New England’s only professional association dedicated to promoting and supporting women in film and television celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2006. Plans are underway to commemorate Women in Film & Video/New England’s (or WIFV/NE’s) ongoing service to both its members and the local media community. 

WIFV/NE anchors its anniversary year with the semiannual Image Awards for Vision and Excellence. Slated for March 22, 2006, the gala fundraising event honors individuals whose achievements have advanced the image of women (and girls) both in front of and behind the camera. The evening’s line-up includes a special tribute to the organization’s 25-year history, celebrity guests, a silent auction, and of course, the presentation of its to-be-announced honorees.

Past Image Awards honorees include Julia Child, Katharine Ross, Brooke Adams, and a number of other notable women and men. The event customarily features a video segment about each winner, and like other galas of this nature, generates a significant source of the organization’s operating income.  In addition to its goal of keeping WIFV/NE financially afloat, program administrator Cristina Cacioppo notes that it’s a “chance for people to get dressed up, have a nice dinner and mingle, and celebrate the important work of women.”

Though the Image Awards occur only every few years, WIFV/NE works year round to celebrate and support women. For example, the growing WIFV/NE annual screenplay competition, which has a January 13, 2006 deadline, promotes aspiring women screenwriters. Entries must be authored or co-authored by a woman and/or feature a woman or women in prominent roles. A prominent literary agent reviews the winning script, considering it for representation. Last year the contest received roughly 80 submissions, with the grand prize awarded to Lexington-based author and screenwriter, Barbara Shapiro. “In 2003, the winner’s script was optioned right away, and this year, Barbara has already received some interest in her script,” says Rhea Becker, board president of WIFV/NE. 

Women who have completed films, whether experimental, narrative, or documentary, have several opportunities to screen them, courtesy of WIFV/NE. Cacioppo notes that regardless of whether or not you’re a member, “send your tapes to us – we are always looking for quality work.” Cacioppo has spearheaded a number of thematic screenings, including experiential animation at an art gallery in Providence, an outdoor screening at Somerville Community Growing Center last summer, and an ongoing series with the Boston Public Library.  The especially popular outdoor screening had viewers sharing blankets and comments after a collection of garden-inspired shorts  “We’ll be doing another screening like that next summer,” says Cacioppo.

Another WIFV/NE series runs through rain, sleet, and snow on the first Tuesday of every month. “Chicks Make Flicks” presents outstanding work by women filmmakers from the New England area in collaboration with MIT’s Women’s Studies Program. The screenings take place at MIT, are free and open to the public, and include Q&A with the filmmaker. The series helps audiences stay up to date on the newly released work of local artists and reacquaints audiences with valuable works that have been shelved for some time. Last year’s screening of Marilyn Levine’s LIFE, DEATH. AMD BASEBALL, for example, revisited a documentary she completed in 1997 and sparked an earnest conversation about how her perspective has changed since finishing the memoir about her sister’s death and her family’s love of baseball. The women filmmakers featured in this series are considered masters in the craft of filmmaking, or women who are either role models or mentors to up-and-coming artists.

Bridging the knowledge and experience of seasoned filmmakers with the creative, developing talent of up-and-coming artists is part of WIFV/NE’s charge. The Media Mentors program fosters relationships between professionals with expertise in a particular field and those looking for new skills by matching them for a handful of informal meetings. Like the “Chicks” series, active WIFV/NE members created the program after perceiving a community need. Irena Fayngold and Jessica Gidal developed Media Mentors for WIFV/NE based on their successful participation in a similar program at WGBH. Last year approximately 20 women participated; Fayngold and Gidal have similar plans for this year. WIFV/NE just stopped accepting applications for 2006, but those interested can add their name to a notification list for the next round by emailing wifvnementors@hotmail.com

Though many WIFV/NE programs are free and open to the public, Media Mentors is a service for members only. However, membership is open to anyone interested. Dues are $75 annually; $25 for students. The membership demographic reflects every facet of women working in film, video, and television in New England: producers, directors, writers, animators, editors, designers, technicians, film festival coordinators, composers, actors, distributors, educators, attorneys, and others. And yes, men can join too. Benefits include discounts from a long list of related media companies, and access to other special opportunities. A member favorite is the weekly “WIFV/NE Wire,” an electronic newsletter that summarizes local events, grant and submission opportunities, and other news.

In related WIFV/NE news, Cacioppo announced plans for a revamped WIFV/NE website. Construction should be complete in time to usher in the 25th anniversary year. According to Cacioppo, the new site will have links to members’ websites, video clips of members’ work, and a good resource list of local film organizations. “We want to be more useful than ever to members in helping to promote their work,” she says. And since the organization runs on a shoestring, almost entirely by volunteers, the organization is always looking for additional leadership. “We need people to step up and volunteer to launch some of our new ideas,” says Cacioppo. “We need more woman power.”

For more information, visit www.womeninfilmvideo.org 

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Erin Trahan writes about film and coordinates film series, with specific interest in films that are good for girls. She is a past president of WIFV/NE.