NYWiFT Muse Awards: In Search for a Muse

Christina Kotlar, WIFTI secretary and Communications Chair; Terry Lawler, Executive Director, NYWiFT; Kimberly Skyrme, WIFTI Board Chair

I did not have to look any further during New York Women In Film & Television‘s Muse Award luncheon at the Hilton in New York City. It was first class and smooth sailing from the time the doors opened (even before that) with volunteers ready at the tables because everyone comes all at once– 11:30 a.m. this is after all a working lunch. Networking that is. The buzz was thunderous as was the popping corks of champagne (Freixenet USA and Voveti) for mimosas and mindboggling cacophony of conversations going on before the start of the introductions, lunch, film clips of each recipient and the Muse Award for Outstanding Vision and Achievement.

This year, the awards were presented to Mariska Hargitay, Lisa Jackson, Lucy Liu, Nancy Martin with the Loreen Arbus Award “for those who take action and effect change to” going to Women Make Movies and Debra Zimmerman, its executive director. Emcee Jessica Williams kept the program moving after NYWIFT Board of Directors introductions.

The women appreciated the recognition and expressed their gratitude through sincere personal accounts, especially Lisa Jackson commenting on the life of a documentary filmmaker. Now, here’s someone I can identify with. And approachable.

Lisa and Debra stayed for the coffee where the raffle prize drawings were listed. When I checked my ticket stubs, I noticed I had the first ten tickets 00001-00010 sold for the raffle. At the start of the luncheon, I encouraged a table round of raffle tickets and came up with numbers 01473 and 01476. Didn’t win anything this year, but past years there was always something like a Grande Dame bottle of champagne. I will keep this one until Madame Director gets her due.

Finally, the after party. This is where we kick off our shoes, let down our hair, sink into the sofas and carry on the conversations and revelations of who is working on what and where the upcoming projects are. Another flurried exchange of business cards before gazing out at an incredible view looking out as the sun set over midtown Manhattan. Time to head back for this Jersey girl. The ride down in the elevator led to another unexpected connection that could create opportunity at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Looking ahead.