Co-President

I was involved with CineWomen NY for a period of about six years beginning around 2000. During two of those years, I was Co-President along with Melisse Seleck.

I initially got involved at the urging of then President Luisa Petrolani and think of my involvement as a collaboration; one grand collaboration! With any successful collaboration of course, comes hard work and challenges. But there are rewards also.

I feel proudest of my contribution to the CineWomen Screening Series. I worked with this series beginning in 2002 and continued through 2005. Just as a footnote, Andee Kinzy and board member Dianne Barnes approached Anthology Film Archives in hopes of showing works by members. AFF honcho Barry Oldenfeld said yes and the CineWomen NY screening series was born as a part of The New Filmmakers Series. This was an important milestone for the organization and Screening Series Director Dianne Barnes did an exemplary job as curator/programmer. An impressive array of work by members and non-members (eg Abiola Abrams, Andrea Straka, Véronique Doumbé and Ruth Sergel) was screened. CineWomen members Desiree Addison and Lara Slife were also a part of the team during this exciting time.

When Dianne Barnes left to pursue other interests, I jumped at the opportunity to be Screening Series Director. I did so with the help of Melisse Seleck and Chia Hui Gao. The series changed venues (we moved to Two Boots – The Pioneer Theater) and it became a monthly series; again bringing an impressive, diverse line-up of work by women filmmakers to NY audiences. During this transition Melisse Seleck joined me as Co-Director and with her expertise and contacts helped contribute to the over-al l success of the series. Jillian Abbott, Kristi Barlow, Adrienne Foran, and Bretigne Shaffer provided additional support. Kudos to current Screening Series Director Maria Pusateri for the continued success of this series.

I also very much enjoyed working with Board member Liz Foley on a program she produced highlighting the works of pioneer women filmmakers for several years in a row at the Donnell Media Center during Women’s History Month in March.

This space is too limited to adequately put into words the depth and breadth of my six year experience. Perhaps a book or at the very least a detailed article is in order. The CWNY board has always been like a revolving door of fine talents and charged energies. Women have come and gone; effecting change; trailblazing a vision.

Post-CWNY - I am at work on two films This Unique Life (about musician Bruce Woody) and Famous (about tourists who congregate daily around a certain downtown NYC landmark).