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The NYWIFT Women’s Film Preservation Fund is Accepting Submissions Through May 1
The Women’s Film Preservation Fund (WFPF) of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) call for submissions for its film preservation grants for the 2020 cycle is still open but time is running out. The extended deadline is May 1. Since 1995 the WFPF has been bringing awareness to women’s enormous accomplishment in filmmaking by funding preservation of films made by American women everywhere and films made in the US by women from other countries. To date, we’ve preserved approximately 135 of these American-made films, bringing back into view important lost films and significant but overlooked films from the past, showing that women have been integral to filmmaking since its inception. Learn more about the WFPF.
The WFPF would also like to make sure that Black filmmakers and archives and institutions that hold films by Black women are aware of our grant and invite them to apply for the 2020 grant. They welcome films on issues that resonate with Black Lives Matter, but also on any other subjects, and in any genre. Applicants with films by women from BIPOC communities are especially encouraged to apply. However, they continue to welcome films of any and all genres, by women makers who are from all cultures and backgrounds. See guidelines for the grant and apply now.
Please Apply Now for The Hire Her Back Fund!
Applications for the Hire Her Back Fund are now open to members of NYWIFT, Women in Film LA, and Women in Film & Television Atlanta. Grants will support women whose careers in entertainment were adversely impacted by COVID-19.
We are hopeful that these grants can provide some relief to the women and people of marginalized genders whose careers in the screen industries have suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please, if you need help, apply today.
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.
From the NYWIFT Blog:
The Mole Agent: Highlights from the NYWIFT Goes to the Oscars Q&A with Maite Alberdi, Marcela Santibañez, Julie Goldman by Christina Kiely: The team behind The Mole Agent, Oscar-nominated for Best Documentary, discusses its powerful impact, and how they created a film both so visually stunning and rich with character that The New York Times review believed the film to be partly dramatized. It wasn’t! Continue reading…
On the NYWIFT Podcast:
It’s time for “Have Story, Will Tell” featuring industry experiences sent in from our listeners! Writer Tekisha Walton shares some inspiring words for all screenwriters and Carona Davis-Diop tells us how she decided to make a full length feature film after multiple strangers told her she should adapt her book to the screen. In our Women Crush Wednesdays Spotlight, hear why Latresa Baker is crushing it.
Hosts Kelsey Marsh and Janine McGoldrick discuss the upcoming Oscars, Tribeca Film Fest’s opening night film and recommend Shrill, The Undoing, and Fake Famous.
Nominate a member for the WCW Spotlight and/or share your story or first time experiences with us at communications@nywift.org.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anchor.FM, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Professional Development:
Film Launch is hosting FRAUDCON: A FREE 2-day Summit Illuminating Fraud & Theft in Entertainment. The event is designed to educate content entrepreneurs including filmmakers, actors, producers, and investors on the prevalence of fraud and theft in the film industry, and give them tools to keep from getting conned as they build their careers. The event will run April 24-25. Learn more and register.
Mrs. Flowers Media The Heroine’s Journey Program is open for enrollment. Mrs. Flowers Media holds modules central to story development, personal and feminine embodiment journeying, and internal psycho-spiritual processing. The program intends to support an understanding of the story arc by learning its chapters through themed weekly topic roundtable talks, lectures, and integrative workshops that support a holistic discovering of the student’s own inner unfolding. This program is for women-identifying and non-binary individuals. The program will run May 20-May 26. Learn more and register. For discounted entry to the course select the NYWIFT option on the payment page.
Looking to brush up your skills? See more professional development opportunities.
Events:
Join brunchwork for intimate, interactive, virtual business events. Get real time feedback when asking questions and sharing ideas. Brunchwork’s next event will feature Raine Maida, CPO of S!NG and Rarible Co-Founder Alexander Salnikov. The two will discuss and explore NFTs and the future of crypto. S!NG, is a free app that allows musicians and other content creators to sell their content as NFTs. Rarible is the first tokenized and permission-less NFT Platform. The event will take place April 27. Learn more and RSVP. Enter code NYWIFT30 for a 30% discount.
See more events from our partners!
Screenings and Festivals:
Join our friends at the Queens Drive-In for an unforgettable evening of cinema under the stars! With a goal of bringing film, culture, togetherness, and joy back to the people of Queens, the drive-in will be donating a portion of every ticket sale to non-profit organizations that serve the hardest-hit communities in the borough! Events are currently scheduled through May 16. Upcoming films include Thelma and Louise, Groundhog Day, Gravity and more! See the full lineup of films and purchase tickets. Enter discount code NYWIFT20 for 20% off tickets.
A screening and discussion for There’s Your Ready Girl, a short documentary from NYWIFT member Deborah C. Hoard, is available to watch on YouTube. The 11 minute documentary tells the story of Dorothy Foreman Cotton – a bold, highly effective and important civil rights leader. Throughout her long life she organized, she spoke out, she challenged the status quo, she sang powerful freedom songs. Most importantly, she ran a Citizenship Eduction Program that moved thousands of people from a mindset of “victim” to that of a fully-engaged citizen in the Jim Crow south. She was the only woman on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Executive Staff, yet her contributions have largely gone unrecognized. The documentary and conversation are available to watch through The History Center’s Youtube Channel. Watch now. The Dorothy Cotton Institute, an education and resource center honoring the civil rights pioneer is also accepting donations. Learn more and donate now.
See a full list of screenings and festivals.
Call for Submissions:
The Lift Is accepting submissions for its first ever short film competition. The Lift is an online platform dedicated to promoting the visibility of short films internationally and to create connections between artists, producer, directors, actors, writers, and many others. Winning films will be eligible for cash prizes, and showcased virtually on June 25. The deadline to submit is June 6. Learn more and submit.
The Roy W. Dean Grant 2020 is now open for applications. The Roy W. Dean Grant is awarded to filmmakers with a unique film that makes a contribution to society. It is open to documentaries, features, short films and web series budgeted under $500K. Students are welcome to apply. Created to help independent filmmakers get their films started or completed, grant winners will receive $3,000 cash as well as approximately $28,000 more in film goods and production services. The deadline to apply is June 30. Learn more and apply.
See a full list of submission opportunities.
Crowdfunding:
Creators of the feature film The White Goddess are raising funds to move into the post-production stage. The film tells the story of a solitary writer who takes in an injured man that she finds in the woods somewhere far north and strange things begin to happen.This projects set a completion goal of late spring. ADR (or Additional Dialogue Recording) has been done, the reshoot of a pivotal scene has also been completed. All that stands before the filmmakers is to finish the picture, sound and color edit and have it in a polished state to submit to film festivals and distribution companies. Donate Now.
See more Crowdfunding highlights.
Member Discounts:
WIFT US (national chapter) is offering members a special discount. NYWIFT members will be eligible to receive a 30% discount off IMDB Pro annual dues. IMDB Pro offers frequent production updates, access to contacts & representation for over 300,000 industry professionals, and more! Redeem your discount. Enter code WIFTAFF2021 when prompted.
See all member-to-member discounts here.
Give Back:
Support NYWIFT every time you shop! When you shop with AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to NYWIFT whenever you make a purchase – at no extra charge to you! Click here to set your Amazon account to automatically donate to NYWIFT, and be sure to type in smile.amazon.com whenever you make an Amazon purchase.
Find more opportunities to give back to the community.
Did you know?
- Get the latest from NYWIFT on our social media channels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, 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 Anchor!
- 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? 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.