Highlights from the 2018 Athena Film Festival

People filled New York’s Barnard College’s basement theater to its seams this weekend, attending films and events celebrating female activists and filmmakers. With special events featuring speakers like Gloria Steinem, Billie Jean King and former prime minister of New Zealand…

Preview: The 8th Annual Athena Film Festival

Now more than ever, we’re seeing more minorities in fields that were once inaccessible– save for a select few who broke barriers. With politics, sports, education and more all changing, it only seems natural that the filmmaking industry is among…

First Time Fest: Closing Night Ceremony Award Winners

The final installment of the First Time Fest, the Closing Night Ceremony was held on March 4th. Hosted by Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist), the Players Club lit up with flashes of cameras and smiles of the first…

‘Jack Goes Boating’ Interview with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Ryan

At the First Time Fest, there was a “First Exposure” series in which well known and accomplished directors would get their first directed films shown and have the chance to speak about the process. Some of these well known actors…

First Time Fest Supports New Filmmakers and Honors Esteemed Directors

The First Time Fest was created by Johanna Bennett and Mandy Ward as a way to showcase new upcoming filmmakers and their works, and to get them a head start in their industry. The festival occurred on March 1st to…

An Introduction to First Time Fest

This past weekend, March 1st to 4th, marked the first ever First Time Fest at The Player’s Club in New York City. The festival is a celebration of the films from first time filmmakers, which also features a competition in…