Fusion FIlm Festival 2018 by Jose Reyes

SCHEDULE

THURSDAY APRIL 5

7PM “REAL BOY” Award-Winning Doc A son’s transition. A mom’s transformation. Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street

FRIDAY APRIL 6 3PM DOCS IN THE WORKS: Pitch Competition

7PM

Watch finalists present to top industry judges. Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

ARTISTS & ACTIVISTS Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

SATURDAY APRIL 7 9:30AM 10AM 12PM 2PM 4PM 6:30PM

Brunch with a Changemaker: NBC’s KAREN HORNE Senior VP Talent Development & Inclusion RSVP only at FusionFilmFestival.com

Go Pitch! Invite-only via application

Real Talk: Breaking into the Biz NBC Execs & Talent on “How to get job in entertainment” Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

Women in New Media Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

MASTERCLASS: The Queer Producers Collective Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

FUSION Competition Screenings & Award Ceremony Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street

For latest schedule updates: WWW.FUSIONFILMFESTIVAL.COM

Still from CROSS MY HEART

WHERE

CHANGE BEGINS It’s true that more and more women are creating and receiving opportunities based on their own talent and excellence. It’s also true that leaders of all genders are becoming more committed to provoking change through the Time’s Up movement, a crusade to end sexual harassment and inequality in the workplace. Yes, finally, women are claiming a space in the entertainment industry.

But we are far from the finish line.

Though the revolution has been sparked, the battle is just beginning. We all hear the call for change, but now we must commit to making it real. Brave and innovative women before us have charted this path, now it’s time for our generation to realize the industry’s exciting promise of an actual transformation. In the very special community that is Fusion, we believe that the best way to ensure permanent and meaningful change is by encouraging and supporting our own gifted female filmmakers. We are artists, activists, dreamers and doers with many different perspectives, but all focused on inspiring each other to be open minded, have empathy, and give acceptance to others. We are surrounded by a new generation of artists. We know where our better future lies. Fusion’s goal is to make certain that our stories are given a platform, our talent is seen, and our voices are heard. Madi Mitts, Fusion Editorial Staff

LETTER FROM

THE DIRECTORS Hello and Welcome to the 16th Fusion Film Festival! We couldn’t be more thrilled to honor the wonderful artists and storytellers changing the entertainment industry today, from our panelists to finalists, team members, NYU students, faculty, and alumni, we are so proud to be a part of this community. Fusion is dedicated to making a positive impact, and in the wake of the “Time’s Up” and #MeToo movements, we are even more devoted to being a part of the initiatives working to eradicate misogyny, criminal behavior, and inequality in the arts, and in every industry. This past year we have had the privilege of meeting and showcasing many impactful female-identifying storytellers and their collaborators doing amazing things in the fields of film, TV, and new media. We have also had the honor of working with a phenomenal team of over a hundred individuals who everyday bring their creativity and vision to empower marginalized voices, support one another, and build a future where all genders are valued equally. We’d like to take this time to thank our fantastic sponsors, faculty judges, and industry judges, who have all given remarkable amounts of their time, energy, and resources to the festival. We would also like to thank our wonderful and extremely hard-working faculty advisor, Susan Sandler. Susan passionately guides us in our work, and we would not be where we are today without her. We hope that you enjoy every moment of this festival, and we thank you for being a part of Fusion’s legacy. These are difficult times politically, but never lose hope that we can and will continue to fight for intersectional feminism, inclusion, and love until we achieve true equality and representation. With love and gratitude, The Co-Directors Caitlin Chan Priya Khanolkar Rachel Lambert

FROM OUR FACULTY ADVISOR

SUSAN SANDLER

As we look to the thrilling 16th year of Fusion, we recognize that our student driven festival is a vital part of the engine of change for the entertainment industry. We are where change begins—with the power and selfrealization of Fusion’s student leaders celebrating the extraordinary creative work of women at the Tisch School of the Arts, and the iconic women we admire, we are creating change in this moment. With Joy and Love, Susan

LETTER FROM

DEAN GREEN Happy 16th anniversary to the Fusion Film Festival! We are so proud of this film festival. It’s an outstanding example of how Tisch students can create important new initiatives. I am especially grateful to Susan Sandler, a member of the Kanbar Institute faculty, who from the beginning has been the guiding force, advisor, and mentor to so many. Today more than ever, we need the Fusion Film Festival. This year’s theme, FUSION: Where Change Begins, gives us the opportunity to have important conversations. We also have the opportunity to celebrate women like Karen Horne, NBC Universal’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Inclusion. She is a true change maker. And to all of you with films in competition, best of luck! I offer my sincerest thanks to Emma Heald and Gina Abatemarco, two students, who 16 years ago sought Susan’s support in creating a way to celebrate women. Together, they built Fusion around collaboration and made it possible for others to join in building a festival that now offers programming throughout the year. I am grateful to the 2018 Fusion’s Co-Directors Caitlin Chan, Priya Khanolkar, Rachel Lambert and the 132 other people who have volunteered time, talent, and energy to make the Fusion Film Festival a vital part of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Allyson Green Dean of the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television

LETTER FROM

DEAN BURKE I am excited to offer not only my support to the Fusion Film Festival but also my gratitude. Since 2003, Fusion has focused on the celebration of women filmmakers and their work, a mission that has never felt more vital. 2018 will be the sixteenth year of the festival, and their choice of theme, “FUSION: Where Change Begins,” highlights the pioneering nature of FUSION and its commitment to advancing women filmmakers. Fusion reminds us all of our responsibility to promote change here and outside of NYU. Fusion began as an event in the Undergraduate Department of Film & TV, but quickly grew to become a collaborative effort involving students, alumni, faculty, and staff from multiple Tisch Departments. The annual swell of support in the form of donated time, space, and money speaks to how integral Fusion has become to our community. This year, Caitlin Chan (Film & TV ‘19), Priya Khanolkar (Film & TV ‘19), and Rachel Lambert (Film & TV ‘18) lead Fusion, guided by the continued work of their faculty advisor, Susan Sandler. This year has seen their first LAbased events, a screening of SIGNATURE MOVE, and more. During the festival in April, Fusion will honor Karen Horne, NBC Universal’s Senior VP of Talent Development and Inclusion, at their exciting Brunch with a Changemaker. The opportunities Fusion offers to students, from events to mentorship, raises the bar for what a “Tisch Club” can be. I am grateful and thrilled to celebrate the sixteenth year of the Fusion Film Festival and I offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped make it possible this and every year. Sincerely, Michael Burke Associate Dean of the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television

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EXECUTIVE BOARD Susan Sandler

Faculty Advisor

Caitlin Chan Priya Khanolkar Rachel Lambert

Co-Director & Sponsorship Co-Director & Alumni Relations Co-Director & Programming

Allison Cavanaugh Audrey Leach Rachel Brown

Assoc. Director & Production Mgmt. Assoc. Director & Design Co-Head

Claire O’Neil

Communications Director

Morgan Kofeldt

Design Co-Head

Jenny Levine Mallika Juneja Tair Shachar

Editorial Co-Head Editorial Co-Head Editorial Co-Head

Brittany Santiago

Production Management Co-Head

Heather Vaxer

Finance Head

Bailey Oliver Maddy Oliver Symphony Blue

Marketing Co-Head Marketing Co-Head Marketing Co-Head

Alexia Salingaros Amelia Boscov Shaye Davis

Photo/Video Co-Head Photo/Video Co-Head Photo/Video Co-Head

Alumni Relations Co-Head

Jot Sahi PR Co-Head Teja LoBreglio PR Co-Head Baylee Brown Rayna Tyson

Programming Co-Head Programming Co-Head

Sonya Stepanova Research Co-Head Kara Bartek Sponsorship Co-Head

FUSION TEAM Finance Spencer Collantes Paisley Millhausen Sophia Shi Sophie Worscheh Marketing Megan McMillon Miriam Ouldibbat Zoey Schilling Keara Sullivan Wendi Tang Donnally Tullis Michele Uriarte Photo/Video Sophie Bennett Lina Borda Olivia De Camps Claudia Fanaro Lynn Fong Valentina Garrett Natalia Haberberg Meena Harish Ina Ho Fiona Kane Bre Kelly Shilpa Kunnappillil Thomas Lange Elisabeth Ligonnet Hunter Livingston Emmet Luciano Megan Mathieson Molly Mielke Amelia Palmer Brandon Pavlicek Artemis Polemis Kailey Radcliffe Jessica Zheng

Alumni Relations Kendra Brown Brianna Burke Sarina Freda Emily Gurland Katie Jung Audrey Larson Sydney Rudman Design Emma DeMuth Hyeseung Kim Nina Leitenberg Emily Miller Editorial Zoe Bourdin Sophie Ewh Clarrie Feinstein Camila Grimaldi Vivian Hu Emma Levine Madi Mitts Megan Murphy Nicole Porter Guru Ramanathan Production Management Heather Alexis Sophia Anderson Rebecca Blackstone April Chang Emily Feng Bethany Huang Olivia Krueger

John Williams Lucas Jordan Mailes Kyle McGrath Megan Murphy Roni Polsgrove Lucie Pottecher Olivia Pratt Jane Riegler Audrey Roh Julia Terry Siddant Tilokani Bernie Torres Programming Kylie Billings Polina Buchak Alyssa Craig Karina Dandashi Giovanna Drummond Annie Felix Tonya Goltsev Natalie Harris Natalie Holley Rachel Lim Olivia Malesco Victoria Marton Tori Ashley Matos Delaney Plant Ishani Shyamalan Ashley Tang Chelsea Williams

Elizabeth Valdes Submissions Co-Head Jiwon Uhm Submissions Co-Head Jori Johnson Submissions Co-Head

FUSION TEAM Volunteers & Action Fusion Jordan Mailes Aleka Agre Pilo-Ha Masse Maya Alfia Catherine Mora Brathwite Mariana Anell Alexandra Muhawi-Ho Edan Ashkenazi Public Relations Taylor Natiello Ana Bishop Lizzy Essiedu Marie-Louise Nkashama Jordan Blanco Stephanie Lemesianou Amina Odogba Daniela Bologna Aleksandra Podziewska Kate Bonifas Sponsorship Roni Polsgrove Inakshi Chandra-Mohanty Mia Dixler Olivia Pratt Molly Chang Dylan Gee Danny Roberts Ryan Chen Eleanor Goldman Catherine Ryan Xiangdi Chen Sabrina Ma Mohammad Saleem Jabin Choi Ruochong (Diane) Julia Saliba Sasha Chowdhury Wang Julia San Adres Emma Cotter Blythe Spindler-Richardson Kamila Daureova Paige Spindler-Richardson Submissions Tamera Davis Gabrielle Aku Amira Stone Alyssa Dickson Alexandria Douglas Taylor Stout Natalia Ferrara Madeleine Schumacher Stephanie Tinsley Jack Fossett Bernadette Torres Aria Grasso Research Jackie Tullie Stella Green Chelsea Amaro Hannah Webb Courtney Hall Allison Lambdin Hailey Weinberg Amanda Harlowe Miller Nikta Mahmoodi Justin Wolman Lauryn Harold Ines Yildiz Maurice Wright Aurora Huiza Kally Zhao Cara Hunter Web Design Samantha Joia Cidney Hue Rachel LaFond Jack Lee Gabriela Liarena Sophia Lipp Sam Lowenburg

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MISSION STATEMENT Celebrating Women in Film, Television, & New Media The Fusion Film Festival is New York University’s premiere festival dedicated to celebrating women in film, television, and new media, from students to industry professionals we admire. Fusion was founded in 2003 at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts by two students in Undergraduate Film and Television, Emma Heald and Gina Abatemarco, with the mission of encouraging, promoting, and inspiring women filmmakers and the collaboration between the sexes. Since its inception, Fusion has been passionately guided by Kanbar UGFTV Professor Susan Sandler. Fusion programming is all about celebrating diversity, inclusion, and intersectional feminism, as well as promoting deep mentorship. Programming is year-round, from the Submissions Launch event to Alumni Showcases and the “Coffee With” series. Every spring, Fusion mounts a multi-day film festival with screenings, industry panels, pitch meetings, master-classes, retrospectives, networking events, competitions in thirteen distinct categories, and student showcases. Fusion has been proud to attract accomplished artists and entertainment visionaries such as Melina Matsoukas, Reed Morano, Christine Vachon, Jane Campion, Kasi Lemmons, Julie Taymor, Barbara Kopple, Stella Meghie, Miranda July, and Misha Green. We are also proud to stand with the Sundance Institute’s Women’s Initiative as an Allied Partner. Our goal here at Fusion is to celebrate storytellers in the industry, as well as those in our own NYU community, feature incredible work, and have you leave feeling inspired by the art of great storytelling.

FINALISTS

GRADUATE FILM

UNDERGRADUATE FILM CROSS MY HEART Sontenish Myers An American teenage girl visits her family in Jamaica and uncovers a secret that changes the way she sees the people she loves.

SHELTER Na’ama Keha Israel, Winter 1991. Under the threat of a chemical attack, an immigrant boy and a local girl leave their underground bomb shelter and go on an excursion of escapism and budding love in the wild.

TOOTH AND NAIL Sara Shaw A sister and terminally ill brother make a bargain: he’ll donate his sperm for her future use if she comes out at dinner that night.

SHIVA BABY Emma Seligman At a Jewish funeral service with her parents, a college student runs into her sugar daddy.

A BUTTERFLY FLUTTERS ITS WINGS Linh Dan Nguyen Phan On a sleepless Christmas Eve night, four lonely souls cross paths in the midst of their isolating and intimate chore in a laundromat.

SAMPAGUITA Shalemar Coloma Annie, a Filipino teenager, readies for her religious father to come home from deployment all while she develops an impossible crush on her classmate June.

FINALISTS

HONORABLE MENTIONS

ANIMATION

GRADUATE FILM

ANXIETY Allison Jones Explores the thoughts and emotions that comes with anxiety and panic attacks as visualized through the eyes of the filmmaker.

girl eating bananas audition Natasha Babenko

Facing North

Tukei Muhumuza

Give Up the Ghost Marian Mathias

Still Water Runs Deep Abbesi Akhamie

COUNTING TO INFINITY IN GROUPS OF THREE Kelsey Black A woman obsessed with threes is driven to overcome her compulsions.

UNDERGRADUATE FILM Mae at the Funeral Sophie Bennet

Hair Trigger

Taylor Schafer

Presentation

Danielle Kampf

HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN Mizuki Toriya A grandmother recounts her experiences as a child in Kobe, Japan during World War II to her granddaughter.

Asri

Ecegul Bayram

Junction

Alexia Salingaros

ANIMATION Journey Mulan Fu

FINALISTS

DOCS IN THE WORKS Mentor: Professor Sam Pollard

RAHI Jot Sahi After unraveling a family secret, two sisters take their grandma on a journey to seek out her long-lost sister in the hopes of healing old wounds.

DOCS IN THE WORKS NEW WARRIORS Ellie Forman Girls of the Maasai tribe in Kenya attend school to end the traditions of FGM, early forced marriage, and child pregnancy.

MOUNTAIN, CITY LOST COUSINS Delaney Plant In 2007, fifteen of my cousins went missing. Now, over ten years later, I’m ready to uncover the truth behind what really happened to them.

Ximan Ma Adopted by a prosperous Chinese business man, a Tibetan girl travels back to her humble family for the summer. We explore her challenging development in both worlds over a decade.

JUDGES WATER AS INDUSTRY Katarina Pittis An exploration of Newtown Creek in NYC, one of the most highly polluted waterways in the U.S., and how communities have fought to preserve its’ health.

Wendy Ettinger Producer and Co-Founder, Chicken & Egg Pictures Jackie Glover Vice President, Documentary Films HBO Milton Tabbot Senior Director of Programming, IFP Gianna Toboni Producer and Correspondent, VICE Basil Tsiokos Director of Programming DOC NYC,Film Program Director Nantucket FF, Programming Sundance FF Chris White Executive Producer of American Documentary at POV, PBS 16

FINALISTS

SIGHT AND SOUND WOULD YOU? EWURAKUA DAWSON-AMOAH

Victor, a police officer on leave, must face his demons when he comes face to face with the young boy he shot, who bears nothing but a question, “Why did you shoot me?”

PRICKS CAROLINA DIZ A sleep-deprived animator is working on a story, but the characters have their own idea on how it should end.

THE STAND OFF MOLLY CLARK Experience is all a business woman has when a younger woman targets the same clients on her corner.

MUSIC VIDEO IUD Director: Adinah Dancyger Cinematographer: Mia Cioffi Henry

Okay Kaya sings about contraception while dragging a clonelike version of herself around by her hair. FINALISTS Summertime - Carter Tate Tomorrow Will Be Yesterday - Kathryn Huyghue Bedtime Stories - Becky Blackstone

WEB SERIES Michael & Anwar ISABEL MITCHELL Anwar’s always had feelings for Michael. Michael is getting engaged. That doesn’t stop a drunken kiss from changing their friendship forever. FINALISTS NAPS created by Regina Hoyles The Mistletones directed by Eva Curry, Stephanie d’Agostini, and Bridget Matloff

RISING STAR HOW IT FEELS

NATALIA FERRARA The sonic experience of a girl walking home alone. 18

FINALISTS

FEATURE SCREENPLAY UNDERGRADUATE SHOTGUN Jennifer Coates When her best friend goes missing, one Iroquois teen muscles her way into North Dakota’s casino underbelly with one mission in mind: bring her friend home or die trying. DORIAN Grace (Ge) Gao An Asian American actress takes her own life after slumping into plastic surgery addiction. RIPTIDE Frida Katharine A boring, mamma bear twin tags along on spring break, where she fights losing her sister to old friends, a new fiancé, and killer mermaids. GRADUATE THE MOON RABBIT Alexandra Timmer The Moon Rabbit is forced to return to Earth to protect an imperial soldier that the moon goddess has fallen in love with. Q.U.E.E.N. Brittany “B.MONÉT” Fennel Q.U.E.E.N. tells the story of a teenage girl with a troubled past who faces her biggest fear at a rap battle. COMPLIMENTARY COLORS Alyssa Haddad When an elderly painter attempts to draw his deceased wife, he enlists in the help of his daughter, who discovers that she’s losing him to Alzheimer’s. SLEEPING WITH THE DEAD Dagny Atencio Looper A precocious young girl must choose between her rationalist father and a charismatic preacher predicting the end of the world in 1910.

FINALISTS

HALF-HOUR PILOT UNDERGRADUATE GOLDEN Tamara-Nicole Johnson Forced into a new life with her estranged grandparents after her parents are murdered, a young girl does anything to get home to New Orleans. RED STATE HIGH Celeste Amidon Following Trump’s election, college professor Evelyn decides poor education is to blame. So she moves to small town Idaho to teach high school English. INPATIENT Emma Layden When Agatha Simon accidentally reveals to the world that she lied about having cancer, she is actually diagnosed with cancer. GRADUATE TRIVIAL PURSUIT Jyotsna Hariharan Hounded by the insecurity and uncertainty in her life, Vidhya discovers a strange source of confidence and control in the world of competitive bar trivia. MR. SUNSHINE Ashley Hague When Shawn gets a job as a preschool teacher, he must overcome obstacles at the all female workplace. STAGE FIVE Alexandra Timmer A woman beats cancer, but can’t shake off the world of the dead with a mortician for a roommate and a goth detective stalking her.

FINALISTS

FACULTY JUDGES

ONE HOUR PILOT UNDERGRADUATE DOUBLE HEADER Sam Block Kelsey is tired of obeying her manipulative, star pitcher twin, Shay. A lifetime of suppressed feelings manifest dangerously as their first college season looms ahead. ALI’S PLACE Alysia Anderson Ali and her friends have their entire lives planned out, until life actually happens and leaves them with it’s back-up plan. IDOL 3000 Anastasia Sanger In a distant future of high-tech decay, a teen girl tries to break into the world of being a pop idol, but soon learns fame is more dangerous than you’d think. GRADUATE LITTLE HOPE - Jacqueline Dow Disgraced psychoanalyst Terry Roper struggles to get his life back on track with a new job leading the self help group at the local church. THE ADVENTURES OF PENNY PATTERSON - Stephanie Donnelly High school student Penny Patterson faces growing obstacles to winning the science fair after Steve, her lab partner and crush, becomes a superhero. BACK-ALLEY - Young Eun (Grace) Kim A genius surgeon stifled by hospital rules and protocols finds a MacGyver-like doctor who makes his own medical gadget and tries to team up. SIMULATION - Dagny Atencio Looper A brilliant astronomer finds herself cut off from humanity and her daughter after observing a nearby black hole.

Thank you to our faculty judges who support and inspire us. Gay Abel-Bey Mark Arywitz David Bagnall Karl Bardosh Lynne Boyarsky Justin Brenneman Ginger Brown Jim Brown Julian Cornell Alice Elliot Mike Errico DB Gilles Janet Grillo Andy Goldman Chris Goutman Chat Gunter John Gurrin Barbara Jacobs Grace Kiley

Rosanne Limoncelli Marsha Moore McKeever Phil McNagny Steven Michels Antonio Monda Matthew Morrison Marygrace O’Shea Gavin Ramoutar Chris Chan Roberson Susan Sandler Laszlo Santha Bruce Shakelford Shira-Lee Shalit Sylvia Sichel Sofia Sondervan Paul Thompson Tzipi Trope Harry Winer Enid Zentelis

NEGUS - Daeja Jackson When her mother uproots their life to Washington D.C, a young Americanized Ethiopian woman must reunite with her traditional cousin to break into the music industry.

INDUSTRY JUDGES We offer our deepest thanks to these judges from the highest levels of the entertainment industry for their dedication and support. Jordan Berg CAA Digital Packaging Ali Brown VP & Executive Producer PRETTYBIRD Maya Edelman Animator Wendy Ettinger Producer and Co-Founder Chicken & Egg Picture Jackie Glover VP, Documentary Films HBO Darian Lanzetta CAA Motion Picture Lit Agent Carmen Lewis VP DiNovi Pictures Lawrence Mattis Partner Circle of Confusion Katy McAffrey Gersh Agency TV LIT Agent

Katy McAffrey Gersh Agency TV LIT Agent Denise Rottina Production Manager Blue Sky Studios Debra Solomon Animator Milton Tabbot Senior Director of Programming IFP Gianna Toboni Producer and Correspondent VICE Janet Tamaro Writer/Executive Producer Hurdler Productions Basil Tsiokos Director of Programming DOC NYC Programming Sundance Film Program Director Nantucket Film Festival

Chris White Executive Producer of American Documentary POV, PBS

HONORARY BOARD Gina Abatemarco Fusion Co-Founder Maryse Alberti Cinematographer Elizabeth Avellan Producer Michael Burke Associate Dean/ Film, TV, New Media NYU/Tisch Mystelle Brabbée Executive Director, Nantucket Film Festival Dean Allyson Green Dean of the Tisch School of the Arts Jane Campion Director Denise Di Novi Producer, Di Novi Pictures Kelly Edwards VP Talent Development, HBO Alison Emilio Director, ReFrame, Women In Film/ Sundance Institute Emma Heald Fusion Co-Founder Amy Heckerling Writer, Director

Agnieszka Holland Writer, Director Miranda July Writer, Director, and Actress Barbara Kopple Filmmaker and Founder of Cabin Creek Films Yvonne McCormack-Lyons Executive Director, Women’s International Film Festival Nancy Meyers Writer, Director, and Producer Lynda Obst Producer, Rosen-Obst Productions Celine Rattray Producer, Maven Pictures Ezra Sacks Chair Undergrad Film, NYU/Tisch Susan Sandler Fusion Faculty Advisor and Professor, NYU/Tisch Barbara Schock Chair Grad Film, NYU/Tisch Julie Taymor Director Lauren Zalaznick Media Executive Founder & Curator The LZ SundayPaper

2018

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE THURSDAY APRIL 5

FRIDAY APRIL 6 3PM Docs in the Works: Pitch Competition Extraordinary opportunity to watch finalists present their docs in progress to top industry execs for live feedback and selection of winner!

Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

7PM OPENING NIGHT: “REAL BOY” Award winning doc by Shaleece Haas

A son’s transition. A mom’s transformation. Award winning doc by Shaleece Haas

Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street

7PM Artists and Activists Influential filmmakers who use their art to inspire social and political change

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Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

SATURDAY APRIL 7 9:30AM BRUNCH with a CHANGE MAKER: KAREN HORNE Fusion is incredibly honored to have NBC Universal’s Senior VP of Programming Talent Development & Inclusion for our Brunch with a Changemaker. In her role, Karen oversees all of NBC Universal’s incredible TALENT INFUSION PROGRAMS. About the NBC Talent Infusion Programs (NBC TIPS): Since 2000, NBC has been dedicated to discovering and nurturing on screen and behind-the-camera talent of diverse and inclusive backgrounds through the NBC Talent Infusion Programs (NBC TIPS). NBC TIPS are amongst the most extensive and robust diversity and inclusion programs in the television industry. They feature more than 20 programs including the new Female Forward, Writers on the Verge, the Diverse Staff Writer Initiative, Emerging Director Program, StandUp NBC nationwide search for stand-up comedians and the NBCUniversal SHORT FILM FESTIVAL that celebrates diverse stories and the filmmakers who create them. Program alumni are celebrated producers, writers, directors and actors in the entertainment industry who have gone on to win Emmys, Golden Globes and SAG Awards and include Alan Yang, Mindy Kaling, Deon Cole, Lil Rel Howery, Keto Shimizu, Natasha Rothwell, Danny Pudi and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel. For more information, visit NBCUniTIPS.com. Join us for breakfast and a thrilling conversation. Limited Seating. RSVP only fusionfilmfestival.com NYU students must apply for a seat at this event and receive notification to attend.

10AM

Go Pitch!

Fusion Film Festival is giving students the opportunity to pitch their TV Show, Web Series, or Feature idea directly to top development executives.

Invite-only

12PM Real Talk: Breaking Into the Biz “How do I get a job in entertainment?” “I don’t know anyone who works in the industry, how do I rise to the top?” “I’m not a writer, actor or director, but I want to work in entertainment. What types of jobs can I do?” All questions people who aspire to work in entertainment frequently ask. The successful women you’ll hear from on this panel will give you their insightful point of view on how to break into the industry, the various opportunities available to you and how to navigate your career. Moderated by Fusion Film Festival honoree Karen Horne, NBC’s Senior Vice President, Programming Talent Development & Inclusion, the panel will feature women from behind the scenes, in front of the camera and in media who are at varying stages of their careers. Panelists include Radha Blank (Writer, Netflix’s “She’s Gotta Have It”), Audrey Esparza (Actress on NBC’s drama “Blindspot” and an NYU alumna), Yvette Miley (Senior Vice President, MSNBC), Amber Payne (Executive Video Producer, Teen Vogue, them) and Foluke Tuakli, a member of NBC’s long-standing Page program. Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

2PM

Women in New Media

Highlighting the work of innovative artists who share their stories through podcasts, virtual reality, YouTube, and other new media platforms.

4PM

Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

MASTERCLASS: The Queer Producers Collective

Conversation with members of this open peer to peer network of distinguished producers with a diverse range of experiences and identities. Tisch Theatre 006, 721 Broadway

6:30PM Fusion Competition Screenings and Award Ceremony Join us for a stunning showcase screening of the finalists in the Fusion Film Festival 2018 Competition. We bring you the next generation of storytelling greats. Award presentations and reception will follow the screenings.

Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street

E Y E W E A R

Be the star of your life

www.madvision.com

Congratulates all the women in the 16th annual Fusion Film Festival! NYWIFT advocates for equality in the moving image industry and supports women in every stage of their careers. As the preeminent entertainment industry association for women in New York, NYWIFT energizes women by illuminating their achievements, presenting training and professional development programs, awarding scholarships and grants, and providing access to a supportive community of peers.

Join the conversation: @NYWIFT / #NYWIFT Learn more at www.nywift.org

Congratulations to the Fusion Film Festival on 16 Years of Celebrating and Inspiring Female Storytellers!

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Thank you, HBO, for believing in us! -The Fusion Film Festival Team

The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation is pleased to support the Fusion Film Festival and its work on behalf of women in the entertainment industry.

Fusion is produced with generous support from Tisch Profunds: The Office of the Dean & The Tisch Undergraduate Student Council