WOMEN IN FILM & VIDEO INC
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Mission Statement
Women in Film & Video (WIFV) provides educational and networking opportunities for screen-based media makers, celebrates women’s creative and technical achievements in media, and advocates for parity both in front of and behind the camera to ensure that all voices can be heard. A 501(c)(3) non-profit community benefit organization founded in 1979, WIFV is the premier professional resource for people who want successful media careers in the DC-metro region. Our resources, connections and advocacy support a vibrant, creative media community.
About This Cause
Women in Film & Video of Washington, DC (WIFV) acts as an advocate for under-represented voices in media. Our operating philosophy is to be the change we want to see. In March of 1979, a group of DC area women filmmakers met to address concerns they had about their lack of career advancement and to discuss why their work was largely being ignored by the media establishment. They began to help each other make key connections and overcome obstacles that had hindered their success. Later that year, they founded WIFV to act as an advocate for all under-represented voices. Over the years, WIFV has nurtured many careers and has become a critical information hub for the region's media community. Starting with a dozen women, WIFV now serves thousands. Our core constituency is independent media makers--producers, directors, writers, editors, cinematographers, casting agents, actors, sound editors, audio recordists, graphic artists, production assistants, and more. These full-time and freelance professionals work in indie production, broadcast television, marketing, public relations, advertising, non-profits, government agencies, and other areas where stories need to be shared. Some use their work as media makers as their creative release from their day jobs. Our membership currently stands at about 900 people (80% women, 20% men), ranging from college students studying media to production company owners who have been in the business for decades. We serve nearly 5,000 members of the public on an annual basis through their regular attendance at our roundtables (for writers, documentary, talent, editors, animators, and more), social media, cross-promotion, and events with our many partners. Since March 2020, WIFV has produced more than 200 programs a year (March to March). They include a mix of online and in-person workshops, panel discussions, technology demonstrations, screenwriters conference, a monthly film club, and filmmaker conversations. In January 2022, we launched a monthly writers co-op, a 10-month short films production project for five shorts, and a 9-month Narrative Script Development Fellowship. In fall 2022, we hope to again host the Kids World Film Festival for middle school students. Since making industry contacts is key to advancing in a media career, we also host networking events, including an open house, holiday party, and at least two informal coffees and happy hours per month. Additionally we host a monthly coffee for Reel Moms (caregivers of all genders that work in media), a monthly happy hour for BIPOC media makers, and a bi-monthly happy hour for LGBTQIA media makers. Our fiscal sponsorship program mentors independent filmmakers and provides them access to potential funders. To date, more than $1,000,000 has been raised and managed for a variety of media projects, some of which have received national broadcast and film festival awards . Completed projects have served audiences and sometimes even changed policy! The Past Presidents Mid-Career Scholarship in partnership with the Maine Media Workshops allows a member with at least 12 years career experience to study at The Workshops. WIFV supports a Seed Fund for Documentary Filmmakers and now offers the Jane Cusumano/WIFV Short Narrative Film Finishing Grant that includes cash and in-kind donations that total close to $15,000 for post production expenses. Our listserv and Media Job Fair (unique in the Mid Atlantic region) help media makers find permanent and freelance media positions in the DC region. We are an employment catalyst for a major segment of DC’s creative economy. Our members are dynamic entrepreneurs who produce value-added media products for local, national, and international markets. They also have a multiplier effect as they: • start businesses, make investments, take out loans, and hire employees • give back to the community through their art, contributions of expertise, and support of others’ projects. • mentor the next generation of media makers. All of WIFV’s efforts are aimed at helping our members build the skills and make the connections they need to overcome barriers and advance their work in a highly competitive environment. We support women as they create narrative films and documentaries, training and industrial films for commercial and government clients, television programming, advertising and marketing, animation and special effects, and innovative new media products. Their work is among the best in the industry and has been recognized with Oscar nominations and dozens of Emmys, Peabodys, CINE Golden Eagles, and Tellys. As media makers are stressed with shrinking full-time employment opportunities, constantly changing technology, and the never-ending search for funding, we increase our services, programs, partnerships, and networking opportunities. We connect this region with media makers across the globe so they have contacts wherever their work takes them.