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Running through the weekend, NYU will be hosting their premiere film and television festival dedicated to celebrating women, television and new media from students to icons.
Founded in 2003 by NYU’s Tisch’s School of the Arts, with the mission of encouraging, promoting, and inspiring women filmmakers and collaboration between the sexes. This year marks the 13th edition of the Fusion Film Festival, making it only one of student-run gatherings dedicated to providing a platform for women in the film industry.
In a largely male dominated industry, the festival’s main purpose is to elevate and promote women’s work in the film industry. In an effort to encourage collaboration between the students, many of the submitted films or Web series don’t have to be directed by women, but must have women that either co-direct, produce, write or edit, depending on the category. Alumni and current students are encouraged to apply, and winners receive a wide range of prizes, including cash, script software and DVDs.
The three-day festival consists of multiple screenings, industry panels, pitch meetings, student showcases, master classes and much more. It also expands past just the NYU community; guests such as Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of “Gilmore Girls,” “Rizzoli and Isles” creator Janet Tamaro, and HBO exec Doris Casap will be panelists at this year’s event. A “woman of the year” prize will also be awarded, with it going to Reed Morano, an NYU alum and “Frozen River” cinematographer this year.
For more information regarding the schedule of events and about the festival, please visit the NYU Fusion Film Festival page.
– by Jackie Hart
