Aina Abell

Lise Afoy

Bob Ahmed

Vanessa Anthony

Ama Arthur-Asmah

Elline Auguste

Nikki Rattray Baldwin

Jennifer Beman

Emily Brady

Taryn Brown

Lauren Cardillo

Elizabeth Centennari

Soma Chanda

Elizabeth Crowl

Alyscia Cunningham

Zoe Davidson

Ari Davis

Beth Davison

Sharon Derby

Meredith Esquivel

Brandon Ferry

Marcus Ford

Mary Frost

Andrea Fuller

Lex Gillespie

James Gossard

Jacqueline Greff

Catherine Hand

Taylor Hefka

Steven Holloway

Riche Holmes Grant

Roman Holton

Ben Howard

Jason Howard

Matthew Hua

Jasmine Huggins

Jill Jackson

Robert Jackson

Frances Kramer

Christina Ksoll

Tabresha Langham

Joshua Lawrence

Safi Majid

Shannon Malone-deBenetictis

Carolyn Marie

Mark Maxey

Erin McPhilomy

Judith Meschel

Pritidhara Mohanty

Christina Perez

Jackie Perez

Joanna Raczynska

Yanik Ruiz-Ramon

Cathie Saadeh

Jodi Sakol

Jay Schlossberg

Nina Gilden Seavey

Sky Sitney

T. Scott Snider

Brandy Svensson

Crystal Swann

Celeste Locante Thorson

Gwen Tolbart

Charlie Towne

Nyah Tucker

Laura Franco Velasco

Mere Walton

Keri Williams

Brigitte Ayerves Valderas

Corporate Supporters:
Blueprint Interactive

Fusilli Films

Media Central

Roman Media Works

Tonal Vision

WIFV Short Narrative Film Finishing Grant

Application DEADLINE August 17

This program exists to support WIFV Members with the post-production of a short film (no longer than 15 minutes including credits). It consists of limited in-kind services from Henninger Media Services, Interface Media Group, Ott House Audio, and ReelPlan. There is one call for applications per year. There is a $50 application fee. Read more about the opportunity here.

This grant program was initiated with proceeds from the 2001 DC screening of WHAT MATTERS MOST, written and directed by Jane Cusumano. The WIFV Short Narrative Film Finishing Fund has supported TELL ME ABOUT ORANGE, THE FAMILIAR, FLIGHT OF THE CROWS, EXCUSE ME, and LOVE IN TWO LANGUAGES.

25,000+ shoots booked.

114 Countries.

On August 1, Media Central celebrates their 33rd year in business providing top certified “local” crew, gear & production support around the US as well the rest of the planet. When Jay Schlossberg, President of the company, started it back in ’93, he never dreamed it would go this long and have such a string of successes along the way. Says Schlossberg, “When we began I thought we'd be a great resource for our clients in the mid-Atlantic region and maybe, in 5-10 years, go national. Within a year, we got a request for crew in Jakarta which worked out great! It then made me realize hey, if I can do this in Indonesia, I can probably do it in London, Berlin, Hong Kong and other places, too!” 

For info or help on any project, Jay can be reached at 301-648-5400. You can also drop a line to jay@mediacentral.net or visit the Media Central website - www.mediacentral.net

CON-JOINED AT THE HIP Joins WIFV Playlist

The collection of member-made work continues to grow on the WIFV YouTube Channel! In addition to 48 Hour films from Team WIFV there are shorts featured during the WIFV Telethons, testimonials, and much more. Tune in here.

Film Festivals for Fleming

When she travels, Peggy Fleming seeks out grandmothers to interview. She begins by asking, “What is it like for you to be a grandmother?” She has interviewed grandmothers from over 25 different countries. In 2009, she interviewed three grandmothers living in Palestine. In 2025, she interviewed them again via Zoom. GRANDMOTHERS SHARE THEIR STORIES: Palestine" takes us into these grandmothers' homes as they share stories from their lives over the last 80 years.

GRANDMOTHERS SHARE THEIR STORIES: Palestine, directed by Peggy Fleming and Produced by Nada Nassereddin has been accepted to:

7th annual MOM FILM FEST “showcasing over 50 short films made by mothers.” Streaming August 21 through August 24. Get tickets here.

15th annual RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST, "190 films, 35 countries" September 22 - 27. GRANDMOTHERS SHARE THEIR STORIES: Palestine screens on September 26 at Noon. Get tickets here.

*ROCK SPRING CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST, Arlington, VA. September 30 at 1:30, address 5010 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA. More info here.

MediaMaker Spotlight Podcast

August 2nd: "The Penguin's Production Designer Shares the Power of Sets (Ep. 130)”

Host Candice Bloch is joined by Kalina Ivanov, an Emmy-winning production designer and storyboard artist with a rich background in both film and television, spanning various genres and styles. She’s known for her work on projects like Little Miss Sunshine, Grey Gardens, Peacemaker, Lovecraft Country, and The Penguin. 

As the first artists brought on board a project, Production Designers are responsible for the overall look and feel of a story. Through collaboration on selecting locations, designing sets, and coordinating with other departments like cinematography and costume design, they establish the visual direction and aesthetics of a piece.

In their conversation, we discover Kalina’s creative process, collaboration tips, and insights into visual storytelling in film and television. Kalina combines her artistic vision with a deep understanding of character and story to produce her impressive body of work. Kalina shares about doing her own research and creating mood boards, and offers first-hand stories about some of her past projects.

For example, for the critically acclaimed HBO show, The Penguin, Kalina emphasizes that she focused on telling a New York story, which required careful consideration of the streets and architecture to achieve the desired atmosphere. And for her work on George Clooney’s period film, Boys in the Boat, her research and the historically accurate boathouse built for the production were crucial in capturing the era’s essence.

Learn more about Kalina and her work here. Follow Kalina on IG here. Learn more about the Production Designers Collective here.

August 16th, “Telling Authentic Stories Through Collaborative Filmmaking (Ep. 131)”

In this episode, discover how award-winning director and producer Mary Darling navigates storytelling that fosters cultural understanding and unity. She speaks with Tara Jabbari about her work, especially her latest film, Cast Aside The Clouds, a love story set in Iran. They discuss the importance of cultural authenticity and representation in filmmaking, collaborative directing and diversity in film crews, the universal appeal of small, specific stories, and more.  Watch the trailer and find out the latest about Cast Aside The Clouds here. See more of Mary’s work here.

August 30th, “'Cookie Queens' Doc: 4 Girls Scouts & the Power of Selling (Ep. 132)”

Did you know that Girl Scout cookies are an $800 million business? In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with Alysa Nahmias, the writer and director of Cookie Queens, a new documentary releasing on August 7 all about the pressure of selling the iconic cookies. The doc, which is winner of the SXSW 2026 Audience Award, spotlights four young Girl Scouts, ages five to 12. It follows Ara, Nikki, Shannon Elizabeth, and Olive, through their highs and lows during the Girl Scout cookie selling season - all while still navigating life and pre-teen fun.

In their conversation, Alysa shares how the concept came to life after her children gave her a directive to make a film they wanted to see and how she went from wearing the "Mom" hat to the "Director" hat. She also explains the process of casting these four charming and ambitious girls, how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of Archewell Productions joined the project, and the role of Roadside Attractions, an independent film distributor, in getting the film into more than 500 theaters. Learn more and find tickets here.

You can find MediaMaker Spotlight wherever you find your podcasts, including our video companion on YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe to the show so you don't miss any episodes!

Tired of using your dining table as an office? Want to be office buddies? 

Rent office space at Hill Center! One of their charming offices on the third floor of our ADA accessible building is available with two windows and views of the Capitol.

Utilities, Internet and access to a shared Conference Space are included in the monthly use fee of $1,325.

Learn more about their office space here.

Interested parties, please email info@hillcenterdc.org



NSDF/DDF: Pitch Decks - August 6

The Deck is your number one marketing material/door opener for your film. Nailing it is key to getting the meeting or getting your script read. In this session, we are going to look at several different decks that have been used with great success and explore what to include and the secrets to Decks that convert. The program will be presented by Sara Elizabeth Timmins of Life Out Loud Films. Presenter bio here.

Thursday, August 6 - 6:30 pm REGISTER here  

$20 Members and students / $35 Public

You will receive the login information with your registration confirmation.

Event sponsored by Netflix, OCTFME and Gem Star Foundation

DDF/NSDF: Making Productions Work - August 11

It will be a rare day on set when you get to do just one thing! In order to be good at what you need to do at any given time, you need to know about a lot of things to make sure what you want to happen is happening. Mary Kerry Craven will be sharing how she has built her portfolio as a Producer, UPM, Production/ Locations Coordinator so you are best prepared for your next day on set. Presenter bio here.

Tuesday, August 11 - 6:30 pm REGISTER here    

$20 Members and students / $35 Public

You will receive the login information with your registration confirmation.

Event sponsored by Netflix, OCTFME and Gem Star Foundation

Mid-Term Election Filmmaker Conversations!

SEAT 31: Zooey Zephyr - August 12

When Zooey Zephyr was expelled from the Montana House of Representatives for speaking on a bill banning transgender medical care, she made a nearby bench her "office." Director Kimberly Reed's cameras land next to Zooey, capturing shocking, funny, and joyous events. The film was shortlisted for a 2025 Academy Award nomination in the ‘Documentary Short' category. Filmmaker bio here. Watch the trailer above.

Wednesday, August 12, 7:00 pm REGISTER here

Watch SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR on Kanopy with a library card!

You will receive the login information with your registration confirmation.

RESISTERHOOD - August 26

RESISTERHOOD a feature documentary, about the power of women, hope, and resistance. In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, something powerful happened in America: ordinary people stood up, spoke out, sat in, organized, and voted—not just in resistance, but in fierce hope for a better future. RESISTERHOOD captures this extraordinary grassroots awakening in real time.

But RESISTERHOOD is more than a film about the past—it's a call to action for the present. It reminds us that democracy is not guaranteed—it's something we must choose, protect, and fight for. Through powerful storytelling, Director CJ Crim captures unforgettable real-life moments where the film's subjects teach us that we all have the power to change our country for the better and that only by standing up for each other and making our voices heard will we be able to create a more perfect union. Filmmaker bio here. Watch the trailer below.



Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 pm REGISTER here

Watch Resisterhood for free at Free Speech TV

It is also streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Tubi.

You will receive the login information with your registration confirmation.

The next films in the series are BREAKING THE WEST by Bridget Hunnicutt (September 9) and WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME by Marielle Heller (October 14).

National Networking Night - Aug 13

Join us to meet other crew across the U.S!

2nd Thursday Every Month! 7:00 PM EST

Must be a Paid and Active Member of your Local WIFT!



Thursday, August 13, 7:00-8:00 pm RSVP here

You will receive lLogin info with your registration confirmation

Writers Helping Writers - August 14 and 28

We read:

1) 1—24 pages from a short script

2) The first Act or to the Inciting Incident from a feature length script, up to page 24

3) Full half hour sitcom or Half of full TV show

The purpose is to give deep dive, constructive feedback on story structure, format, character, dialogue, and what works about the script. If you don't have a script to read feel free to join us and support your fellow members. It is a great way to expand your knowledge on script writing and giving feedback also helps you to look at your own scripts objectively. Feedback will be given in a controlled fashion. We will break the discussions down by category: concept, theme, story structure, format, character, and dialogue.

Friday, August 14 - 6:30 pm REGISTER here

Friday, August 28 - 6:30 pm REGISTER here

FREE for WIFV Members / $15 Public

You will receive the login information with your registration confirmation.

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING -

August 17

Flowing with our summer series theme "Time Is of the Essence," WIFV Film Club invites you to join us for our August movie selection, ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING.

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING is a 1987 American teen comedy film written by David Simkins and directed by Chris Columbus in his directorial debut. It stars Elisabeth Shue, Keith Coogan, Anthony Rapp, and Maia Brewton, and features cameos by blues singer/guitarist Albert Collins and singer-songwriter Southside Johnny Lyon. The film is on Disney+ and available to rent on Prime Video.

Monday, August 17, 7:30-8:30 pm REGISTER here

You will receive login information with your registration confirmation.

Watch the film in advance of the meeting.

Film Club is organized by Ericka Boston and Connie St. John

Art of Animation - August 28

Whether you are a character animator, FX animator, graphic designer, storyboard artist, motion graphic artist, or just someone who loves animation please, join us for an animation specific meeting up! Chat with fellow animation enthusiasts to promote projects, problem solve potential pain points in your work, or discuss exciting upcoming movies.

Friday, August 28, 9:00-10:00 am REGISTER here

You will receive login info with your registration confirmation.

Organized by Jessica Mendel

Annapolis Coffee - August 4

Tuesday, August 4, 9:00-10:00 am RSVP here

Double T Diner, 12 Defense St., Annapolis, MD 21401

Organized by Felicia Barlow Clar

Frederick Coffee - August 5

Wednesday, August 4, 9:00-10:00 am RSVP here

Roggenart European Bakery, Bistro & Cafe

1305 West 7th Street, Unit #19, Frederick, MD

Organized by Jean Rosolino

LA/DC Gathering - August 7

Friday, August 7, 12:00 pm ET/9:00 am PT RSVP here

You will receive the login information with your registration confirmation.

Organized by Connie St. John

Executive Coffee - August 11

Tuesday, August 11, 9:00-10:00 am RSVP here

You will receive the login information with your registration confirmation.

Baltimore Coffee - August 18

Tuesday, August 18, 9:00-10:00 am RSVP here

The Bun Shop, 238 West Read St, Baltimore, MD

Organized by Jacquie Greff

DC - August 27

Thursday, August 27, 9:00-10:00 am RSVP here

Le Pain Quotidien, 2000 P Street NW (Dupont Metro)

Organized by Melissa Houghton and Anna Griesshammer

WIFV has been collecting (and suggesting) relief resources for freelancers, artists, and small businesses across the region. Access them here. 

Care for Creatives provides pay-what-you-can mental health support to the DC creative and entrepreneurial community. Individuals who reach out to the CCSC are matched with a clinical intern to support them through a solution-oriented therapy approach. All services are confidential and will be provided via telehealth.

Email CCSCFoggyBottom@gwu.edu and the Care for Creatives team will follow up with more information.