Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) is a global network of non-profit membership chapters. Established in 1997, it is dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women working in all areas of film, video, and other screen-based media.^[1]

Aims

Enhance the international visibility of women in the entertainment industry.
Facilitate and encourage communication and cooperation internationally.
Develop bold international projects and initiatives.
Stimulate professional development and global networking opportunities for women.
Promote and support chapter development.
Celebrate the achievements of women in all areas of the industry.
Encourage diverse and positive representation of women in screen-based media worldwide.^[2]^{[citation needed]}

History

Women in Film Los Angeles was founded in 1973 by Tichi Wilkerson Kassel. After several Women in Film organizations were established in a variety of cities around the globe, Women in Film and Television International WIFTI was organized in the mid-1990s.^[3]

1973–1997

Main article: Women in film § Women in Film and Television International

Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI) is a "global network comprised of over forty Women in Film chapters worldwide with over 10,000 members, dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women working in all areas of film, video and digital media."^[4] The organization was founded in 1973 in Los Angeles by Tichi Wilkerson Kassel and grew quickly worldwide, hosting their first Women in Film and Television International World Summit in New York City in September 1997.^[5]

WIFTI chapters

Main sources:^[6]^[7]

Region	Chapter	Yr.fo.	Yr.ch	President	Web
Africa	WIFT South Africa		2005
Asia	WIFTAI India
Australia^[4]	WIFT NSW	1982			[1]
	WIFT Victoria	1988			^[8]
	WIFT WA	2016			^[9]
	WIFT Australia	2018			^[8]
Pacific Islands	WIFT NZ	1993		Vicki Jackways	^[3a]
Europe	WIFT Finland		2014	Elina Knihtilä	[2]
	WFTV United Kingdom	1989	1990	Liz Tucker	^[2a]
	WIFT Ireland				—
	WIFTM Italy	2018			^[10]
	WIFT Germany				[3]
	WIF France
	WIF Sweden	2003	2005		[4]
	WIFT Greece	1973		Olympia Mytilinaiou	[5]
WIF Czech Republic				[6]
South America	WIFT Brazil				[7]
Latin American & Caribbean	Dominican Republic				[8]
Latin American & Caribbean	WIFT (Mexico)		2002	Concepción Tabaoada	[9]
Canada	WIFT Alberta			Susan Feddema-Leonard	[10]
	WIFT Atlantic	-	2009	Kimberlee McTaggart	[11]
	WIFT Montreal	1991		Brigitte Monneau	[12]
	WIFT Toronto	1984		Karen Bruce	[13]
	WIFTV Vancouver	1989		Sarah Kalil (2017-19)	[14]
United States	WIFT Atlanta			LaRonda Sutton	[15]
	WIFT San Francisco	2001	2003	Soumyaa Kapil Behrens	[16]
	WIF Chicago			Carrie Hunter	[17]
	WIF Dallas		1984	Alicia Pascual	[18]
	WIFM Kansas City			Laurie Crawford (2017 19)	[19]
	WIF Los Angeles	1977	1997		^[1a]
	WIF Las Vegas	2002	2004	Phyllis Cesare-Taie (Founder)
	MNWIFT (Minnesota)		2012?	Joanne Liebeler (2016-17)	[20]
	WIFT Nashville			Lynda Evjen	[21]
	WIFV New England	1981	2005?		[22]
	NMWIF Santa Fe			Christine McHugh	[23]
	NYWIFT New York	1977		Simone Pero (2017-18)	[24]
	WIF & Media Pittsburgh		2007	Roxana Gilani	[25]
	WIF-PDX Portland			Lisa Miyamoto	[26]
	WIF Seattle			Lisa B. Hammond	[27]
	WIFV Washington D.C.	1979		Carletta S Hurt	^[1b]
	Women in Film Utah		2010	Susan McEvoy (2017- )	[28]
	WIFM Tennessee			Roxanna 'Roxie" Green	[29]
	WIFT Palm Springs	2001	2010		[30]
	WIFT Florida			Nancy McBride	[31]
	WIFT Louisiana			Carol Bidault de l'Isle	[32]
	WIFT Maryland				—
	WIFT Houston				[33]

Notes

1. ^1a WIF Los Angeles — Official Website: WomenInFilm.org

... ^1b WIFV Washington D.C. — Women in Film & Video-DC Women of Vision Awards

— The founders include Ginny Durrin, Judy Herbert, Sharon Ferguson, Christine Brim, Jan Hatcher, Norma Davidoff, Pat McMurray, Catherine Anderson, Lauren Versel, Michal Carr, Elise Reeder, and Polly Krieger.^[11]

2. ^2a WFTV United Kingdom — Official Website: WFTV UK

— The founders include Lynda La Plante, Norma Heyman, Jenne Casarroto, Dawn French, Joan Collins and Janet Street-Porter.^[12]

3. ^3a WIFT NZ — Official Website: WIFT NZ

History of WIFT in NZ, researched and written by Helen Martin, traces the history of Women in Film and Television, from the establishment of WIF in Los Angeles in 1973, through the founding of WIFT Wellington in 1994, to the 10th anniversary of WIFT Auckland in 2005.^[13]

4. ⁴ As of May 2022, WIFT VIC and WIFT WA were operating as individual organisations, while WIFT NSW was in the process of transitioning up into WIFT Australia.^[8]

Programs

Women in Film-LA presents annual awards at their Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards ceremonies. In 1988, they presented the Lillian Gish Award for excellence in episodic directing.
Women in Film Foundation's Film Finishing Fund supports films by, for or about women.^[14] — since 2004

There are 22 affiliate organizations of WIFTI in the United States.^[15] The Washington D.C. affiliate, Women in Film & Video, has presented Women of Vision awards annually since 1994 to honor creative and technical achievements of women in media.^[16]^[17] Women in Film & Video has held a WIFV annual film festival.^[18]
Women In Film & Television Short Film Showcase, or WIFTI Short-Case, is a demonstration of WIFTI members' creativity, vision, and artistry.^[19] — since 2004

WIFTI Summits have been held bi-annually.^[20]^[21] — since 1997

References

^ "Women in Film and Television International - About Us". WIFTI. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
^ "Women In Film & Television International". Women in Film & Video DC. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
^ "About WIFTI Chapters". www.wiftichapters.org. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
^ "Mission". Women in Film and Television International. Women in Film and Television International. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
^ "Overview". Women in Film and Television International. Women in Film and Television International. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
^ "Chapters". Women in Film and Television International. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
^ "Other Chapters". Women In Film Los Angeles. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Chapters". WIFT Australia. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
^ "What We Do". WIFT WA. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
^ WIFT Italy
^ "History". WIFV Washington D.C. Retrieved May 21, 2018. In 1979, Ginny Durrin sent a letter to women she knew working in media inviting them to a meeting at her house. [...] Among the women involved in the first year were: Ginny Durrin, Judy Herbert, Sharon Ferguson, Christine Brim, Jan Hatcher, Norma Davidoff, Pat McMurray, Catherine Anderson, Lauren Versel, Michal Carr, Elise Reeder, and Polly Krieger.
^ "History". Women in Film & TV (UK). Retrieved May 21, 2018. In 1989, a group of women came together for the first WFTV (UK) meeting. A mix of executives, creatives and performers, they included Lynda La Plante, Norma Heyman, Jenne Casarroto, Dawn French, Joan Collins and Janet Street-Porter. [...] They resolved to take positive action and follow in the footsteps of organisations in Los Angeles and New York City established in the '70s to support women working in the film and TV industries. [...] In 1990, the first Women in Film awards ceremony was held to recognise the achievements of some of the most successful women the industry could boast. Twenty-five years on, the WFTV Awards is the largest annual celebration of women working in film, TV and digital media in the UK.
^ Helen, Martin. "FROM THE VAULT - A History of Women in Film and Television in New Zealand" (PDF). WIFT NZ. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 8, 2018). "Women In Film LA Unveils 32nd Annual Film Finishing Fund Recipients". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
^ BOARD,TREASURER, CAROL SAVOIE-WBST ADMIN WIFTI. "Women In Film And Television International". www.wiftichapters.org. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
^ Annual Women of Vision Awards program, October 6, 2011, Rosslyn, Virginia
^ Women of Vision Awards at wifv.org
^ Hail, Carla (March 2, 1987). "She Is a Camera". Washington Post.
^ "Short Film Showcase". WIFTI. 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
^ "Past Events". WIFTI. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
^ "WIFTI Summits". WIFTIchapters.org. Retrieved May 22, 2018.