For Immediate Release: Contact: Shonna Keogan February 14, 2013 212.998.6796 N-204, 2013-14 [email protected]

2014 NYU Fusion Film Festival Names Outgoing Tisch Dean and NYC Culture Icon Mary Schmidt Campbell “Woman of The Decade”

Premiere Student Festival Showcasing Emerging Female Filmmakers Features Three Days of Films and Panel Events, Thursday, March 6 –Saturday, March 8

The Fusion Film Festival, NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ premiere student film festival showcasing the work of emerging female filmmakers, will recognize the contributions of outgoing NYU Tisch Dean, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, to emerging female filmmakers by naming her the first ever Fusion Film Festival Woman of the Decade. The award presentation will cap off three days of screenings and panels celebrating women creators in film, TV, and New Media beginning Thursday, March 6 and running through Saturday, March 8. All events are free and open to the public.

The award ceremony will take place at the Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street, on Saturday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m., followed by screenings of the festival’s finalist films and the awards ceremony for the competition winners. From Thursday through Saturday, the Festival will include a wide variety of events, including a special panel on women in animation; screenings of award-winning features and shorts, including NYU alum Janicza Bravo’s Gregory Go Boom, starring ; a panel of television writers and producers from such shows as The Americans, Nurse Jackie and House of Cards; and a brunch with Susan Margolin, President of Docurama Entertainment Group.

“The incredibly impressive line up of talent we have at this year’s Fusion Film Festival is so heartening because it shows how many women in the industry share our mission of supporting and showcasing the work of female colleagues in the industry,” said Fusion Festival Co-Director Lucy Ross. “From direction to writing to animation to the business side, women are both making gains and mentoring the next generation,” added Co-Director Natalie Erazo.

Mary Schmidt Campbell became Dean of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 1991, previously having served as the NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner and the Director of the Studio Museum in Harlem. She received her Ph.D. in humanities from Syracuse University. Under her stewardship as Dean, Tisch overall and the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television in particular have experienced tremendous success, producing some of the world’s most exciting new filmmakers, including Dee Rees, Lucy Walker, Debra Granick, Angela Robinson, Ven Sud, Janicza Bravo, Geoffrey Fletcher, Luke Matheny and Cary Fukunaga. During her tenure she has expanded financial aid opportunities and production awards which in turn has helped expand the percentage of women students in the film program and has provided more support for the creation and development of short and feature length films. She has also expanded the faculty to include many influential individuals within the film industry, including Spike

(more) Page 2- NYU Tisch Fusion Film Festival, March 7-9, 2013

Lee, Artistic Director of the Graduate Film program and independent Filmmakers, Todd Solondz and Kassi Lemons. Nine years ago, NYU Tisch became the only film school to support the creation of feature length thesis films, many of which have gone on to great success at film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca and SXSW and in theatrical release.

“The purpose of the Fusion Film Festival is to encourage and support female filmmakers who continue to compete in a male-dominated profession, and few individuals have greater claim to advancing women in film than Mary Schmidt Campbell,” said Fusion Co-Director Nicole Quintero Ochoa. “Her commitment to diversity, to innovative programming, and to supporting the individual voice within each artist at the Tisch School of the Arts has made NYU Tisch not only one of the world’s leading film schools, but a dynamic environment for fresh, bold, and groundbreaking filmmaking,” offered Susan Sandler, Fusion’s Faculty Advisor and professor in Tisch’s Kanbar Institute of Film & TV.

Below is a full list of programming and events. All events free and open to the public on a first come basis. This year’s festival is sponsored by the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & TV, the Tisch Undergraduate Student Council, Tisch Profunds, Final Draft, Avid, Adobe and Media Services. For Fusion Festival 2014 updates, please visit www.fusionfilmfestival.com.

Opening Night: THURSDAY, MARCH 6

IT FELT LIKE LOVE 7 p.m. Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street, New York, NY 10003 A special advanced screening of the Sundance Hit with writer/director Eliza Hittman in attendance. Synopsis: On the outskirts of , a fourteen-year-old’s sexual quest takes a dangerous turn when she pursues an older guy and tests the boundaries between obsession and love. (Opens March 21 at IFC Center.) For Images see http://www.variancefilms.com/itfeltlikelovepress.html Screened with the short: GREGORY GO BOOM 7p.m. Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street, New York, NY 10003 Sundance 2014 Award Winning short, Starring Michael Cera, includes a special appearance by writer, director and NYU alum Janicza Bravo A paraplegic man leaves home for the first time only to discover that life on the outside is not what he imagined it would be.

FRIDAY, MARCH 7 Docs-In-the-Works Pitch Competition 3 p.m. Theater 006 (lower level), NYU Tisch School of the Arts, 721 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 Go behind the doors for this exclusive session, and watch four lucky filmmakers Finalists screen their trailers, pitch and get LIVE feedback from top execs from HBO, History Channel, Impact Partners, POV, Independent Film Project, Chicken & Egg Pictures. Award winning documentary filmmaker and NYU Prof Nilita Vachani hosts.

(more) Page 3- NYU Tisch Fusion Film Festival, March 7-9, 2013

Women in Animation 7 p.m. Theater 006 (lower level), NYU Tisch School of the Arts, 721 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 A conversation with award winning talent in all areas of the Animation World, as they share journeys in animation, and screen their work. Featuring Debra Solomon, animator, producer and creator of The Lizzie McGuire Movie; Candy Kugel, Emmy Award winning designer, director, and principal producer of TV specials and commercials at Buzzco Associates; Denise Rottina, Production Manager, Blue Sky Studios; and Jennifer Oxley, co-creator PBS’s Peg + Cat, former creative director of Nick’s The Wonder Pets and an NYU animation alum. Networking reception following the event catered by Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit “Sundae Bar”

SATURDAY, MARCH 8 Brunch With Susan Margolin, President of Documara Entertainment Group 10 a.m. RSVP ONLY An intimate breakfast chat with Susan Margolin, President of Docurama (former President of Cinedigm.) Be a part of an insider’s conversation on all aspects of film distribution with an indie powerhouse! Attendance by Reservation Only. Applications to attend at www.fusionfilmfestival.com. Catered by ‘Wichcraft

Can Women Save Film Criticism? 1 p.m. Theater 006 (lower level), NYU Tisch School of the Arts, 721 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 Much has been made of the so-called “death of film criticism” due to aggregated scores and a lack of prominent, diverse voices among critics. Writers from , Village Voice, Vanity Fair, and other outlets talk about the challenges faced by female critics and how writers on film can still make an impact on the industry.

Big Ideas on the Small Screen 3 p.m. Theater 006 (lower level), NYU Tisch School of the Arts, 721 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 NYU Tisch Theater 006 TV’s creative elite share reflections on storytelling craft and magical thinking for the small screen. The amazing line up of writing and producing talent includes: Liz Flahive, Executive Producer for Nurse Jackie; Carly Mensch, Weeds and Nurse Jackie; Tracey Wilson, The Americans; Melissa James Gibson, The Americans and House of Cards; and Thania St. John, Writer/Producer for Covert Affairs, Chicago Fire and founding member of The League of Hollywood Women Writers.

Fusion Competition Showcase & Award Ceremony, including Woman of the Decade Award 6:30 p.m. Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street, New York, NY 10003 Discover the next generation of storytelling greats as the Fusion Competition Screenings showcases the stunning work of all finalists from Grad and Undergrad Film in all categories. Award ceremony and prize presentations will be made to winners in all categories of competition, and the Woman of the Decade Award will be presented to Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dean of The Tisch School of the Arts. Reception follows the Awards Presentations.

(more)

Page 2- NYU Tisch Fusion Film Festival, March 7-9, 2013

About Fusion Film Festival The Fusion Film Festival is NYU Tisch’s premiere festival dedicated to celebrating the work of women in film, television and new media, from student to icon. In the 11 years since its launch, the student-run festival has been proud to attract accomplished artists such as Julie Taymor, Linda Obst, Miranda July, Lena Dunham, Penny Marshall, Amy Heckerling, Barbara Kopple, Lauren Zalaznick, and Jane Campion. Beyond the multi-day annual showcase of work, Fusion also serves as a vital artistic community that explores ways to break down barriers that separate men and women in film and television, while creating valuable opportunities for collaboration, cross- promotion and mentorship.

The Fusion Film Festival is proud to be an Allied Partner of the Women In Film/Sundance Institute’s Women’s Initiative. For more information, visit www.FusionFilmFestival.com or contact [email protected]

# # #