Women In Film Pittsburgh

Women in Film and Media (WIFM) Pittsburgh is a nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to improve the status and portrayal of women in film, television, and other screen-based media in Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond. We serve our community by facilitating their access to opportunities in the industry. We lend our services to non-profit organizations helping women and children. Our programs and events include workforce skills development through mentoring and training.

PSA Program:
WIFM assists non-profit organizations that help women and children by producing a PSA (Public Service Announcement) for them at little or no charge to the non-profit. We begin by receiving submissions from the non-profits and then choosing three of those to come in for a more in-depth interview to learn more about them. We then choose one non-profit to meet with and discuss their needs, mission and the message they want to broadcast. We interview women working in the industry as well as students who are referred by their instructors to work on the PSA as mentees. Each of them works with a film professional who mentors them. WIFM then gathers a team of professionals who meet with the non-profit to begin working on a script. The production team takes the project from an idea to a fully produced PSA benefiting the community, the non-profit and everyone who works on the project.

Summer Short Film Festival:
Women from around the world are able to enter this competition providing their director is a woman and they have at least two other 'above-the-line' participants who are women. The films are submitted to us via FilmFreeway and other marketing vehicles for women to submit their films. We have received films from women in India, London, Australia, China, etc for consideration. Once we have settled on a program, we notify all the entrants and let them know they have been chosen. Winners are given a laurel for their website and are considered for prizes.

Education Programs:
We have developed a long list of classes and workshops for our members and the community to take in order to improve their skills, professional bios and for people who either want to get into the industry or are just starting. Our programs have included: Actors Sessions with casting directors and talent managers; Production Assistant Session teaching people who want to be on the set which will then help them move up in the ranks; Actor Sessions where the actors perform a scene or commercial for local producers, talent managers and casting directors; Tom Savini School of Special Effects session held at the school in Monessen to talk about what programs they have to offer and their programs; Sessions on getting into the following businesses - Hair/Makeup; extra work; actors; voiceover work; producer, associate producer, etc.

Testimonials

Summer Short Film Festival:

From Brit Tobin - Los Angeles - Where to start? Hats off to the entire team at WIFM for putting together such a fantastic lineup of films for their very first virtual screening. Our short film Dear Olivia screened online alongside 8 others with WIFM, with a really thoughtful and inspiring message by Heidi Ward at the beginning and end of the show. We are all so grateful to have this opportunity with such a wonderful group of ladies, and what's even better, is our cast-crew were able to tune in from all over the world. We had so much fun watching the films and connecting with the other filmmakers via chat. It was such an honor to be a part of this festival. You gals rock! Thank you WIFM!

From Sarafina Tice - Orlando, Fl - I really loved this festival! This year, it was online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. WIFM made sure that we were still able to celebrate our work with family, friends, and fans all over the world.

From Ashley Gerst - West Virginia - An excellent festival and I am honored to have won Best Animation for my film: The Spirit Seam! I wish I could have attended.

General Testimonials
Susan P. - The Production Assistant training was amazing. The entire day was so full of information and all the speakers were so organized and prepared. My friend and I came together and we were called to be PA's for a big helicopter scene on a film in Pittsburgh. Thank you! We knew what to do.

Carrie A - So happy I decided to take the Actors Showcase. I have submitted my photos to the Talent Agents and never gotten accepted. They loved the scene I did and both agents called me in.