Get tickets.
Queens World Film Festival is shaking things up with a new format! How To Fest: A Film Festival Reality Check is an industry insight exchange happening Saturday, June 21 at 1 PM that’s part speed dating and part team challenge where every voice in the room is part of the conversation. Join for a dynamic, interactive alternative to the ‘sage from the stage’ panel model with industry conversation leaders that include NYWIFT Board Member Emelyn Stuart, as well as Vernon Williams, Liz Ortiz, Jimena Luna Deshamps, Vagabond Beaumont, Jing Wang and Preston Cato. QWFF will present a highly interactive panel discussion that will feature Queens festival directors and international filmmakers who will answer questions and impart helpful advice on how to create your strongest submission, how to be a great festival participant, and how to remain connected to the festival after your screening. This is a free event with light refreshments. Register.
In her provocative new book, Estranged: How Strained Female Friendships are Mended or Ended (Meridian Editions; April 1, 2025), NYWIFT member Susan Shapiro Barash takes a deep dive into the complexities of female friendships. By peeling back the societal narrative that our friendships are meant to last forever, she uncovers a more nuanced reality: the closest bonds do falter. What happens when these bonds sabotage instead of support? Who among us has the courage to walk away? And how can we protect ourselves from further heartbreak? Susan Shapiro Barash. Through groundbreaking research and 150 interviews with women ranging in age from 20-80, Barash reveals an emerging trend — estrangement among female friends. Congratulations on your release, Susan! Learn more and purchase the book.
NYWIFT Member Mary Murphy will be appearing in The Sun Worshippers, a live radio play produced by the award-winning Fireside Mystery Theatre. Fireside’s Summer Solstice features three terrifying tales of ritual magic, daylight suspense, and sundrenched horror. A retirement community devoted to an ancient practice of sun worship, a solstice ritual to uncover a soulmate, a party of Greek island hoppers who summon a long imprisoned goddess; plus live underscoring, musical guests, and much more! Get tickets.
Created by NYWIFT member Melisa Ramos, Post Production Classes combine her industry expertise and passion for teaching. Postproduction Classes offers personalized, one-on-one training in Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere Pro—customized to fit your project goals and experience level. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine advanced skills, expert instructors provide hands-on guidance in a supportive, creative environment. Classes are available online or at your home, school, or workplace throughout all five boroughs. They also offer dynamic group workshops for individuals and corporate teams, focusing on editing, sound design, and visual effects. With flexible scheduling, tailored instruction, and a strong emphasis on creativity and technical precision, this program helps elevate your media work. Learn more and register.
On June 6, Provincetown Commons welcomes the internationally acclaimed NYWIFT member, lesbian artist, writer, director and producer, Ann P Meredith and a cast of stellar Outer Cape actors for a compelling scripted performance titled Special. An award-winning theatrical stage script, Special swept the Audience Awards at The Fringe Festival and was a breakout hit at the New Work Theatre Festivals’ Broadway Showcase. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more.
NYWIFT member Peggy Kennedy presents her theatrical work, The Beatles: One Fan’s Personal Journey, with music director Bruce Barnes on Monday, June 16 at Don’t Tell Mama (343 W 46th St, New York). Doors open at 6:15 PM. The show starts at 7 PM. There is a $20/2 drink minimum with a food menu available and the venue is cash only. Make reservations.
The Center at West Park presents the one-year anniversary screening of NYWIFT member Lynn Dow‘s Bull Street. Celebrate and see the showing of this very special movie on Thursday June 5 at 7 PM. Join a post-show conversation with writer and director Lynn Dow, producer Wendy Tucker-Tannock and other special guests! Reserve tickets.
NYWIFT member Jessie Fahay invites you to an immersive dance and theatrical event, AI Vs. Humanity: The Experience, happening June 11-15 at Iati Theater (East 64th St). Fahay is the director and choreographer, as well as Artistic Director of Ripple Effect Artists. The event is an electrifying, immersive dance experience where technology and humanity take center stage. Is this ChatGPT speaking, or Deep-Seek? Did you know AI could replace 300 million jobs? Did you know 44% of companies planning to use AI will end up issuing layoffs? Journey through the evolution of information overload with a nod to The Adding Machine and a pulsating soundtrack of Daft Punk! Witness the battle between human intuition and artificial intelligence—who’s really in control? Get your tickets.
NYWIFT member Kathleen O’Neill‘s play Orientation is having its first performance at the Next Step Theatre Festival on Thursday, May 29 at 8 PM. After a harrowing night in the emergency room, four wounded and exhausted women, separated from their children, find themselves in a basement room of a women’s shelter. One battle-scarred woman defies the rules and guides the others to consider deeper truths about their lives. When the authority arrives, will their newfound understanding endure, or will they return to fear? It’s a journey toward reclaiming life. Tickets.
On June 6, Provincetown Commons welcomes the internationally acclaimed NYWIFT member, lesbian artist, writer, director and producer, Ann P Meredith and a cast of stellar Outer Cape actors for a compelling scripted performance titled Special. An award-winning theatrical stage script, Special swept the Audience Awards at The Fringe Festival and was a breakout hit at the New Work Theatre Festivals’ Broadway Showcase. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more.
NYWIFT member Catherine Gund’s film Paint Me a Road Out of Here will screen at the Brooklyn Museum on May 31. Produced and directed by documentarian and activist Catherine Gund, the documentary tracks the ordeal borne by Faith Ringgold’s 1971 painting “For the Women’s House” — originally created for the women incarcerated on Rikers Island, then relegated to mishandling, defacing, and deep storage. Artist and rapper Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, herself formerly incarcerated and commissioned to create a new work for the Rikers women, bands together with Ringgold and others to liberate the original painting from Rikers and, more profoundly, Black women from mass incarceration. The film won the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Feature Film Directing at the 2024 Urbanworld Film Festival. Get tickets.
NYWIFT member Jill Woodward was an additional editor on the biographical series The Judd Family: Truth Be Told, which premiered on Lifetime on May 14. She invites fellow members to tune in to the series following the complex story of the Judd family, including their triumphs and tragedies across several decades, featuring intimate interviews with Judd family members. The Judd Family: Truth Be Told is now available to watch on Amazon Prime. Watch on Prime Video.
NYWIFT member Devi Morgan is in three films (Extradition, Fresh Air and Like Daughter, Like Mother) in Block A at the AMT International Film Festival Short Film Night on May 21. Extradition also stars NYWIFT member Kristin Samuelson. Like Daughter, Like Mother was scored by NYWIFT member Louis Robert King and co-stars NYWIFT member Steve Lichenstein. Get tickets now.
Teatro Maria Teresa in Guadalajara, MX, in partnership with AMT Theater, NYC has invited NYWIFT member Stephanie Trudeau to bring a bilingual production of her musical play, Becoming Chavela, to Guadalajara for a three-week run. As the daughter of a Puerto Rican migrant, Trudeau proudly highlights both Mexican culture and Latina culture in this play about legendary queer Mexican singer, Chavela Vargas. Chavela defied conventions by singing corridos – songs traditionally sung by men. She was audacious in her determination to be heard and be seen; to become an artist. Help Trudeau foster cultural exchange and tell Chavela’s story by giving a tax-deductible donation here. Or mail a check to AMT Theater, 354 West 45th Street, NY, NY 10036. AMT Theater is a 501 (c)(3) tax deductible organization. For more information contact Stephanie at stevietrudeau@msn.com.
