NYWIFT Announces 16 Projects from Members Selected for the 2025 Tribeca Festival

NEW YORK WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION ANNOUNCES 16 PROJECTS FROM MEMBERS SELECTED FOR THE 2025 TRIBECA FESTIVAL  

The organization will spotlight members at the festival in a panel conversation and networking reception on May 29^th

 

 

NEW YORK, NY – May 21, 2025 – New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is pleased to announce that 16 projects from 16 members have been officially selected for the 2024 Tribeca Festival. The festival takes place June 5-15, 2025, both virtually and in-person in New York City.

The 16 projects span 10 categories and feature members of the NYWIFT community as directors, producers, executive producers, archival producers, screenwriters, editors, actors, casting directors, production managers, and more. Among the varied range of selections are a sci-fi narrative podcast, two documentaries spotlighting the transgender community, an indie comedy series about a kidney transplant, a queer zombie horror film, an exploration of NYC skateboarding culture, and the star-studded opening night film, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, directed and produced by NYWIFT Member Susan Lacy – to name just a few.

This wildly imaginative selection of projects from members working across the board of media industry roles demonstrates the vitality of NYWIFT’s creative community. NYWIFT is currently running its Spring Membership Drive, offering a discount on membership as it encourages industry professionals to support the organization’s mission of advancing women in media while taking advantage of exclusive networking, professional development, marketing, and thought leadership opportunities.

“Congratulations to the 16 NYWIFT members with projects at Tribeca! We are so proud to see so many creatives in our community recognized on this prestigious platform. Each project has its own unique perspective, expanding our hearts and enriching our minds. It’s no surprise to see so many thoughtful, intelligent, impactful projects born out of the NYWIFT community,” said NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez.

NYWIFT will spotlight some of its members headed to Tribeca at the “Behind the Lens: NYWIFT Filmmakers in Focus at Tribeca” panel conversation, presented in partnership with Kaufman Astoria Studios and The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment (MOME) at Kaufman Astoria Studios (34-12 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106) at 6:30 PM on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Networking reception to follow. Featured speakers will include Lois Drabkin (Co-Producer & Casting Director, Ride or Die), Susan Lacy (Director & Producer, Billy Joel: And So It Goes), Chantel Simpson (Director, A Drastic Tale), Marcella Steingart (Producer, Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything), NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez (Moderator), and MOME Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman (Welcome Remarks).

“Our office has a long-standing relationship with the Tribeca  Festival, as we share a common mission to foster diverse voices in the creative industries, and we are proud to continue that support with the ‘Behind the Lens: NYWIFT Filmmakers in Focus at Tribeca’ panel conversation on May 29,” said Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Pat Swinney Kaufman. “In partnership with NYWIFT, this event will be a memorable celebration of the 16 women with projects in this year’s festival, and the City of NY that serves as inspiration, backdrop and home to so many of them.”

NYWIFT Board Member Gretchen McGowan is Executive Producer of The Best You Can, which will make its world premiere in the Spotlight Narrative category. The film features 2023 NYWIFT Muse Honoree Kyra Sedgwick. For the first time in 20 years, Sedgwick and husband Kevin Bacon return together on screen — this time as two halves of an unlikely friendship between a security guard and a urologist whose chance encounter blooms into something deeper. 

“When Victoria Hill and Andrew Mann brought Michael Weithorn’s script to us, I thought: we’re all ready for Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon to appear on the screen together again. This is something the world could use right about now,” said Gretchen McGowan.

The full listing of NYWIFT member projects by category includes:

 

Gala:

Billy Joel: And So It Goes (Director and Producer Susan Lacy)

 

Spotlight+:

State of Firsts (Executive Producer Ruth Ann Harnisch)

We are Pat (Executive Producer Ruth Ann Harnisch)

 

Spotlight Narrative:

The Best You Can (Executive Producer Gretchen McGowan)

 

Spotlight Documentary:

Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything (Producer Marcella Steingart)

Empire Skate (Producer Carolyn Hepburn)

The Inquisitor (Producer Trevite Willis)

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (Executive Producer Ruth Ann Harnisch)

 

U.S. Narrative Competition:

Ride or Die (Co-Producer and Casting Director Lois Drabkin)

 

Documentary Competition:

For Venida, For Kalief (Archival Producer Mattie Akers)

Maintenance Artist (Director, Producer, and Screenwriter Toby Perl Freilich)

 

Escape from Tribeca:

Queens of the Dead (Background Actor Eileen A. Zyko Wolter)

 

Shorts:

A Drastic Tale (Director, Producer, Screenwriter, and Editor Chantel Simpson)

Fire at Will (Production Manager Beatriz Barbieri)

 

Podcast Official Selections:

Last Resort (Director and Producer Melanie Armer, and Cast Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen)

 

Indie Episodic (NOW):

Mother, May I Have a Kidney? (Project Creator, Screenwriter, and Executive Producer Veronica Reyes-How)

 

Learn more about the projects at https://www.nywift.org/nywift-tribeca-2025/

 

To become a NYWIFT member during the Spring Membership Drive, go to www.nywift.org/join.

 

Register for the May 29 “Behind the Lens: NYWIFT Filmmakers in Focus at Tribeca” event at https://www.nywift.org/event/behind-the-lens-nywift-filmmakers-in-focus-at-tribeca/.

 

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Project Images:

LINK TO DOWNLOAD

 

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About New York Women in Film & Television:

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) works in collaboration with the moving image industry and supports women at every stage of their careers. NYWIFT energizes filmmakers by illuminating their achievements, presenting training and professional development programs, awarding scholarships and grants, and providing access to a supportive community of peers. NYWIFT is part of a network of more than 60 women in film organizations worldwide, representing more than 15,000 members. NYWIFT produces over 50 innovative programs and special events annually, including the Muse Awards for Vision and Achievement, which honors women in front of and behind the camera; NYWIFT Masterclass Series of multi-part virtual courses taught by renowned industry experts; the Finance Institute, connecting filmmakers and funders to discuss the latest opportunities for support; and the Creative Workforce Initiative, which includes an annual Summit, publication, and screening series. 

More information can be found online at: www.NYWIFT.org.

Follow on all social media platforms @NYWIFT. 

 

About the NYWIFT Member Projects:

Loglines of NYWIFT Member Tribeca Festival projects, presented by category:

 

GALA:

Billy Joel: And So It Goes (Director and Producer Susan Lacy): This documentary weaves rare, never-before-seen archival footage with candid, soul-baring interviews to chart Billy Joel’s meteoric rise—from humble Long Island roots to international superstardom.

https://www.tribecafilm.com/films/opening-night-billy-joel-and-so-it-goes-2025

 

SPOTLIGHT+:

State of Firsts (Executive Producer Ruth Ann Harnisch): This documentary follows Sarah McBride, the first transgender person ever to be elected to Congress during this time of heated and seemingly incessant political opposition to the transgender community.

https://tribecafilm.com/films/state-of-firsts-2025

We are Pat (Executive Producer Ruth Ann Harnisch): 35 years after the first “It’s Pat” sketch debuted on SNL, Tribeca alum filmmaker Haber and a who’s who of queer and trans comedians and writers (including Julia Sweeney herself) come together to confront the existence of Pat.

https://tribecafilm.com/films/we-are-pat-2025

 

SPOTLIGHT NARRATIVE:

The Best You Can (Executive Producer Gretchen McGowan): Stan Olszewski, a security guard foils a home robbery attempt at Cynthia Rand’s residence. A charged friendship develops starting with late-night humorous texts. Their deepening bond shakes up both their lives.

https://tribecafilm.com/films/best-you-can-2025

 

SPOTLIGHT DOCUMENTARY:

Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything (Producer Marcella Steingart): Exploring the pioneering career of Barbara Walters, this documentary delves into her influential role in broadcast journalism, shedding light on sexism, ambition, and the challenges women face in achieving success. https://tribecafilm.com/films/barbara-walters-tell-me-everything-2025

Empire Skate (Producer Carolyn Hepburn): Empire Skate chronicles the colorful rise and enduring influence of New York skateboarding culture in the 1990s, through the global phenomenon of Supreme and intimate portraits of the skaters who breathed life into that world. https://tribecafilm.com/films/empire-skate-2025

The Inquisitor (Producer Trevite Willis): The Inquisitor highlights the legacy of Barbara Jordan, unraveling how her public influence shaped U.S. politics, while exploring the complexities of her hidden personal identity. https://tribecafilm.com/films/inquisitor-2025

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (Executive Producer Ruth Ann Harnisch): Marlee Matlin, the first deaf actor to win an Academy Award, looks back on her remarkable life, career, and the complexities of being the “first.” https://tribecafilm.com/films/marlee-matlin-not-alone-anymore-2025

 

U.S. NARRATIVE COMPETITION:

Ride or Die (Co-Producer and Casting Director Lois Drabkin): A casual reunion with her high school crush has unforeseen consequences when two young women embark on a high-stakes road trip with an uncertain destination. https://www.tribecafilm.com/films/ride-or-die-2025

 

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION:

For Venida, For Kalief (Archival Producer Mattie Akers): Kalief Browder and his mother Venida’s lives are upended by systemic injustice. Her poetry weaves through their story, told via archives and activism, showcasing their lasting impact on community and society. https://tribecafilm.com/films/for-venida-for-kalief-2025

Maintenance Artist (Director, Producer, and Screenwriter Toby Perl Freilich): NYC’s first Sanitation Department artist-in-residence, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, blends art with waste management in Maintenance Artist, exploring her groundbreaking public art career. https://www.tribecafilm.com/films/maintenance-artist-2025

 

ESCAPE FROM TRIBECA:
Queens of the Dead (Background Actor Eileen A. Zyko Wolter): The stage is set for a wild night inside a Brooklyn warehouse party boasting drag queens, a fully stocked bar and loud music. The evening’s problem: a sudden onslaught of flesh-eating zombies. 
https://tribecafilm.com/films/queens-of-the-dead-2025

 

SHORTS:
A Drastic Tale (Director, Producer, Screenwriter, and Editor Chantel Simpson): This short explores the deep, unwavering brotherhood between members of Drastic Auto Club, one of the oldest lowrider clubs formed in New York City. https://tribecafilm.com/films/drastic-tale-2025

Fire at Will (Production Manager Beatriz Barbieri): When parents gather their four adult children over dinner to solidify their will, the children’s self-absorbed agendas send the conversation careening into chaos, leading to a desperate battle of wills. https://tribecafilm.com/films/fire-at-will-2025

 

PODCAST OFFICIAL SELECTIONS:
Last Resort (Director and Producer Melanie Armer, and Cast Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen): Last Resort follows Nikki Delgado and five other guests of a remote island resort called Ichos. Nikki, a fashion influencer whose career is in jeopardy after dissing a fan, must harness her inner rage when she uncovers her hosts’ dark secret: They’ve accessed a strange signal from deep space and are using Nikki and the others as guinea pigs to test its powers. https://tribecafilm.com/films/last-resort-2025

 

INDIE EPISODIC (NOW):
Mother, May I Have a Kidney? (Project Creator, Screenwriter, and Executive Producer Veronica Reyes-How): When Doug learns he’s in need of a kidney transplant and the perfect match is his estranged mother, he’s forced to embark on a journey towards reconciliation with his family. https://tribecafilm.com/films/mother-may-i-have-a-kidney-2025

 

 

 

Press Inquiries:

 

Katie Chambers

Senior Director of Community & Public Relations

New York Women in Film & Television

kchambers@nywift.org

(212) 679 – 0870