Women In Film Launches Inaugural Fellowship Program (Exclusive)
Women in Film (WIF) has unveiled its inaugural fellowship program, TheWrap can reveal exclusively.
This year’s fellowship program, which launched as the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary, recognizes 87 directors, writers, cinematographers, creative or indie producers, line producers, executives, reps, artisans and below-the-line crew members.
Open to women, nonbinary, and trans people across entertainment, the program will bring together the fellows for a year of mentorship from the WIF team, including guest speakers and master classes, networking, field trips and other individualized support.
With mentors from both the business and craft sides of the industry, each fellow will participate in six mentoring sessions with their cohort and mentor team, and will meet with Melissa Verdugo, a former talent manager and current WIF senior manager of career programs, to discuss an individualized plan based on each fellows’ needs.
“The Fellowships offer participants a culmination of the best parts of our historic programs,” senior director of programs Maikiko James said in a statement. “We’ve learned that we need to invest time and intentionality when it comes to helping people’s careers, and that we need to reach widely and comprehensively across the field in order to transform the industry. The inclusion of crew, artisan, physical production, and executive Fellows and Mentors is critical to addressing some of the most extreme gender disparity in Hollywood.”
This year’s fellows include recipients of the 2023 WIF x Black List Episodic Lab and Feature Residency, which is supported by the Golden Globes Foundation and ShivHans Pictures, and Netflix supports the directing and cinematography fellowships.
Alongside the WIF fellowship program, the organization also launched an emerging careers program to support newer entrants to Hollywood, especially communities historically underrepresented in in the industry. The program, which was made possible due to Johnnie Walker’s support, is set to provide participants with education and social events to aid those aiming to break into the industry.
“Johnnie Walker is honored to be a part of WIF’s mission in creating more opportunities for women in the entertainment industry as they mark their 50 th anniversary,” Johnnie Walker and Buchanan’s at Diageo North America VP Josh Dean said. “Through our partnership and support of the inaugural WIF Emerging Program, we are taking significant strides towards progress and an equitable future, and look forward to witnessing the transformative impact this program will bring to the careers of women and the entertainment landscape.”
Applications for the 2024 WIF Fellowship Program and for the WIF x Black List Episodic Lab are now open.
See the full list of fellows and mentors below:
Writing Fellows – Feature Residency
Audrey Ellis Fox
Cat Rinehart
Kimba Henderson
Robin Cloud
Suhashini Krishnan
Tamar Feinkind
Writing Fellows – Episodic Lab
Bev Chukwu
Deanna Esposito
Eudie Pak
Helen RY Sun & Laura Malatos
Katherine Ruppe
Lorin Williams
Thea Rodgers
Directing Fellows
Alejandra Lopez
Auden Bui
Carly Usdin
Erin Lau
Gabby Revilla Lugo
Halima Lucas
Kameishia Wooten
Kat Mills Martin
Michelle Steffes
Myra Aquino
Tess Paras
Tijuana Ricks
Cinematography Fellows
Andrea Mereles
Emilia Mendieta
Jo Jo Lam
LaDawn Manuel
Michelle Clementine
Nichole Ruiz
Pip White
Sarah Whelden
Creative Fiction Producer Fellows
Bettina Fisher
Cecilia Salguero
Ebony Elaine Hardin
Jera Wang
Josie Andrews
Kellie Brooke Malone
Levi Alexander
Lita Lopez
Maisha Dyson
Noor Lawson
Shelby Malone
Documentary Producer Fellows
Elizabeth Ai
Jeanette Charles
Rajal Pitroda
Shubhangi Shekhar
Physical Producer Fellows
Brittny Chapman
Genesis Socorro
Kam Nurock
Louise Barretto
Yoona Wang
Business Executive Fellows
Aanchal Khaneja
Adriana Martínez Barrón
Alexandra Kundrat
Anja Block
Annie Huang
Ashley Whitaker
Catalina Acebal-Acevedo
Clara Yoon
Erica Kolsrud
Folashade Ade-Banjo
Jasmine Kent
Maryam Mehrtash
Shakera Robinson
Business Representative Fellows
DaVida Smith Baker
Eva Ruiz de Chavez
Artisan & Crew Fellows
Alexis Carrie – Costume Designer
Ashley Monti – Editor
Christine McAuliffe – Editor
Elizabeth Dunn – Key Grip
Emma Koh – Production Designer
Gabriella Sahlman – Music Supervisor
Ilana Rozin – Editor
Jasmin Benward – Music Supervisor
Jasmine Gutierrez – Casting Director
Jenna Brewer – Production Designer
Joanna Phillips – Editor
Johnny-Louise Nute – Script Supervisor
Kristian Candie – Costume Designer
Meredith Mantik – Editor
Molly Biscardi-Silver – Editor
Nya Patrinos – Production Designer
Rupali Ingle – Production Designer
Ruth Araujo – Costume Designer
Artisan & Crew Fellowship Mentors
Lynne Ollie, Costume Designer
Phillip J. Bartell, Editor
Melanie Ragone, Union First Unit Grip/Producer
Christine Belden, Global Head of Film, TV, and Media Music, Warner Chappell Music
Dawn Gilliam, Script Supervisor
Jayne Bieber, Senior Production Executive
Business Fellowship Mentors
Alissa Bachner, Executive Vice President, Tomorrow Studios
Kirsten Creamer, Executive Director of Current Series, Freeform
Rebecca Arzoian, President of Television, Smokehouse Pictures
Talitha Watkins, President and Head of ColorCreative Management
Cinematographer Fellowship Mentors
Claire Best, Agent, Claire Best & Associates
Alison Kelly, Cinematographer
Sandra Vale-Hansen, Cinematographer
Director Fellowship Mentors
Greta Fuentes, VP, Production & Development, Macro
Kay Oyegun, Director/Writer/EP
Melanie Donkers, Development Director, Mermade
Victoria Mahoney, Director
Rachel Lee Goldenberg, Director/EP
Producer Fellowship Mentors
Jamila Jordan-Theus, Producer
Kira Carstensen, Global Managing Partner, Merman
Michelle Brattson, EVP/Head of Physical Production, Amblin Partners
Monica Levinson, Producer
Katie Doering, SVP of Original Programming and Special Projects, Herzog & Co.
Fiona Walsh Heinz, Producer & Line Producer
Lisa Niedenthal, Head of Physical Production, Blumhouse
Sheridan Thayer, SVP Deputy Head of TV Production, Fifth Season
Tara Power, Vice President of Physical Production, Paramount
Writer Fellowship Mentors
Chelsea Benson, Manager, Echo Lake Entertainment
JaNeika & JaSheika James, Writers/EPs
Jen Ray, Partner & Literary Manager, Heroes and Villains Entertainment
Jessica O’Toole, Writer/EP
Shalisha Francis, Writer/Co-EP
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