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Who is your muse?

Celebrating women who lead, create, mentor, and inspire 💜

These behind-the-scenes moments from the 2026 Muse Awards capture the excitement, joy, and community that make New York Women in Film & Television so special. From the sidewalk buzz to the elegance inside Cipriani 42nd Street, the day was filled with conversations about empowerment and the people who inspire us most.

Here’s to the muses who help shape the future of film, television, and media. ✨

🎥 Videographer & Editor: @khatiamaglakelidze

❤️ Not a NYWIFT member yet? The time is now!

🎬 The NYWIFT Spring Membership Drive has officially begun!

There’s never been a better time to join a community built on collaboration, creativity, advocacy, and connection. For a limited time, NYWIFT is offering special discounted membership pricing for women and nonbinary professionals working across film, television, and digital media.

Throughout the month, we’ll spotlight members of the NYWIFT community sharing why this organization matters to them and how it has supported their creative journeys.

⭐ Enjoy a Special Discount on Membership! ⭐

We encourage you to join NYWIFT by December 31. During our Year-End Membership Drive, we will offer:

✅ Half off the initiation fee for new members, $135 reduced to $67.50.
✅ No reactivation fee for returning members - all you will owe are the dues.

Go to nywift.org/join or the 🔗 in our bio.

(📸 : NYWIFT Member @sonsolll on set)

An afternoondedicated to powerful women starts with powerful conversations. ✨

Ahead of the 2026 Muse Awards, members and guests of NYWIFT shared their excitement for the evening, reflected on the women who inspire them, and celebrated the community that keeps this industry moving forward.

There’s nothing like the energy of gathering together at Cipriani 42nd Street before an unforgettable celebration! 💫

🎥 Videographer & Editor: @khatiamaglakelidze

👋 Welcome to NYWIFT, Carol Welter!

🇬🇧 Carol grew up in the United Kingdom, steeped in classical theatre, before crossing the Atlantic in 1977 and making the United States her home.

🎭 Trained on the English stage from girlhood, she spent years acting and directing before discovering that writing was her true creative playground.

📝 Through Masters-level workshops and decades of artistic exploration, she turned her talents toward stage plays, screenplays, and poetry—crafting stories that blend imagination, humor, and heart.

🎩 A woman who has worn more hats than a Shakespeare festival costume rack, Carol has directed, designed, and shaped productions from the ground up.

🎬 Now a spirited senior storyteller, she writes across continents and galaxies, drawn to tales of transformation, unlikely heroes, and tender love stories.

🎥 In our interview, Carol reflects on her journey from the stage to the page, the themes that inspire her work, and the new projects she’s most excited to share.

👀 Read it now at the 🔗 in our bio!

👋 Welcome to NYWIFT, Carol Welter!

🇬🇧 Carol grew up in the United Kingdom, steeped in classical theatre, before crossing the Atlantic in 1977 and making the United States her home.

🎭 Trained on the English stage from girlhood, she spent years acting and directing before discovering that writing was her true creative playground.

📝 Through Masters-level workshops and decades of artistic exploration, she turned her talents toward stage plays, screenplays, and poetry—crafting stories that blend imagination, humor, and heart.

🎩 A woman who has worn more hats than a Shakespeare festival costume rack, Carol has directed, designed, and shaped productions from the ground up.

🎬 Now a spirited senior storyteller, she writes across continents and galaxies, drawn to tales of transformation, unlikely heroes, and tender love stories.

🎥 In our interview, Carol reflects on her journey from the stage to the page, the themes that inspire her work, and the new projects she’s most excited to share.

👀 Read it now at the 🔗 in our bio!

👋 Welcome to NYWIFT, Carol Welter!

🇬🇧 Carol grew up in the United Kingdom, steeped in classical theatre, before crossing the Atlantic in 1977 and making the United States her home.

🎭 Trained on the English stage from girlhood, she spent years acting and directing before discovering that writing was her true creative playground.

📝 Through Masters-level workshops and decades of artistic exploration, she turned her talents toward stage plays, screenplays, and poetry—crafting stories that blend imagination, humor, and heart.

🎩 A woman who has worn more hats than a Shakespeare festival costume rack, Carol has directed, designed, and shaped productions from the ground up.

🎬 Now a spirited senior storyteller, she writes across continents and galaxies, drawn to tales of transformation, unlikely heroes, and tender love stories.

🎥 In our interview, Carol reflects on her journey from the stage to the page, the themes that inspire her work, and the new projects she’s most excited to share.

👀 Read it now at the 🔗 in our bio!

👋 Welcome to NYWIFT, Carol Welter!

🇬🇧 Carol grew up in the United Kingdom, steeped in classical theatre, before crossing the Atlantic in 1977 and making the United States her home.

🎭 Trained on the English stage from girlhood, she spent years acting and directing before discovering that writing was her true creative playground.

📝 Through Masters-level workshops and decades of artistic exploration, she turned her talents toward stage plays, screenplays, and poetry—crafting stories that blend imagination, humor, and heart.

🎩 A woman who has worn more hats than a Shakespeare festival costume rack, Carol has directed, designed, and shaped productions from the ground up.

🎬 Now a spirited senior storyteller, she writes across continents and galaxies, drawn to tales of transformation, unlikely heroes, and tender love stories.

🎥 In our interview, Carol reflects on her journey from the stage to the page, the themes that inspire her work, and the new projects she’s most excited to share.

👀 Read it now at the 🔗 in our bio!

The energy before the 2026 Muse Awards was unforgettable ✨ From the streets outside to the excitement inside New York Women in Film & Television gathered to celebrate creativity, connection, and the women who inspire us to dream bigger.

At this year’s gala at Cipriani 42nd Street, attendees shared who their personal muses are and what women’s empowerment means to them in this industry and beyond. 💫

🎥 Videographer & Editor: @khatiamaglakelidze

A moment of appreciation for our dream team! ❤️ Thank you to photographer @flor_blake for capturing the whole NYWIFT staff in a moment of joy behind-the-scenes at the Muse Awards in March. This is the gang that makes the magic happen!

From left:
🎬 Programming and Development Coordinator Catherine Woo
🎬 Director of Artists Programs and Finance Easmanie Michel
🎬 Director of Operations and Special Projects Rashiek Smart
🎬 Senior Content & Development Consultant Maud Kersnowski-Sachs
🎬 CEO Cynthia Lopez
🎬 Membership Assistant Al Dawkins
🎬 Senior Director of Community & Public Relations Katie Chambers

Learn more about the team at the 🔗 in our bio.

(@kate.anne.woo @ugly_girls_can_rule_the_world @raysheek82 @missmaud9 @katiegchambers)

Today we are reminiscing about the beautiful day that was the 46th annual NYWIFT Muse Awards!

Before the lights dimmed and the celebration began, the New York Women in Film & Television community was already bringing the inspiration. 💜

From red carpet anticipation to heartfelt conversations about mentorship, creativity, and the women who shape our journeys, these moments captured the spirit of the 2026 Muse Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street.

Who’s your muse? ✨

🎥 Videographer & Editor: @khatiamaglakelidze

👋 Welcome to NYWIFT, Maria Giese!

🎬 @maria__giese is an American film director, screenwriter, and longtime advocate for equity for women directors in Hollywood.

🎥 She wrote and directed the feature films When Saturday Comes (starring Sean Bean) and Hunger (based on the classicKnut Hamsun novel).

💪 A member of the Directors Guild of America for over 25 years, Giese is widely recognized for her role in initiating the 2014 ACLU and 2015 EEOC investigations into systemic discrimination against women directors.

🍿 Her work is featured in the documentaries This Changes Everything (2018 Netflix), Half the Picture (2018 Amazon), and the Sundance hit Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power (2022 Kino-Lorber).

📽️ Maria spoke to us about her career trajectory, her turn to advocacy, and what she sees for the industry moving forward.

👀 Read the interview at the 🔗 in our bio!

👋 Welcome to NYWIFT, Maria Giese!

🎬 @maria__giese is an American film director, screenwriter, and longtime advocate for equity for women directors in Hollywood.

🎥 She wrote and directed the feature films When Saturday Comes (starring Sean Bean) and Hunger (based on the classicKnut Hamsun novel).

💪 A member of the Directors Guild of America for over 25 years, Giese is widely recognized for her role in initiating the 2014 ACLU and 2015 EEOC investigations into systemic discrimination against women directors.

🍿 Her work is featured in the documentaries This Changes Everything (2018 Netflix), Half the Picture (2018 Amazon), and the Sundance hit Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power (2022 Kino-Lorber).

📽️ Maria spoke to us about her career trajectory, her turn to advocacy, and what she sees for the industry moving forward.

👀 Read the interview at the 🔗 in our bio!

👋 Welcome to NYWIFT, Maria Giese!

🎬 @maria__giese is an American film director, screenwriter, and longtime advocate for equity for women directors in Hollywood.

🎥 She wrote and directed the feature films When Saturday Comes (starring Sean Bean) and Hunger (based on the classicKnut Hamsun novel).

💪 A member of the Directors Guild of America for over 25 years, Giese is widely recognized for her role in initiating the 2014 ACLU and 2015 EEOC investigations into systemic discrimination against women directors.

🍿 Her work is featured in the documentaries This Changes Everything (2018 Netflix), Half the Picture (2018 Amazon), and the Sundance hit Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power (2022 Kino-Lorber).

📽️ Maria spoke to us about her career trajectory, her turn to advocacy, and what she sees for the industry moving forward.

👀 Read the interview at the 🔗 in our bio!

👋 Welcome to NYWIFT, Maria Giese!

🎬 @maria__giese is an American film director, screenwriter, and longtime advocate for equity for women directors in Hollywood.

🎥 She wrote and directed the feature films When Saturday Comes (starring Sean Bean) and Hunger (based on the classicKnut Hamsun novel).

💪 A member of the Directors Guild of America for over 25 years, Giese is widely recognized for her role in initiating the 2014 ACLU and 2015 EEOC investigations into systemic discrimination against women directors.

🍿 Her work is featured in the documentaries This Changes Everything (2018 Netflix), Half the Picture (2018 Amazon), and the Sundance hit Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power (2022 Kino-Lorber).

📽️ Maria spoke to us about her career trajectory, her turn to advocacy, and what she sees for the industry moving forward.

👀 Read the interview at the 🔗 in our bio!

From prep to production. Award-winning planning tools are now available to WIFTUS Members for every stage of filmmaking!

Join us for this FREE workshop and demo with Aysha Scott @ayshascott_ the creator of Filmmaker Planner. She will be showing you all the unique tools available to filmmakers and offering exclusive member discounts for WIFT members.

May 16th at 10amMST/ 12pmEST (3pm UK)

REGISTER WITH LINK IN BIO

Please consider donating $10 to WIFTUS to help us support our 17 WIFTUS organizations- helping women and marginalized people access filmmaking education so they can keep creating content that uplifts and showcases the incredible things we all can bring to this industry.

#wiftus #filmmakers #womeninfilm #filmlife #filmmakerplanner

🎬 The NYWIFT Spring Membership Drive has officially begun!

There’s never been a better time to join a community built on collaboration, creativity, advocacy, and connection. For a limited time, NYWIFT is offering special discounted membership pricing for women and nonbinary professionals working across film, television, and digital media.

Throughout the month, we’ll spotlight members of the NYWIFT community sharing why this organization matters to them and how it has supported their creative journeys.

This week’s featured member is writer and director Sonia Malfa, who reminds us that filmmaking is an art form built through collaboration. That idea is central to NYWIFT’s mission: bringing together storytellers, creators, executives, crew members, journalists, and artists who believe in supporting one another and building a stronger industry together.

Join NYWIFT this spring for networking events, mentorship opportunities, screenings, professional development, advocacy initiatives, and a powerful creative community.

⭐ Enjoy a Special Discount on Membership! ⭐

We encourage you to join NYWIFT by December 31. During our Year-End Membership Drive, we will offer:

✅ Half off the initiation fee for new members, $135 reduced to $67.50.
✅ No reactivation fee for returning members - all you will owe are the dues.

Go to nywift.org/join or the 🔗 in our bio.

(📸 : NYWIFT Member @sonsolll on set)

🎥 When award-winning journalist Shahnaz Mahmud (@shahnaz__mahmud) set out to write and direct her first narrative film, she landed on a deeply personal story inspired by her parents’ own arranged marriage.

🎞️ And when it came time to a select an editor to collaborate with, she turned to the NYWIFT membership directory, where she found veteran editor Susan B. Ades (@susanb.ades) – the perfect match for her project.

🌸 Members Shahnaz and Susan sat down with us to discuss their adventures (and misadventures!) making the short film The Blossom, how their partnership brought new elements of the story to light, and the unique path to bringing such an intimate tale to the screen.

Read the interview now at the 🔗 in our bio!

🎥 When award-winning journalist Shahnaz Mahmud (@shahnaz__mahmud) set out to write and direct her first narrative film, she landed on a deeply personal story inspired by her parents’ own arranged marriage.

🎞️ And when it came time to a select an editor to collaborate with, she turned to the NYWIFT membership directory, where she found veteran editor Susan B. Ades (@susanb.ades) – the perfect match for her project.

🌸 Members Shahnaz and Susan sat down with us to discuss their adventures (and misadventures!) making the short film The Blossom, how their partnership brought new elements of the story to light, and the unique path to bringing such an intimate tale to the screen.

Read the interview now at the 🔗 in our bio!

🎥 When award-winning journalist Shahnaz Mahmud (@shahnaz__mahmud) set out to write and direct her first narrative film, she landed on a deeply personal story inspired by her parents’ own arranged marriage.

🎞️ And when it came time to a select an editor to collaborate with, she turned to the NYWIFT membership directory, where she found veteran editor Susan B. Ades (@susanb.ades) – the perfect match for her project.

🌸 Members Shahnaz and Susan sat down with us to discuss their adventures (and misadventures!) making the short film The Blossom, how their partnership brought new elements of the story to light, and the unique path to bringing such an intimate tale to the screen.

Read the interview now at the 🔗 in our bio!

🎥 When award-winning journalist Shahnaz Mahmud (@shahnaz__mahmud) set out to write and direct her first narrative film, she landed on a deeply personal story inspired by her parents’ own arranged marriage.

🎞️ And when it came time to a select an editor to collaborate with, she turned to the NYWIFT membership directory, where she found veteran editor Susan B. Ades (@susanb.ades) – the perfect match for her project.

🌸 Members Shahnaz and Susan sat down with us to discuss their adventures (and misadventures!) making the short film The Blossom, how their partnership brought new elements of the story to light, and the unique path to bringing such an intimate tale to the screen.

Read the interview now at the 🔗 in our bio!

🎥 When award-winning journalist Shahnaz Mahmud (@shahnaz__mahmud) set out to write and direct her first narrative film, she landed on a deeply personal story inspired by her parents’ own arranged marriage.

🎞️ And when it came time to a select an editor to collaborate with, she turned to the NYWIFT membership directory, where she found veteran editor Susan B. Ades (@susanb.ades) – the perfect match for her project.

🌸 Members Shahnaz and Susan sat down with us to discuss their adventures (and misadventures!) making the short film The Blossom, how their partnership brought new elements of the story to light, and the unique path to bringing such an intimate tale to the screen.

Read the interview now at the 🔗 in our bio!

🎥 When award-winning journalist Shahnaz Mahmud (@shahnaz__mahmud) set out to write and direct her first narrative film, she landed on a deeply personal story inspired by her parents’ own arranged marriage.

🎞️ And when it came time to a select an editor to collaborate with, she turned to the NYWIFT membership directory, where she found veteran editor Susan B. Ades (@susanb.ades) – the perfect match for her project.

🌸 Members Shahnaz and Susan sat down with us to discuss their adventures (and misadventures!) making the short film The Blossom, how their partnership brought new elements of the story to light, and the unique path to bringing such an intimate tale to the screen.

Read the interview now at the 🔗 in our bio!

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 @NYWIFT's 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.

✅ Register now at the 🔗 in our bio!