NYWIFT Blog

NYWIFT Co-Presents “Brave New Worlds: Women in Sci-Fi” at Lake Placid Film Festival

Modern science fiction is about a whole lot more than little green men. From Star Trek to Arrival, science fiction world-building allows artists to explore political and cultural issues, and build idealized, equitable societies. Join us as we talk with a diverse group of indie content creators paving the way in genre filmmaking.

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) and Upstate Women in Film & Television (UPWIFT) are proud to co-present this panel at the Lake Placid Film Festival. 

NYWIFT Co-Presents “Women in Film Night” at Montauk Film Festival

Join NYWIFT in Montauk for a night dedicated to Women in Film! We'll open the evening with networking, followed by a panel moderated by NYWIFT Executive Director Cynthia Lopez, and a screening of films by women filmmakers. 

THE DOWNLOAD: CREATING SAFE SETS

On Thurs. May 26th at 4:30 PM PT | 7:30 PM ET, join us for another edition of The Download - a special VIRTUAL guest conversation series featuring impactful filmmakers who provide insider knowledge to help Black creatives make their work. This edition will be held in partnership with NYWIFT (New York Women In Film & TV) and features a discussion centered on mental & physical health, wellness, and advocacy on sets. Get ready to take your production to the next level and create a SAFER SET!

The Business of Adaptations for Film and TV – Spring 2022

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 of agents, attorneys, managers, producers, and writers about ways to locate common sources for your story or script and the power and pitfalls of working with adaptations for your project.

NDI & NYWIFT Present: Representation Matters for Climate Justice

Join the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and NYWIFT for this incredible panel that will focus on addressing the power imbalances and gender gap in politics and the media caused by excluding and biased representation. These often male-dominated mechanisms - e.g. media production hiring practices and party candidate selection committees - mean that women are shut out of the storytelling and policymaking processes, therefore they are not in control of their own narrative and empowerment.

A globally representative panel of political leaders, media experts and producers will be asked to discuss why representation matters, and provide examples of initiatives across the media and politics which promote a more diverse and intersectional environment. Speakers include Lydia Dean Pilcher (Film Producer & Co-Founder PGA Green), Rachel Lears (Jubilee Films), Emily Wanja (Impact Producer), and Mwanahamisi Singano (Women's Environment and Development Organization).

The Business of Adaptations for Film and TV – Fall 2021

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 of agents, attorneys, managers, producers, and writers about ways to locate common sources for your story or script and the power and pitfalls of working with adaptations for your project.

NYWIFT Industry Screening + Q&A: ‘Holler’

Hoping to pay for college, a determined young woman lands a dangerous job working in a scrap metal yard during a brutal winter. With her goal in sight, she soon finds herself torn between a promising future and the family she would leave behind.

Join NYWIFT for a screening of Holler followed by a Q&A with Writer / Director, Nicole Riegel. Moderated by NYWIFT Board Member, Joyce Pierpoline.

NYWIFT Industry Screening: ‘Julia Scotti: Funny That Way’ Screening + Q&A

Decades ago, Julia Scotti performed as Rick Scotti, and appeared on bills with Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. Now, the trans comedian returns to the stage as “the crazy old lady of comedy,” in this tender, funny, and triumphant comeback story.

Join NYWIFT for a screening of Julia Scotti: Funny That Way followed by a Q&A with Director & Producer, Susan Sandler and Comedian, Julia Scotti. Moderated by Tracy E. Gilchrist, Editor in chief of The Advocate 

NYWIFT Industry Screening: ‘In the Same Breath’ Screening + Q&A

Join NYWIFT for a screening of In the Same Breath followed by a Q&A with Nanfu Wang (Director, Producer), NYWIFT Member Carolyn Hepburn (Producer), Jialing Zhang (Producer), Julie Goldman (Producer), and Christopher Clements (Producer).

In the Same Breath recounts the origin and spread of the novel coronavirus from the earliest days of the outbreak in Wuhan to it s rampage across the United States. In a deeply personal approach, Wang, who was born in China and now lives in the United States, explores the parallel campaigns of misinformation waged by leadership and the devastating impact on citizens of both countries.

The Business of Adaptations for Film and TV – Spring 2021

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 of agents, attorneys, managers, producers, and writers about ways to locate common sources for your story or script and the power and pitfalls of working with adaptations for your project.

NYWIFT Talks: NYWIFT Goes to the Oscars: ‘Feeling Through’

Join NYWIFT for a screening of the Academy Award Nominee for Best Narrative Short, Feeling Through. Followed by a Q&A with 1st Assistant Director and NYWIFT Member, Catriona Rubenis-Stevens.

Feeling Through, the first film to star a DeafBlind actor, is a coming of age story that follows Tereek, a teen wandering the streets of New York, desperate for a place to crash when he encounters Artie, a DeafBlind man in need of help getting home. From an awkward meeting between strangers emerges an intimate bond, and a journey that forever changes Tereek.

NYWIFT Talks: ReelAbilities Film Festival

On this week's NYWIFT Talks with ReelAbilities Director and Co-Founder Isaac Zablocki, Michele Spitz(Woman of Her Word), and Lisa Denker (filmmaker), we discuss the changes that ReelAbilities has instituted for the Disabled Community and what progress still needs to be made. We explore the ways movie theaters need to re-structure to accommodate ADA laws, how filmmakers are paving their way to Hollywood with their original stories, and what Reel Abilities offers for disabled filmmakers.

This conversation will be moderated by Executive Director at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Rachel Byrne.

NYWIFT Talks: COVID-19 Compliance

On this week's NYWIFT Talks, we will discuss how COVID-19 has affected production life and the best practices for preparing for the on-set challenges COVID-19 presents.

Speakers include Producer Blair Breard. Moderated by NYWIFT Board Member Maria Miles.

Virtual Theatrical Experience: 2021 S.W.A.N. (Support Women Artists Now) Day Screening – ‘Farewell Amor’

Join NYWIFT, SAG-AFTRA, FF2 Media, Women in the Arts & Media Coalition (WAMC), HerFlix, In Creative Company, Gotham and African-American Women in Cinema (AAWIC) for a screening of Farewell Amor in recognition of S.W.A.N. (Support Women Artists Now) Day, an annual event on the last Saturday of March that celebrates women artists. Followed by a Q&A with writer/director, NYWIFT Member Ekwa Msangi. Moderated by NYWIFT Board President Jamie Zelermyer.

Fierce Women Podcasters Panel

Fierce Women Podcasters: A conversation with several women filmmakers of color and podcasters discussing emerging Afro-Latino voices in the United States who are working to create more visibility for their communities and experiences. In conversation with Rocio Mendez, Mercedes Illarraza, Grasie Mercedes, Ona Oghogho, Sola Adenekan, and Julissa Contreras. 

NYWIFT Talks: The Writers Lab 2021

Join us for a conversation with the co-founders of The Writers Lab, Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon to discuss the 7th anniversary of the program, upcoming deadlines, lessons learned from women script writers over 40 and new and exciting opportunities. Moderated by NYWIFT Board President, Jamie Zelermyer.

NYWIFT Talks Wellness in COVID 2.0

NYWIFT sits down with leading experts in physical and emotional health to discuss what we can do to continue to heal ourselves as this pandemic lockdown falls into its one year anniversary. We’ll be discussing ways to help people heal, thrive, and nourish their souls.

The conversation will include Professional Athlete and Yoga Instructor Zachy Christodoulou and a life coach to be announced. After the discussion, a yogi from PureFlo Yoga will be leading a 60 minute Power Flow Yoga Session.

FGI & NYWIFT Present Fashion & The First Ladies Panel

As we celebrate Women's History Month, join us to discuss the iconic looks from our First Ladies of government in a candid conversation about how our First Ladies are fashion trend setters. Meet our experts to discuss how fashion plays a role and communicates in history, politics and contributes to the making or breaking of public policy.

Featuring Carson Poplin, Fernando Garcia (Co-Director of Oscar De La Renta) and Valerie Steele (Director and Chief Curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology).

Moderated by Senior Critic at Large at The Washington Post, Robin Givhan.