Below are just a few of the most recent accomplishments of our talented members! If you want to join this dynamic community, we hope you will 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.
NYWIFT member Kat Rohrer‘s first narrative feature What a Feeling will be screening in NYC on October 18 at New Fest Film Festival. A feel-good rom-com, What a Feeling explores finding love in middle age and discovering the limits imposed on young women can be shaken off later on. Set in Vienna and involving two non-natives with their own complex backstory, the developing relationship overcomes obstacles as two people find a better version of themselves with each other. Get tickets.
NYWIFT member Eileen Zyko Wolter co-stars in Matters this Saturday, October 12 at 2 PM as part of the lineup at the New York Shorts International Film Festival. The short follows Eugene, a once-extroverted 11-year-old, who enjoyed a vibrant life with numerous friends. However, as the unknown pandemic unfolds, a surge in Asian hate crimes shrouds his world in fear. Eugene and his mom live in constant apprehension, besieged by threats from their neighbors, surrounding community, and the entire city. Get tickets.
Here’s Yianni!, a new feature film written and directed by NYWIFT member Christina Eliopoulos, just released a new trailer. In the film, Plousia (Julia Ormond) is a loving wife who runs a little Jersey Shore diner with her husband Yianni (Joe Cortese). Her strength is tested when Yianni, whose mind and memory is fading, imagines himself to be the host of a late-night TV talk show. With humor, warmth and Plousia’s whimsical inventiveness, the couple faces the greatest challenge of their lives. The film will have its European premiere at Torino Film Festival and screen at Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) and Arpa International Film Festival (AIFF) in Los Angeles. Get tickets to the screening at FLIFF or Arpa. Watch the trailer.
NYWIFT member Janet Hyojo Oh‘s Like Clockwork, which she wrote and produced, will be having its world premiere at the New York Shorts International Film Festival on Saturday, October 12 at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street). Like Clockwork is a contemporary retelling of Alice in Wonderland set against the backdrop of bustling New York City. In the film, grad student Ali grapples with a life-changing job offer and the unexpected union of an old fling. Attend the premiere and get tickets.
Get tix for a screening of NYWIFT member Frances Causey‘s film, Final Fight: When the Trauma of War Comes Home at the Awareness Festival in Los Angeles on October 3. Final Fight explores the impact of combat trauma and military sexual assault within the U.S. Armed Forces. The film takes a deep dive into the devastating effects of Post Traumatic Stress and undiagnosed brain trauma, with both personal stories from a diverse group of veterans and interviews with experts in the field of brain science and military deployment. The film won Best of Show at Impact Docs, Best Documentary Feature at GI Film Festival San Diego and was nominated for Best Documentary at SOHO International Film Festival. At SOHO, Frances also received the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Documentary Directing. Get tickets.
Actress, vegan influencer and NYWIFT member Lucia Grillo invites fellow members to a free screening and US premiere of the documentary Food for Profit, produced by award-winning investigative journalist, Giulia Innocenzi. Food for Profit is the first feature documentary that exposes the links between the meat industry, lobbying and the corridors of power. The documentary denounces how Europe is transferring hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ money into the hands of intensive farms, which mistreat animals, pollute the environment, and pose a potential danger for future pandemics. Attend the free screening on September 27 at the MNN Studios Screening Room (509 W 38th St, New York, NY). Seating is Limited. Kindly RSVP to foodforprofitus@gmail.com
NYWIFT member Claire Read‘s short film Penn F—ing Station, is continuing its theatrical run at Firehouse DCTV theater in Tribeca with a final screening on September 26 at 8:30 PM. About the film: In NYC, the debate over how to fix Penn Station erupts between power brokers and residents. But what’s at stake is not just a transit hub; it’s the future of the city. Get tickets here.
NYWIFT member Mariluz Guerra-Ariza presents Body Stories: Menstrual Cycle in New York City this month! This powerful performance, part of her Body Stories Project, explores women’s deep connection with the menstrual cycle, as guided by indigenous wisdom. Women celebrate the emotional and physical rhythms that make up this beautiful cycle through each stage- menstruation, pre-ovulatory, ovulatory, and pre-menstrual. Celebrate female empowerment, Indigenous art, and storytelling in collaboration with CultureHub, La MaMa, and FABnyc on September 26 at 7 PM. Get location and other details here.
NYWIFT member Kareema Bee was recently nominated for a Rocky Mountain regional Emmy Award. Bee was honored for her work on the short-form content video Unearth Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, featured by Travel + Leisure. Watch the video. Congratulations, Kareema!
NYWIFT Board Member and BRIC General Manager Kuye Youngblood invites fellow NYWIFT members to Empowering Democracy Through Community Media, a #BHeard Town Hall. Community media centers serve as vital spaces where communities can share their stories and perspectives through citizen journalism, advocating for their neighborhoods and promoting inclusivity across diverse cultures. In this #BHeard Town Hall, esteemed panelists will examine the function of community media and how it strengthens and preserves democracy. Join the discussion on September 26 at 6:30 PM. RSVP for free.
School of Visual Arts will host Pitch Your Scripted Television Series to the Industry Experts, a weekly 10-part, online course with entertainment career coach, talent agent consultant and NYWIFT member Jim Arnoff. The course will take place Wednesday nights, 7:30 – 9:30 PM ET – starting September 25. Participants gain amazing access to scripted showrunners, networks, production companies. Learn the ins and outs of pitching, development, what writers’ rooms are really like and how to get into one. You don’t need to be a degree student at SVA and all classes are recorded. Register today
Join NYWIFT member Marilyn Horowitz for a powerful four-part webinar series starting September 25, and create a foundation for lasting achievement. In these sessions, you’ll dive into the importance of self-acknowledgement, goal setting, and identifying and pre-solving problems before beginning your next writing or creative project! Learn more and register here.
NYWIFT member and director Taylor Coriell‘s Thank You, Places will have its world premiere at Soho International Film Fest on September 20 at 5:10 PM. The film will show at the Village East Cinema by Angelika, followed by a live Q&A. Thank You, Places is also an Official Selection for the New Jersey Webfest (screening on September 26), nominated for Outstanding Short, Best Onscreen Chemistry, Best Cinematography, and Best Director. The premise: Grant and Jimmy had a showmance. Unfortunately, the realistic Grant has now dumped Jimmy (the dreamer) before the end of the run. Now they have to make it through a performance without killing each other (or ruining an already terrible play further). Thank You Places is a love letter to theater, queer love, and the jaded and idealistic artists that are always at war inside each of us. Get tickets.
Bull Street will play at Times Square’s AMC Empire 25 from September 20-22, kicking off with a live Q&A with the director, writer and NYWIFT member Lynn Dow, on September 20. Bull Street follows LouEster Sadie Gibbs (played by newcomer Malynda Hale), a 39-year-old small-town personal injury lawyer whose mother died in childbirth. Her grandmother, Mrs. Big-Gal (Loretta Devine), has raised her in their humble family home with love and a rich spiritual tradition. When an entitled Ivy League lawyer questions their ownership of the home and its surrounding land, the stage is set for a clash of privilege against family. Get tickets.
NYWIFT member Claire Read‘s short film Penn F—ing Station, is having its theatrical release at Firehouse DCTV theater in Tribeca on September 23-26. The Firehouse DCTV screenings on Monday, September 23 at 7:30 PM and Wednesday, September 25 at 8 PM will be followed by Q&As with the director. About the film: In NYC, the debate over how to fix Penn Station erupts between power brokers and residents. But what’s at stake is not just a transit hub; it’s the future of the city. Get tickets here.
NYWIFT member Ann P. Meredith was chosen for GO Magazine‘s 100 Women We Love Class of 2024, part of their annual Pride issue. 100 WWL is an homage to the fierce women who make the world a better and more inclusive place for us all. The list includes political figures, artists, athletes, musicians, scholars, entrepreneurs, scientists, motivational speakers, and more. The magazine celebrated Meredith as an artist, writer, director, producer, fine art photographer, and filmmaker who has forged channels for others to be heard for almost 55 years. Congratulations, Ann!
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 Alixx Schottland invites you to the NYC Premiere of LOVE MUSIC SHELTER at Angelika East, as part of the Soho International Film Festival on September 21 at 1:50. Schottland tells the story of a teenage girl and her mother living on the streets and busking for their survival, until a performing arts school gives the talented singer a chance, despite her mother’s fears, alcoholism and past demons. Get tickets.
NYWIFT members Cara D’Adamo and Jenilyn Rodriguez have officially launched Meliora International Film Festival. Meliora is a Latin adjective meaning: to heal, to make better; or to be in the pursuit of better things. Meliora works in partnership with various charities and organizations to promote them along side festival categories. There is a jam packed schedule complete with a welcome party, film screenings, panels and Q&As, as well as an awards ceremony; all taking place in New York City! The Grand Prize: $1,000 for the winner + $1,000 donated to the partnering charity or organization of their choice. There will be awards categories for Best Feature Film, Best Short, Best Documentary, Best Animation and more. Submit your film by the regular deadline on September 10. Learn more and submit today.
NYWIFT Member and past Muse Honoree Sandra Lee’s Blue Ribbon Baking Championship is currently #6 in the US and #5 in Canada on Netflix! In the series, blue ribbon-winning bakers from state fairs across the US face off for the first time in an epic baking showdown to win top honors and $100,000. Watch now on Netflix!
MOM Film Fest, founded by NYWIFT Member and Moms Network Leader Tonya Mollineau, is a nonprofit advocating for moms working in film and television. This year’s annual film festival, MOM Film Fest 5: ‘Through the Years’ takes place online August 23-25 and celebrates a select number of its award-winning and nominated films that all feature a mom in a leadership position on each project. For tickets and more information about their upcoming festival events that include a panel discussion at Lincoln Center and an exclusive workshop facilitated by an Academy Award-nominated producer. Get tickets.
Join Prospect Street Writer’s House for a captivating virtual panel with novelist and screenwriter of the hit Apple TV+ show Palm Royale,Sheri Holman as she explores the art of bridging storytelling between the page and screen. Attend the free virtual panel on September 9 at 7 PM here.
Make Me Famous, the madcap romp through the 1980’s Lower East Side art scene amid the colorful career of painter Edward Brezinski, is showing at Angelika Film Center August 16-21. The documentary features NYWIFT member Pooky Amsterdam and never-before-seen footage of the East Village neighborhood in the 1980s. Immerse yourself in the Downtown bohemian scene that launched the careers of Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Richard Hambleton and David Wojnarowicz and get tickets.
Taught by NYWIFT former board member and experienced producer Alexis Alexanian, the Creative Producing for Film & TV course teaches participants how to shepherd projects all the way from greenlight to distribution. Explore how to attract talent, acquire and develop material, deal with agencies, determine an appropriate budget level, and spend the budget wisely. Learn the producer’s role in interacting with writers, directors, and the creative team in this comprehensive workshop from September 16-20. Register today.
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.
IFC Film Center will host a theatrical release of producer, director and NYWIFT member Amy Nicholson‘s film Happy Campers from August 7-13. The premise: every summer, working-class families enjoy waterfront living in a scrappy trailer park off the coast of Virginia. When the relentless march of capitalism threatens their shabby Shangri-La, the denizens of Inlet View face the inevitable, and reveal the secrets to a rich life. Get tickets today.
NYWIFT member and director Dawn Porter‘s 2022 DOC NYC Centerpiece-awarded documentary, Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net is now available to stream on Amazon Prime. With unfettered access, filmmaker Dawn Porter captures the dramatic journey of the world’s most famous circus act on its way back from the brink. Learn more about the film and director in our interview with Porter at DOC NYC 2022. Watch the film.
