WFF’14 PROGRAM

Day 1- Film & Television 

5pm Session1: Fashion Films

Student Fashion Shorts: Screening & Talk-Back with Student Filmmakers moderated by Lisa Donofrio- Head of the Women & Fashion FilmFest Student Fashion Shorts Program

 

Social X Rays by Adriana Kaegi

Do you believe in magic? Legendary Fashion/Night-life Photographer Royalty, Roxanne Lowit does. She has visual chronicles from the past thirty years, of magical moments only she can capture. Her photos have appeared in major fashion magazines, museums and galleries worldwide and her published books are sold out. Roxanne who singlehandedly created the backstage scene and changed fashion photography forever, has become as much a celebrity as those she photographed. Find out what fashion photographer David LaChapelle, Actress Fran Drescher, Legendary super model Pat Cleveland and others, have to say about Roxanne and her body of work.

 

6pm Session 2: Filmmaking

Indie Filmmaking in NYC: A Panel Discussion with Women Leaders on Opportunities & Resources in NYC for Independent Filmmakers with Hoong Yee Krakauer- Executive Director of The Queens Council on the Arts, Joana Vicente- Executive Director of the Independent Filmmaker Project and the Made in NY Media Center by IFP, and Rose Ganguzza- President of Rose Pictures, moderated by Michelle Handelman, Filmmaker and Associate Professor of Film & Media at the Fashion Institute of Technology

 

7pm Session 3: Television & Online Media

The Small Screen Renaissance: A Panel Discussion with Women Leaders in Television & Online Distribution with Laura Michalychshyn- President of Sundance Productions, Dae Mellencamp- President of Vimeo, Stephanie Sharis- COO of SnagFilms, Liz Janneman- EVP and Head of Strategy of OvationTV, moderated by award winning actress Heather Matarazzo

 

8pm Session 4: Tangled Thread

A special preview of Tangled Thread, the latest documentary by Sara Ziff, Founder of the Model Alliance, The screening is followed by a talk-back with Sara Ziff.

 

 

About Tangle Thread: The runway of New York and the factories of Bangladesh could not seem further apart. Yet they both drive a global, multi-trillion dollar industry: the fashion industry. And, in both cases, the work is performed overwhelmingly by young women and girls who are struggling to assert their rights in a hostile labor environment. Tangled Thread tells the story of two labor activists who become unlikely allies: runway model Sara Ziff and former garment worker Kalpona Akter. Together, they attempt to organize across the supply chain to unite fashion’s most and least visible workers. Tangled Thread: labor rights, women’s rights & a call to action.

 

Day 2- Fashion & Beauty 

3pm Session 5: Fashion & Retail Careers

Getting Your Foot In The Door & More: A Panel Discussion won Having a Successful Career in Fashion and Retail with LaVelle Olexa- Former Chair of Fashion Group International, Terre Simpson, President of Simpson Associates, a major fashion and retail executive search firm; and Gail Monroe-Perry- President of BRAG and Executive Search Consultant with Martens & Heads, moderated by Nicole Kirpalani, Ph.D , Assistant Professor of Marketing, Management & Finance of LIM College

 

4pm Session 6: Diversity in Fashion & Entertainment

African American Women in Fashion & Entertainment: A Panel Discussion with Prominent Women as African American Female Role Models and the Status of Their Industries from Their Perspective with Supermodels Grace Bol and Devyn- 1st Winner of Naomi Campbell’s The Face, Vivian Reed– Tony Award Nominated Actres, and Audrey Smaltz- CEO of Ground Crew, moderated by Harriette Cole – President of Harriette Cole Media and Former Editor-in-Chief of Ebony Magazine.

 

5pm Session 7: Magazines

Magazines Behind the Scenes: A Panel Discussion with Top Magazine Editors with Andre Leon Talley- Consulting Editor and Former Editor-at-Large of Vogue, Constance White- Consulting Editor of Ozy.com and Former Editor-in-Chief of Essence, Sasha Charnin Morrison- Fashion Director of US Weekly; and Lynn Yaeger- Contributing Fashion Editor of Vogue

 

6pm Session 8: Emerging Designer Resources in NYC

Can You Make It In NYC?: A Panel Discussion on Resources Available to Emerging Designer in NYC with Eric Johnson, Director of Fashion, Arts & International, Center for Economic Transformation of NYC Government; Debera Johnson- Executive Director of the Brooklyn Fashion & Design Accelerator; and Gary Wasner- CEO of the Hilldun Corporation

 

7pm Session 9: Special Advanced Film Screening

Make It in America: Empowering Global Fashion: A Special Advanced Screening of the latest documentary by James Belzer (The Tents) followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and Q&A Panel, including: Dennita Sewell- Curator of Fashion Design at The Phoenix Art Museum (www.phxart.org), Michelle Vale- Handbag Designer and Associate Producer of film, and other special guests. Moderated by Jacqueline Jenkins, Graduate Studies Director of LIM College.

 

Day 3- Girls Film Festival™ 

5pm Session 11:Mothers & Daughters

Building Bridges to Understanding: a Discussion with mother and daughter teams on how they have helped each other through life’s challenges with Stacey Sheiffelin- Former Ford Model & Founder and President of ybf, her daughter Knox McKay Sheiffelin a model and entrepreneur, Sandi Bass- a renown Casting Director and Muse to Hubert de Givenchy and legendary and daughter Christina Millar. Supermodel Pat Cleveland & daughter Anna Cleveland, moderated by Dr. Estella Sneider, Co-Host of LIVE Today with John Johnson & Dr. Estella, #1 Talk Show on LA Talk Radio, Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) & Certified Sex Therapist

 

6pm Session 12: Inspiring Girls

Finding Your Passion, Building a Bright Future: A Panel Discussion with Supermodels Models on Their Philanthropic Projects & Social Enterprises to inspire girls to focus on developing skills & talents & contributing to society with Supermodels Sessilee Lopez talking about her work with Operation Smiles, Nykhor Paul on her work promoting peace in Sudan through her initiative “We are Nilotic,” Grace Bol on The Roots Project that teaches arts and crafts to South Sudanese communities, Crystal Renn and Claudia Mason on body image and women’s health.

 

7pm Session 14: Girls Film Festival

Girls Calling the Shots: A Screening of Short Films by Girls in collaboration with Reel Works, Scenarios USA, and the Civic Life Project

Human Trafficking by Kemani Harriot & Ayla Airbright (Civic Life Project) (10 mins.)

 

Human Trafficking, made by students from Classical Magnet School in Hartford, CT, is the result of a year of research into human trafficking happening in the northeastern U.S. This short documentary reveals surprising stories of human trafficking between CT and New York, and includes interviews with advocates & legislators working to stop it.

 

Ohana by students from Monument Mountain Regional High School (Civic Life Project) (10 mins.)

An exploration of single parenting made by a group of fives high school girls from Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The film was an opportunity to turn the cameras on friends and family, and showcase the heroics of these moms and dads facing the challenges of raising a child on their own.

 

The Civic Life Project

The Civic Life Project is a non-profit organization, which uses documentary filmmaking to engage students in our democracy. As an alternative to the standard high school civics class students spend the year working with Civic Life Project mentors to create a documentary exploring an issue of their choosing.

 

Generation Hollow (Reel Works)

From the Eyes of the Deceved (Reel Works) .

 

Day 4- Girls Empowerment Fashion Runway Show

WFF will conclude with the Girls Empowerment Fashion Runway (GEFR), a fashion show sponsored by True Model Management and Runway The Real Way at the Yotel Hotel (570 Tenth Avenue , NYC -btw 41st/42nd St.) during their Fashion Brunch. From 2.30-3.30pm, the event will showcase a live fashion show featuring designs by students of the United Colors of Fashion (UCOF Academy) and various NYC colleges as well as outfits from Best Dressed NY. DJ Marcus will spin music for a Girls Dance Party after show. Students from LIM College will style the show. Make-up & hair styling provided by Make Up For Ever Academy. Backstage workshops by: The Luminous Foundation, Karen Lee Group, Model Moves/iModelSchool, Divine Life Styles, Be Your Best Health, Gerardo Porteny Backal, Admittedly & more.

 

 

FILMS

HIGHLIGHTS