On Thursday, January 16th, the short film Feeling Through, by Doug Roland, hosted a live accessible Q&A with Roland, the stars of the film, the CEO of Hellen Keller Services, and the executive producers, via YouTube.
On Monday, January 11th The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) hosted the 30th annual Gotham Awards, via an online ceremony, to honor the filmmaking community, and pay special tribute to Viola Davis, Ryan Murphy, Steve McQueen, and Chadwick Boseman.
On Monday, December 21st, Universal Pictures hosted a virtual screening of Paul Greengrass’s latest film News Of The World, followed by a Conversation with Greengrass and actress Helena Zengel.
The 118-minute film stars Academy Award winner Tom Hanks alongside rising actress Helena Zengel. News Of The World is based on Paulette Jiles’ best-selling novel of the same name. Greengrass directed the film and co-wrote it with acclaimed screenwriter Luke Davies.
The film is set five years after the end of the Civil War and follows Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Hanks) as he travels from town to town sharing the news of presidents, feuds, disasters, and adventures with anyone with ten cents and a desire to listen.
When Kidd is traveling through Texas en route to the next town he will speak to, he discovers a 10-year old girl named Johanna (Zengel) who had been taken by the Kiowa people and raised as one of their own. Kidd takes it upon himself to return Johanna to where the law tells him to while facing many challenges along the way.
After the screening of the film, Thelma Adams, a historical fiction novelist and film critic, moderated a conversation between Greengrass and Zengel. The trio spoke about the inspiration behind the film, how to make sense of it during this time, and the impact it has had on Zengel’s life.
She kicked off the conversation by asking how making this movie has changed Zengel’s life and her view of the world. “It’s changed me in lots of ways. First of all, it was the start of a hopefully great career. Also, having that chance to play with Tom Hanks, and also being in America—it was my first time there. It was just a dream and I think I am so lucky that I was able to do that. Also, I think shooting with the Native Americans changed me in some ways because now I know so much more than I did before. Also, it was really interesting to hear their story because there are many stories you can tell about what happened in that time,” Zengel said.
Adams then brought up how the news has evolved since the time in which this movie takes place. She mentioned that every single town had its own newspaper during that era and that now we don’t have the level of newspapers and news writers in America that we did back in 1870. Greengrass replied, “We are the storytelling animal. Storytelling is so important. The shared experience of stories are important whether they’re newspapers or books or novels or movies or just sitting in a bar or a cafe or at home in the family.” He then went on to say that storytelling is currently under profound attack for two reasons. “First of all, it’s under attack in the political sphere in our cultural sphere. Where forces want to substitute truth for lies and lies for truth… That strikes at the heart of the collective experience of storytelling and it aims to divide us rather than connect us” he said. Greengrass stated that the second problem is that COVID has destroyed the collective experience of storytelling but that he is hopeful that it will return soon and that he is proud to have told a movie with a lonely wandering newsreader at its heart.
Greengrass also spoke about his inspiration behind creating the film and the message he hoped to impart to its viewers. He said he wanted to find the road out of all of the chaos the world is currently battling and to show what the pathway to healing looks like. Greengrass said that “You find it through individual journeys. Each of these two characters—they’re both lost for different reasons. Physically, emotionally, in all ways they have nowhere to belong and they have to find their way. And they end up finding their way together of course as all great stories would have it so. There is a truth in that we’re going to get through this period through technology and kindness.”
For the final question, Adams asked Zengel what she wants to do next following the release of this film. Zengel replied “I for sure want to stay an actress…and I hope that this pandemic is going to be fixed soon. Also, I want to do new movies and hope that I am going to get new roles and good roles.”
News Of The World will be available in theaters on December 25th.
On Thursday, December 17th, New York Women in Film & Television hosted the 41st Muse Awards, via an online ceremony, to honor Rachel Brosnahan, Rashida Jones, Jodi Kantor & Megan Twohey, Alana Mayo, Ali Stroker, Awkwafina and Gina Prince-Bythewood for their outstanding achievement in the media.
New York Women in Film & Television is an organization that was founded to help women advance their careers in television, film, and other media formats. The theme for this year’s annual Muse Awards was “Art & Advocacy” because NYWIFT wanted to acknowledge the contributions of the creative community in creating positive social change.
The Muse Awards began with a video featuring all sorts of women from the media talking about the importance of women in this industry and the impact they have on the world. Following the video, the president of NYWIFT Jamie Zelermyer spoke to acknowledge the pandemic and how it has changed the way NYWIFT operates. She said, “Through NYWIFT’s grant programs, the new NYWIFT Talk Series, and The Women Who Dared Documentary series we are seeing many impactful films that are helping to change the narrative, lift up underrepresented communities and push us to think beyond our own experience.”
Actress, comedian, and CBS Morning News contributor Nancy Jiles hosted the event and gave an introduction to the awards show. “For forty years NYWIFT has honored women who are our muses. Like the ancient Greek goddess, they are our source of inspiration, our guiding spirits and we are celebrating an especially talented group of powerhouses today” she said.
The first honoree of the day was the president of Orion Pictures Alana Mayo. Mayo works in development, acquisitions, physical, and post-production for films that are dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices in front of and behind the camera. She has worked on films such as Selma, Just Mercy and A Quiet Place. In discussing her career Mayo stressed the importance of seeing her image represented on the screen when she was younger, as well as, how paramount it was that she saw women that looked like her doing the job that she wanted to do. She said, “There are so many incredible artists from so many different experiences and identities that have told beautiful stories that have meant so much to audiences. At this point, we need to start to understand the value of having people in positions of decision making to get to say yes to more diversity inside of storytelling.”
The next two honorees were journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey who broke the story of Harvey Weinstein’s decades of sexual abuse allegations. Their work has helped to ignite the #MeToo movement and create a safer world for women everywhere. Kantor said “On this particular investigation the sources did in a funny way become muses. When you have sources that brave they do become your muses because you say ‘I have to find an accurate and trustworthy way to get this story told. We can not let these people down.” Twohey explained what it was like working on the case and the hurdles they had to overcome going up against Weinstein, before expressing her gratitude. She said, “Jodi and I, in the process of breaking the Weinstein story and going on to cover the evolution of the #MeToo movement, have encountered so many incredibly inspiring women and the other honorees within this award are no exception.”
Following Kantor and Twohey’s presentation, Jiles introduced Ali Stroker. Stroker received the Loreen Arbus Changemaker Award for her history-making career as the first wheelchair user to be nominated for and win a Tony for her role in Oklahoma in 2019. She was also the first actor in a wheelchair to ever appear on Broadway in 2015. Stroker has been a co-chair of Women Who Care which supports United Cerebral Palsy of New York City and is a founder of the anti-bullying campaign Be More Heroic. While receiving her award Stroker said, “We have so much power as storytellers to not only represent people’s stories but to change the narrative as well and I am really excited to be part of changing things and finally creating more representation for the disabled community.”
NYWIFT honed Rashida Jones who is an actress, writer, producer, and director. She is known for her work on many critically acclaimed comedies, produced the Emmy-nominated documentary Hot Girls Wanted and has most recently started a podcast with Bill Gates. Jones discusses the importance of artists using their voices to create change. She said “I feel like we have this very rich history of artists being the gateway to advocacy and to bringing issues to light that are concerning the world. Jones also said she looks forward to a day where women no longer have to be referred to as women in film but can just be people in film.
Award-winning director Gina Prince-Bythewood was presented with the Nancy Malone Directing Award for her outstanding work in film and television. Prince-Bythewood has directed many influential films such as Love and Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees and Beyond the Lights. She talked about how her whole career has been focused on putting black women in their own stories on the screen in an authentic way. Prince-Bythewood said “I want more women who look like me making these films. I feel like I’ve been the only one in so many rooms—too many rooms. So It’s my job absolutely once I get through the door to block the door open and pull others through it.”
Next, Jiles introduced Emmy award-winning actress and producer Rachel Brosnahan. Brosnahan currently stars in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and recently signed a deal with Amazon Studios to produce her own television series. She spoke about how important other women were in getting her to where she is today. She specifically mentions a former acting teacher named Carole Dibo who became one of her biggest mentors and closest friends. Brosnahan explained that what motivated her to work in production was a desire to tell more complex stories about women. “I was feeling really frustrated by the kinds of roles that were being presented to me. Almost every script I was reading somehow centered around my uterus” she said. “I wasn’t seeing stories about the kinds of women that I know and love in my life who are ambitious and sometimes loud and messy and it has nothing to do with their child-bearing capabilities.”
The final award recipient of the night was Nora Lum, otherwise known as Awkwafina. The Queens native received the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment Made in New York Award. She was born and raised in New York City and currently stars in the Comedy Central show Awkwafina is Nora From Queens that she created. Awkwafina is also known for her work in Crazy Rich Asians, Ocean’s 8 and The Farewell. She said “New York is a part of my history, my roots, and my culture… It is in every fiber of my being.” She spoke about how she was inspired by the movies and televisions series she saw shooting around the city when she was younger. “I grew up in a city where there were constantly things happening. There was art all around you being thrust upon you. There was always something And so to have been years later been given the honor to shoot my show in the city where I am from is something that is beyond believable” she said.
On Thursday, December 17th, New York Women in Film & Television hosted the 41st Muse Awards, via an online ceremony, to honor Rachel Brosnahan, Rashida Jones, Jodi Kantor & Megan Twohey, Alana Mayo, Ali Stroker, Awkwafina and Gina Prince-Bythewood for their outstanding achievement in the media.
New York Women in Film & Television is an organization that was founded to help women advance their careers in television, film, and other media formats. The theme for this year’s annual Muse Awards was “Art & Advocacy” because NYWIFT wanted to acknowledge the contributions of the creative community in creating positive social change.
The Muse Awards began with a video featuring all sorts of women from the media talking about the importance of women in this industry and the impact they have on the world. Following the video, the president of NYWIFT Jamie Zelermyer spoke to acknowledge the pandemic and how it has changed the way NYWIFT operates. She said, “Through NYWIFT’s grant programs, the new NYWIFT Talk Series, and The Women Who Dared Documentary series we are seeing many impactful films that are helping to change the narrative, lift up underrepresented communities and push us to think beyond our own experience.”
Actress, comedian, and CBS Morning News contributor Nancy Jiles hosted the event and gave an introduction to the awards show. “For forty years NYWIFT has honored women who are our muses. Like the ancient Greek goddess, they are our source of inspiration, our guiding spirits and we are celebrating an especially talented group of powerhouses today” she said.
The first honoree of the day was the president of Orion Pictures Alana Mayo. Mayo works in development, acquisitions, physical, and post-production for films that are dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices in front of and behind the camera. She has worked on films such as Selma, Just Mercy and A Quiet Place. In discussing her career Mayo stressed the importance of seeing her image represented on the screen when she was younger, as well as, how paramount it was that she saw women that looked like her doing the job that she wanted to do. She said, “There are so many incredible artists from so many different experiences and identities that have told beautiful stories that have meant so much to audiences. At this point, we need to start to understand the value of having people in positions of decision making to get to say yes to more diversity inside of storytelling.”
The next two honorees were journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey who broke the story of Harvey Weinstein’s decades of sexual abuse allegations. Their work has helped to ignite the #MeToo movement and create a safer world for women everywhere. Kantor said “On this particular investigation the sources did in a funny way become muses. When you have sources that brave they do become your muses because you say ‘I have to find an accurate and trustworthy way to get this story told. We can not let these people down.” Twohey explained what it was like working on the case and the hurdles they had to overcome going up against Weinstein, before expressing her gratitude. She said, “Jodi and I, in the process of breaking the Weinstein story and going on to cover the evolution of the #MeToo movement, have encountered so many incredibly inspiring women and the other honorees within this award are no exception.”
Following Kantor and Twohey’s presentation, Jiles introduced Ali Stroker. Stroker received the Loreen Arbus Changemaker Award for her history-making career as the first wheelchair user to be nominated for and win a Tony for her role in Oklahoma in 2019. She was also the first actor in a wheelchair to ever appear on Broadway in 2015. Stroker has been a co-chair of Women Who Care which supports United Cerebral Palsy of New York City and is a founder of the anti-bullying campaign Be More Heroic. While receiving her award Stroker said, “We have so much power as storytellers to not only represent people’s stories but to change the narrative as well and I am really excited to be part of changing things and finally creating more representation for the disabled community.”
NYWIFT honed Rashida Jones who is an actress, writer, producer, and director. She is known for her work on many critically acclaimed comedies, produced the Emmy-nominated documentary Hot Girls Wanted and has most recently started a podcast with Bill Gates. Jones discusses the importance of artists using their voices to create change. She said “I feel like we have this very rich history of artists being the gateway to advocacy and to bringing issues to light that are concerning the world. Jones also said she looks forward to a day where women no longer have to be referred to as women in film but can just be people in film.
Award-winning director Gina Prince-Bythewood was presented with the Nancy Malone Directing Award for her outstanding work in film and television. Prince-Bythewood has directed many influential films such as Love and Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees and Beyond the Lights. She talked about how her whole career has been focused on putting black women in their own stories on the screen in an authentic way. Prince-Bythewood said “I want more women who look like me making these films. I feel like I’ve been the only one in so many rooms—too many rooms. So It’s my job absolutely once I get through the door to block the door open and pull others through it.”
Next, Jiles introduced Emmy award-winning actress and producer Rachel Brosnahan. Brosnahan currently stars in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and recently signed a deal with Amazon Studios to produce her own television series. She spoke about how important other women were in getting her to where she is today. She specifically mentions a former acting teacher named Carole Dibo who became one of her biggest mentors and closest friends. Brosnahan explained that what motivated her to work in production was a desire to tell more complex stories about women. “I was feeling really frustrated by the kinds of roles that were being presented to me. Almost every script I was reading somehow centered around my uterus” she said. “I wasn’t seeing stories about the kinds of women that I know and love in my life who are ambitious and sometimes loud and messy and it has nothing to do with their child-bearing capabilities.”
The final award recipient of the night was Nora Lum, otherwise known as Awkwafina. The Queens native received the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment Made in New York Award. She was born and raised in New York City and currently stars in the Comedy Central show Awkwafina is Nora From Queens that she created. Awkwafina is also known for her work in Crazy Rich Asians, Ocean’s 8 and The Farewell. She said “New York is a part of my history, my roots, and my culture… It is in every fiber of my being.” She spoke about how she was inspired by the movies and televisions series she saw shooting around the city when she was younger. “I grew up in a city where there were constantly things happening. There was art all around you being thrust upon you. There was always something And so to have been years later been given the honor to shoot my show in the city where I am from is something that is beyond believable” she said.
On Wednesday, March 4th, the DGA New York Theater in Manhattan hosted a screening of Hulu’s upcoming documentary “Hillary,” which tells the story of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life and the 2016 election.
On Saturday, February 29th the Athena Film Festival held the New York Premiere of director Liz Garbus’ first narrative feature Lost Girls at Barnard College in Manhattan.
On Friday, February 7th BLANCORE presented its 2020 Autumn/Winter collection “Lost Elf” at Spring Studios in New York City. This show marks BLANCORE’s second time showcasing at New York Fashion Week, following its debut last season.
The New York-based womenswear label CHOCHENG debuted its Fall-Winter 2020 collection at New York Fashion Week on Friday, February 7that Spring Studios in New York City.
On Wednesday, December 4th, the New York premiere of acclaimed director Tom Harper’s latest film “The Aeronauts” premiered at the SVA Theatre in Chelsea.
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