The NYWIFT Podcast

💫 We’re shining a light on stories of Reinvention, capturing the theme of NYWIFT’s 46th Annual Muse Awards 

🎤 Janine interviews Actress, Advocate and Model Jamie Brewer on her fan-favorite roles across several seasons of American Horror Story, and leading positive change across film, television, theater, and fashion 

🎬 Tammy interviews Filmmaker Patricia Cardoso, on her career spanning the cultural touchstone Real Women Have Curves, and how her background as an anthropologist informs the stories she brings to life on screen 

🎥 Hosts Katie and Janine continue to celebrate Women’s History Month and Autumn Durald Arkapaw and Cassandra Kulukundis’ historic wins at the Academy Awards 

🌺 This Friday, we’re honoring Actor, Founder, CEO, and Investor Gwyneth Paltrow, Actress and Singer Audra McDonald, Sex and the City Producer Jane Raab, Journalist Joy Reid, Real Women Have Curves Director Patricia Cardoso, WNBA Athlete and Lupus Advocate Izzy Harrison, and Actress and Down Syndrome Advocate Jamie Brewer

🎟️ We can’t wait to see you there! 

To be featured on the podcast email us at [email protected]. For more great content go to NYWIFT.org

Special thanks to⁠ Elspeth Collard⁠, the creator of our podcast theme song.

Socials & Links:

Jamie Brewer: IG: @itsmemsjamiebrewer / X: @msjamiebrewer / Facebook: MsJamieBrewer

Patricia Cardoso: IG: @patriciacardosofilm

Katie Chambers: IG: @katiegchambers / X: @katiegchambers

Janine McGoldrick: IG: @2nchapterprod 

Tammy Reese: IG: @tammyreesemedia / X: @tammyreesemedia

NYWIFT: Instagram:⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / Twitter/X⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / #NYWIFT

Happy Women's History Month! 

Penni interviews Emmy Award-winning journalist, CNN anchor, and senior global affairs analyst, Bianna Golodryga, for her new book, Don't Feed the Lion, a middle grade novel that courageously confronts antisemitism and hate through the lens of middle schoolers, opening the door for honest dialogue between children and the adults who care for them. 

Penni then sits down with Anita Verma-Lallian, a trailblazing first-time producer, entrepreneur, and investor, who speaks about Camelback Productions, Arizona's first South Asian, female-owned film company and how she is rewriting the playbook for grassroots film financing.

Penni and Tammy shout out outstanding women, such as Sigourney Weaver, Shonda Rhimes, and the women nominated for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.

Plus, Katie invites us to the 46th Annual Muse Awards, honoring Actor, Founder, CEO, and Investor Gwyneth Paltrow, Actress and Singer Audra McDonald, Sex and the City Producer Jane Raab, Journalist Joy Reid, Real Women Have Curves Director Patricia Cardoso, WNBA Athlete and Lupus Advocate Izzy Harrison, and Actress and Down Syndrome Advocate Jamie Brewer. 

To be featured on the podcast email us at [email protected]. For more great content go to NYWIFT.org.

Special thanks to⁠ Elspeth Collard⁠, the creator of our podcast theme song.

NEWS LINKS 

Nominees for the 98th Academy Awards 

Variety: Audra McDonald, Jane Raab and Joy Reid to be Honored at NYWIFT’s Muse Awards

Variety: Gwenyth Paltrow to be Honored at NYWIFT Muse Awards

Buy your ticket to the NYWIFT Muse Awards 

GUEST LINKS 

Camelback Productions (Anita Verma-Lallian's Production Company)

Link to buy Don’t Feed the Lion by Bianna Golodryga

SOCIALS 

Bianna Golodryga: IG: @biannagolodryga

Anita Verma-Lallian: IG: @anitavermalallian

Camelback Productions: IG: @camelbackproductions

NYWIFT: Instagram:⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / Twitter/X⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / #NYWIFT

Welcome back to The NYWIFT Podcast! 

We’re starting season 8 with Casting Society (CSA) President Destiny Lilly and Academy Award Winning Actress Jessica Chastain. 

Destiny speaks about her career as a Casting Director and the new Casting Director Category recognition for the 2026 Academy Awards. 

Jessica shares her experience starring in and producing the upcoming film Dreams, debuting nationwide on February 27th 2026.

Hosts Tammy and Penni celebrate Teyana Taylor and SINNERS’ record-breaking 16 Academy Award Nominations for Black History Month, updates on the upcoming MOM Film Fest and Children’s Emmy Awards, and binge-watch recommendations for snowy days inside.  

We can’t wait for another exciting season of thoughtful interviews with guests from all areas of media and entertainment, and candid industry news.   

To be featured on the podcast email us at [email protected]. For more great content go to NYWIFT.org.

Special thanks to⁠ Elspeth Collard⁠, the creator of our podcast theme song.

Social Media:

Destiny Lilly: IG: @destinycasting 

CSA: IG: @csacasting

Jessica Chastain: IG: @jessicachastain / X: @jes_chastain

Penni Malloy-Harper: IG: @Pennbrookconsultingcorp / X: @PennbrookConsu1

Tammy Reese: IG: @tammyreesemedia / X: @tammyreesemedia

NYWIFT: Instagram:⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / Twitter/X⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / #NYWIFT

Hosts Tammy and Penni bring us creativity and cheer amidst the cold weather ❄️

This week, Tammy interviews two multifaceted creators:

• Opera singer and actress Cristina Fontanelli about her upcoming holiday event, the film SANTINO, which earned her a Best Actress award at the Cutting Room International Film Festival
• Award-winning filmmaker, actress, and Editor-in-Chief of Indie Film Online Magazine Kathrina Miccio, about the upcoming Venus on Broadway International Film Festival, of which she is the Founder and Director. 

Plus, Katie gives us a programming update about NYWIFT’s upcoming holiday celebrations! 

To be featured on the podcast, email us at [email protected]. For more great content go to NYWIFT.org.

Special thanks to⁠ Elspeth Collard⁠, the creator of our podcast theme song.

Links/Socials: 

Cristina Fontanelli: Instagram: @cristinafontanelli / Website: https://cristinafontanelli.com/

Kathrina Micci: Instagram: @kathrinamiccioofficial / Website: https://indiefilmonline.com/

NYWIFT: Instagram:⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / Twitter/X: ⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠

We are feeling extra grateful for our creative community this year!  🍂

Janine interviews Filmmaker and Fulbright Fellow Amy Guggenheim about adapting her thriller short film Blindspot into a feature 🎬👁️

Hosts Penni and Catherine share news about the Halloween Parade, NYWIFT’s Masterclasses, the upcoming Women’s Film Preservation Fund Screening and Membership Drive!  🎞️⭐

To be featured on the podcast email us at [email protected]. For more great content go to NYWIFT.org.

Special thanks to⁠ Elspeth Collard⁠, the creator of our podcast theme song.

News Links: 

NYWIFT Membership Drive: Until December 31st! 

Post Production Masterclass with Company 3

Documentary + Docu-Series Masterclass with Yvonne Russo 

Yvonne Russo’s Podcast Interview 

30 Years of Saving Women’s Films at MOMA 

Good Day New York: NYWIFT at the Halloween Parade 

Guest Links: 

Blindsight Film 

Social Media:

Amy Guggenheim: IG: @blindsight_film / LinkedIn / Facebook  

NYWIFT: IG: @NYWIFT / Twitter/X: @NYWIFT  / LinkedIn / Facebook / #NYWIFT 

Documentarian Sarah Botstein returns to the NYWIFT Podcast to discuss her latest documentary as Co-Director with long time collaborator Ken Burns, The American Revolution, on PBS. 

Hosts Penni and Tammy give us the inside scoop on the NAN Triumph Awards, as well as The Gotham Film Awards.

NYWIFT’s Senior Director of Community & Public Relations Katie tells us about our next NYWIFT Night Out with the Television Academy and Post-Production Masterclass with Company 3 - we’ll see you there! 

To be featured on the podcast email us at [email protected]. For more great content go to NYWIFT.org.

Links:

NAN Triumph Awards 

The Gotham Film Awards 

The American Revolution on PBS

NYWIFT’s upcoming events 

Social: Instagram:⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / Twitter/X⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / #NYWIFT

Special thanks to⁠ Elspeth Collard⁠, the creator of our podcast theme song.

Our guests this week are Natalie Neckyfarow, who speaks about her short “The Spark” and revolutionizing how artists stay rooted in themselves while stepping into character. And Mohana Rajakumar shares  her webseries, A Diwali Dilemma, an adaptation of an iconic Christmas movie.

Plus, Hosts Janine McGoldrick and Catherine Ann Woo share recommendations for industry events throughout NYC and their latest streaming binges. 

To be featured on the podcast email us at [email protected].

For more great content go to NYWIFT.org.

News Links:

News topic: https://www.nyc.gov/site/mome/news/08282025-made-in-ny-talks.page

Spark fundraising: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/bucketful-of-sunshine-media/general_support

Social Media:

NYWIFT: IG:⁠⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠⁠ / #NYWIFT

Host Janine McGoldrick IG: @2ndchapterprod

Host Catherine Ann Woo IG: @kate.anne.woo

Special thanks to⁠⁠ Elspeth Collard⁠⁠, the creator of our podcast theme song.

The NYWIFT Podcast returns from hiatus with hosts Katie Chambers and Janine McGoldrick. Our guest this week is Senior Coordinator of Exhibition and Programming at Film at Lincoln Center, Katie Zwick.

Katie shares insights into NYFF programming and Katie & Janine also dive into highlights from the NYWIFT Summit on AI, other upcoming programming, and recent industry news including Jimmy Kimmel and the legacy of Robert Redford.

To be featured on the podcast email us at [email protected]. For more great content go to NYWIFT.org.

Special thanks to⁠ Elspeth Collard⁠, the creator of our podcast theme song.

Social Media:

Film at Lincoln Center: IG @filmlinc 

X: @filmlinc Festival info: https://www.filmlinc.org/nyff/

New York Shorts Program: 

https://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2025/films/new-york-shorts/

Host: Katie Chambers IG @katiegchambers 

Host: Janine McGoldrick IIG @2ndchapterprod

NYWIFT: G:⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / #NYWIFT

Before we take our summer break, we’ve got interviews with Ina Norris, Keya Mason and Sam Reetz! 

🌟  Ina shares stories from her career putting Black storytellers in the spotlight, founding the Kwanzaa Film Festival (now in its ninth year!) a cultural hub for artistic empowerment. Ina is joined by Keya, the festival’s new director and three-time Emmy-nominated casting executive, director, and producer who also runs Mason Castle Productions. 

🚗  Sam takes us down the road of policy and cultural change, with her production company Millennial Ethics and publication Route 24, creating original films and campaigns to spark intergenerational conversations. 

📺  Hosts Katie and Janine break down the Tubi and Kickstarter crossover and the big opportunities it could bring to indie filmmakers. 

👾  Katie invites us to NYWIFT’s upcoming Summer Soirée: Leveling Up: Girls in Gaming and VR Development (RSVP here)! 

Send us an email at [email protected] to be featured next season! 

SOCIALS: 

Kwanzaa Film Festival: Instagram: @kwanzaafilmfestival / Kwanzaa Film Festival Official Website / Kwanzaa Film Festival Submissions 

Ina Norris: Instagram: @inanorris / LinkedIn 

Keya Mason: Instagram: @keyadmason / LinkedIn /  Keya Mason’s Official Website / Mason Castle Productions Website 

Sam Reetz: Instagram: @samreetzcloseup / LinkedIn / Facebook: SamReetzCloseup / IMDB / Bio Site  

Millennial Ethics: Instagram: @millennialethics / LinkedIn / Facebook: MillennialEthics – Bio Site

WEBSITES: 

News: Tubi and Kickstarter Partnership

Kwanzaa Film Festival Official Website 

Kwanzaa Film Festival Submissions 

Keya Mason’s Official Website

Mason Castle Productions Website 

Route 24 on Substack

This week, we’re inspired by Tanja Caldwell, an award-winning costume designer, and Aurora De Lucia, who has edited over 1,000 episodes of television! 

Tanja brings us a first look at her latest project FOREVER, a modern take on Judy Blume’s everlasting young adult novel. Aurora shares stories from her career working with Jon Stewart, Nancy Meyers and more. 

Plus, Janine McGoldrick and special guest host Amanda Niqole White tell us about new production incentives for New York filmmakers and give recommendations. 

To be featured on the podcast, email us at [email protected], for more great content go to NYWIFT.org.
Special thanks to Elspeth Collard, the creator of our podcast theme song.

SOCIALS 

Amanda Niquole White: Instagram: @theoutsidestudios  

Tanja Caldwell: Instagram: @fresh2impress 

Aurora De Lucia: Instagram: @auroradelucia / Twitter/X: @bitesizeaurora / LinkedIn: Aurora De Lucia / Bluesky: @auroradelucia.bsky.social‬

NYWIFT: Instagram:⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / Twitter/X⁠⁠ @NYWIFT⁠⁠ / #NYWIFT