NYWIFT @ Woodstock Film Festival – “Creative Control: Censorship, Film Audiences and Free Speech”
Throughout history, creators have faced the challenge of industry and government censorship, with authorities attempting to control the narratives and themes presented on screen. Despite these restrictions, many filmmakers have bravely pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, using their work to highlight social and political issues, and advocate for freedom of speech. Storytellers have subverted such restrictions using techniques like metaphor or allegory, contributing to the evolution of the medium and preserving cultural heritage.
This panel co-presented with Woodstock Film Festival, will bring together documentary and narrative filmmakers with industry leaders to discuss the complex interplay between artistic freedom and societal values, in both a historical and contemporary context.
Panelists include Julia Bacha, Melissa Leo, Yoruba Richen, and Kim A. Snyder. Moderated by NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez.
NYWIFT x Hellenic Film Society Co-Present ‘Little England’ at New York Greek Film Expo
Join Hellenic Film Society & NYWIFT as we proudly co-present Little England during New York Greek Film Expo 2025!
In this story of passion, family and loss, two sisters are divided by their love for the same man. The title Little England refers to the island of Andros, where the film takes place, and its success in its rivalry with the mighty shipping industry of England before WWII.
NYWIFT x Hellenic Film Society Co-Present ‘Wishbone’ at New York Greek Film Expo
Join Hellenic Film Society & NYWIFT as we proudly co-present Wishbone during New York Greek Film Expo 2025! Followed by an audience Q&A with Director Penny Panayotopoulou. Moderated by NYWIFT Board member Luchina Fisher.
When his brother dies unexpectedly, a financially strapped hospital security guard is forced to care for his young niece. As expenses pile up and ownership of the house he shares with his mother is threatened, he becomes involved in a medical scam that would have him give false testimony against a dedicated doctor in exchange for money. Theater actor Giannis Karampampas, in his first leading film role, gives a mesmerizing performance and proves himself a screen actor to watch.
NYWIFT 2025 Hamptons Brunch & 21st Annual Short Film Showcase
New York Women in Film & Television is delighted to partner again with the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) (October 3 – 13, 2025) for our Annual Brunch and co-present the Filmmakers Calling the Shots short film showcase – all in celebration of the outstanding achievements by women and nonbinary filmmakers at the festival.
READ MOREThe Business of Adaptations for Film & TV – Fall 2025
Agents, Hollywood producers, and publishers are always searching for the next great story, but not all writers start from scratch. Oftentimes, ideas come from the things we see, read, write and hear. The challenge for many is how to transition these materials from their original form of a book, article, and story into a full-fledged viable screenplay and adaptation material for another medium.
Savvy industry professionals love to leverage their time and efforts by capitalizing on a story that can be adapted into many forms. Learn from this experienced panel about ways to locate common sources for your story or script and the power and pitfalls of working with adaptations for your project.
NYWIFT Masterclass: Comedy Writing
Join NYWIFT for our Masterclass Series: Comedy Writing with Saturday Night Live writers Alison Gates and Emily Spivey.
Step inside the writers' room with two acclaimed Saturday Night Live writers as they share their secrets and skills of crafting sketches that land. Whether you're an aspiring comedian, writer, or just a fan of great comedy, you'll gain insider tips, writing strategies, and plenty of laughs along the way.
2025 NYWIFT Creative Workforce Summit: Creative Sustainability in the Age of AI
Join us for the 2025 NYWIFT Creative Workforce Summit focused on creating sustainable careers for women across the industry, with a spotlight on AI.
We will bring together an audience of emerging and established creators from the filmmaking, journalism, science, and public policy communities, drawing on the experience of a variety of leaders whose work is rooted in supporting arts and culture as a career path. The day will feature keynote addresses by media and cultural thought-leaders and panels of filmmakers, funders, industry stakeholders, and experts in various fields, discussing AI through the lens of art, culture and the shifting nature of creative work.
NYWIFT Member Screening: ‘Sex Work: It’s Just a Job’
Join us for a NYWIFT Member Screening of the documentary SEX WORK: It’s Just a Job by NYWIFT members Tami Kashia Gold and Bienvenida Matias. Followed by a Q&A with NY State Senator Jules Salazar (Chair, Committee on Crime Victims), Assemblymember Soufrant-Forrest (Assembly District 57), and Jared Trujillo (Law & Policy Counsel Equality New York). Moderated by NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez.
Sex Work: It’s Just a Job tells the story of the movement to decriminalize sex work through an ensemble of people who work in the sex trades involving monetary exchange between adults. What sets this film apart is its centering of the voices of sex workers themselves: we hear from a diverse group of New York City workers and learn about their challenges, successes, and the solidarity they bring to their activism.
NYWIFT Summer Soirée: Leveling Up: Girls in Gaming and VR Development
Join NYWIFT at Penthouse45 for our Summer Soiree, highlighting game creators and experts!
The conversation will present new ideas and give insight to what the present and future hold for creators at the intersection of art and technology, followed by a networking reception. Hear about storytelling across mediums, adapting to a fast-paced industry in a constantly shifting cultural landscape, building community online, collaborating with brands and what is next for women bringing their stories to new audiences.
NYWIFT, NYAFF, and AIM Present: The Art & Commerce of Asian American Cinema
Join the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), Asian Americans in Media (AIM) and New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) for a candid conversation on the evolving intersection of artistry and business in independent filmmaking. Speakers include Poh Si Teng, Mynette Louie, and Veronica Reyes-How. Moderated by Thavary Krouch.
READ MORENYWIFT Fiscal Sponsorship Brunch Meeting in Partnership with Flagstar Bank
Join NYWIFT for our first Fiscal Sponsorship Brunch Meeting in partnership with Flagstar Bank! Meet fellow filmmakers in the program and learn about tools designed for film and television production, including Incentiviiz and Conduiit. Speakers include Shawn Hamilton (Founder of Conduiit, Inc.), Peter Marra (Senior Vice President and Group Director, Flagstar Bank), and Easmanie Michel (NYWIFT Director of Artists’ Programs and Finance).
READ MORENYWIFT Co-Presents with NY Indian Film Festival: Conversation with Smriti Mundhra
NYWIFT is proud to co-present with New York Indian Film Festival a conversation with Academy Award nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra. Moderated by NYWIFT Member Sweta Keswani.
READ MORENYWIFT 2025 Annual Member Meeting + Meet the Board Candidates
It’s that time of year again — NYWIFT will soon elect our 2025-2026 Board of Directors! For the occasion, we are holding a special NYWIFT Annual Member Meeting where members can meet the candidates.
Enjoy lite bites and cocktails at Manhattan Neighborhood Network!
Then, you will have the opportunity to hear brief remarks from board candidates, ask questions, and mix & mingle. The candidates will be announced soon.
All NYWIFT members – and future members! – are welcome and encouraged to attend to mix, mingle and get to know our dynamic and talented members and leaders in an informal setting. We hope to see you there.
NYWIFT Member Screening: Brooklyn, Minnesota
Join us for a NYWIFT Member Screening of the narrative feature Brooklyn, Minnesota, followed by a Q&A with Jessica Blank & Erik Jensen (Co-Writers & Directors), Sadie Jensen-Blank (Actor), Michael Cuomo (Producer), and Lillian LaSalle (Producer). Moderated by Rebecca Eskreis.
READ MOREBehind the Lens: NYWIFT Filmmakers in Focus at Tribeca
Join NYWIFT in partnership with Kaufman Astoria Studios and NYC Mayor's Office in Media and Entertainment (MOME) for a lively conversation at Kaufman Astoria Studios showcasing the work of NYWIFT Members heading to Tribeca Festival 2025. Featuring 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), and Marcella Steingart (Producer, Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything). Moderated by NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez.
READ MORENYWIFT Co-Presents ‘Lilly’ Premiere Screening/Q&A
Join NYWIFT on May 9, 2025 for the Theatrical Premiere of LILLY at Quad Cinema followed by conversation with writer/director Rachel Feldman, producer Allyn Stewart, and NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez.
READ MOREThe Business of Adaptations for Film & TV – Spring 2025
Join us May 20, 2025 for the Spring 2025 session of NYWIFT's Business of Adaptation. Learn from experienced panelists about ways to locate common sources for your story or script and the power and pitfalls of working with adaptations for your project. Hosted by Jennifer Wilkov.
READ MORENYWIFT Co-Presents with Film Forum Screening/Q&A of ‘April’
NYWIFT is proud to co-present with Film Forum an in-person screening of April followed by a conversation with director Dea Kulumbegashvili.
Under the deep blue, portentous sky of the rugged Georgian countryside, Nina, an OB/GYN with both heroic and dark impulses, faces malpractice charges brought by an aggressive husband whose child died during delivery. Meanwhile, it is an open secret that she provides illegal abortions to village women.
Dea Kulumbegashvili’s sophomore work plumbs the outer limits of feminist empathy and the stark realities of patriarchal control of women’s bodies in a modern-day medical system.
