The Creative Coalition Hosted its 19th Annual Spotlight Initiative Awards at 2026 Sundance Film Festival Honoring Rosanna Arquette, Anthony Bregman, Giancarlo Esposito, Rob Lowe, Iliza Shlesinger and Benedict Wong - PHOTOS

On January 24, The Creative Coalition hosted its 19th Annual Spotlight Initiative Awards at Buona Vita in Park City, Utah, honoring Rob Lowe, Gemma Chan, Rosanna Arquette, Anthony Bregman, Giancarlo Esposito, Iliza Shlesinger and Benedict Wong. Additional attendees included Alex Borstein, Yvette Nicole Brown, Katherine McNamara, Tom Welling, Jimmy O. Yang and Aasif Mandvi. The event convenes the Festival’s most notable filmmakers, talent and industry leaders for an evening celebrating independent film’s power to provoke, challenge, and inspire. The Spotlight Initiative Awards honors artists and storytellers show work embodies creative risk, originality and social impact with this year's Honorees representing a dynamic cross-section of talent.

"Freedom for a Night" - The Untold Stories of the Real Housewives of Greek Mythology by Caytha Jentis Runs Feb 19-22, 2026 at the Theater for the New City - A Feminist Circus Stage Play with Amazing Aerialists

Freedom for a Night, a fun feminist, genre-bending circus stage play written by Caytha Jentis and choreographed by Maia Ramnath, will have four performances February 19–22, 2026 at Theater for the New City.

Through aerial performance, spoken word, song, and dance, the iconic “dangerous” women of ancient Greek mythology step out of the shadows and reclaim their narratives. Characters including Medea, Medusa, and Circe tell their stories in their own words, challenging the myths that defined them and the systems that silenced them.

“Tonight, every myth will be unmade. Every woman will rise again,” declares the show’s host Artemis, played by Kendall Rileigh*.

The cast features some of New York City’s top aerialists and performance artists, including Troy Lingelbach (Dionysus), Caytha Jentis (Agave), Caitlin Borek* (Thelxiepeia), Maia Ramnath (Medea), Elena Delgado (Circe), Amara (Medusa), and Summer Lacy (Hecate).

"Hollywood East" is Booming - New Studios are Popping up all over NJ and the Tri-state Area - A Sampling of What's Coming to NJ - Like Netflix. 1888 (Paramount), Lionsgate and What's Here,

By Allyson Schiller

No one can say that the motion picture industry has had it easy these past few years. After the boom of work post- Covid, we fell into a time of oversaturation of the market. Productions that had been paused got back on their feet, regularly slated work continued and many studios tried to push out as much new content as possible. The industry then went into contract negotiations with various unions such as SAG-AFTRA, the Writer’s Guild, and IATSE, leading to months-long strikes and work stoppages. On top of this, there were fires in LA that paused production, studios decided they wanted to make less content overall, and the threat of AI became imminent. (Photo Left - Lionsgate/Great Point in Newark rendering)

Review of the Bruce Movie "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" - An Exceptional Portrayal of the Nebraska Album Slice of Springsteen's Life Which Will Resonate with Many Non-Fans as Well - Now Streaming

By Suzee
As a Jersey girl, I want to see "the Bruce movie" -  the day after it came out. (It's streaming now). A total super fan of The Boss, our friend Kevin decided to get a bunch of people - a good crowd of over 30, to see it opening weekend, at a theater down the shore near where Bruce lives. Because where else would we see it?

And Kevin made it an event. We had a tailgate for it. Yes, we had a tailgate at a movie theater parking lot. Kevin's daughter, who is also a fan, because his reach spans generations, made a meme out of the tailgating pic.

Feel Good Interview Series: The Versatile Actress Kathleen Chalfant Of "Familiar Touch", "Pen Pals", "The Copenhagen Test" and More - 10 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos

Acclaimed actress Kathleen Chalfant's role in "Familiar Touch,"  has earned her critical acclaim and Oscar buzz from movie critics. She also starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals" last year, and she will be starring in the Off-Broadway play "The Dinosaurs." Most recently, she played the role of St. George in the espionage thriller series "The Copenhagen Test" opposite Simu Liu. Her character was the Boss in charge of the Orphanage. 

New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) Congratulates 10 Members with Projects at Sundance Film Festival - Online Streaming Available

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is pleased to announce that 10 projects from 10 members have been officially selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The festival will take place in person in Park City, Utah, from January 22 – February 1. Online festival screenings will be available January 29 – February 1.

NYWIFT is a vibrant community of approximately 2,000 media professionals working across every facet of the entertainment industry. The NYWIFT member projects premiering at Sundance are:

Review: Pen Pals Off Broadway is A Delightful, Engaging Look at the Lives Of Two Very Strong Women - Running through March 15, 2026 with A New Cast Every 2 Weeks

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

I might be a little partial to the story in Pen Pals because I am a Jersey Girl, and I live near Secaucus. And I had a pen pal when I was in grade school.

But even if I wasn't, I think anyone - especially women - would be engrossed in the correspondence between the two ladies in Pen Pals, playing at the  DR2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street at Union Square East in New York City through March 15th, 2026. When I went to see Pen Pals, Maureen McCormick (aka Marcia Brady) played the American "Bernie" and Sharon Lawrence played British "Mags". 

Meet Actress/Producer Mikaela Phillips of Series, Films and Podcasts - What Zavier and the Nightkeeper is About - and Why She Kept Her Australian Accent

Mikaela Phillips started her journey in entertainment at the age of 6, This is a woman who knew what she wanted to do in life, and now she is a successful actor and producer. She has produced films and series independently and for the likes of Netflix, ViacomCBS, MTV and more. 

An Australian native, she started her career as a host on Afterbuzz TV USA. She then became well-known for starring as Faith Morgan in the TV Drama Series Counter Play (2016–2018), which she also executive produced alongside her mother, writer/director Chrys Phillips. 

Mikaela tells us about her inspiration, her words for others and about new newest film.

Feel Good Interview Series: Three Time Daytime Emmy Winner Rick Hearst of General Hospital and So Much More Shares 10 Things About Himself

By Markos Papadatos

Rick Hearst is a three-time Emmy award-winning actor. He is known for playing Scott "Scotty" Banning in "Days of Our Lives," Alan-Michael Spaulding in "Guiding Light," Matt Clark in "The Young and The Restless," Whip Jones in "The Bold and The Beautiful," and more recently, Ric Lansing in "General Hospital."

Rick's Favorite Movies

His favorite movies include “The Godfather I and II” and “Jaws.” “I have a very diverse section of films that I am enjoy,” he said.

Feel Good Interview Series: Meet Broadway Star Emily Skinner Recently in Pen Pals - 11 Things To Know About Her

By Markos Papadatos

Broadway performer and Tony Award-nominated Emily Skinner is known for starring in the Off-Broadway show "House of McQueen," opposite Luke Newton of "Bridgerton" as the title character, where she played fashion designer Alexander McQueen's mother Joyce, and her performance earned her rave reviews from fans and critics alike.

Most recently, she starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals," where she played the role of Bernie opposite her real-life best friend Donna Lynne Champlin. Skinner shared 10 interesting and fun things about herself.

Feel Good Interview Series: Hunter McVey of '9-1-1 Nashville' — 10 Things to Know About This Model, Actor, Podcaster and Entrepreneur - Including What Sport he Played Competitively

By: Markos Papadatos

Hunter McVey is one of the male leads on the new hit ABC procedural drama series "9-1-1 Nashville," where he plays Blue Bennings. McVey was born in Franklin, Tennessee, and attended Virginia Tech University. He is an established entrepreneur, host of the Wholesome Degenerate Podcast, model, actor, and successful influencer and endorser on all social media platforms. He shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Favorite Movies

He listed “Happy Gilmore,” “Caddy Shack,” “Talladega Nights,” “Twist,” “James Bond,” and “Harry Potter” as his favorite movies, as well as the occasional rom-com.

Feel Good Interview Series: Get to Know Actor Sam Page from Christmas Movies, Mad Men, The Bold Type and More - 10 Things to Learn About Him

By Markos Papadatos

You might know Sam Page from the 2025 Great American Family holiday movie "There's No Place Like Christmas" opposite Cindy Busby. But this prolific actor is also know for his many other roles, such as in "The Bold Type," “All My Children,” “Mad Men,” Desperate Housewives,” “House of Cards,” “Switched at Birth,” “Scandal,” and “Gossip Girl,” among others. Page shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Sam's Favorite Movie

His favorite movie is “Miller’s Crossing” by the Coen Brothers. “I would argue that it’s the perfect film,” Page said. “I highly recommend it!”

Feel Good Interview Series: Sharna Burgess of "Dancing with the Stars" and "Pen Pals" Off-Broadway - 10 Things to Know about this Australian Dancer/Actor

By Markos Papadatos

Sharna Burgess is an Australian ballroom dancer who is known for her dancing work as a professional dancer on "Dancing with the Stars." 

Most recently, she made her Off-Broadway debut, and she starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals" as a British character Mags opposite Paige Davis (TLC's "Trading Spaces") who played Bernie. Burgess shared 10 interesting, fun and exciting things about herself.

 

Sharna's Favorite Movies

The classics “Hello, Dolly!” and “Singin’ in the Rain” are two of her favorite movies. “The stories are magical, and the films are just beautiful,” she admitted.

Feel Good Interview Series — Get To Know Robbie Simpson of "Finding Mr. Christmas", TV, Broadway & Host of "The Breakdown" Podcast - 9 Things to Know

By: Markos Papadatos

Robbie Simpson, who hails from New York is an actor, director and producer. He is host of the very popular Broadway podcast, "The Breakdown". He also competed in Season 2 of "Finding Mr. Christmas." The show is hosted by Jonathan Bennett ("Mean Girls") with Melissa Peterson serving as a judge. It's streaming on Hallmark+. Simpson shared nine interesting and fun things about himself.

Robbie's Favorite Movies

His favorite movie of all time is “The Wizard of Oz.” “I used to watch it with my family, and to this day, it’s my favorite movie,” he admitted.

Feel Good Interview Series: 10 Things to Know about Davey Fisher of Hallmark's "Finding Mr. Christmas'" - Including what World Record He Broke

By Markos Papadatos

Davey Fisher was one of the 10 contestants in Season 2 of the hit Hallmark reality series "Finding Mr. Christmas," which is hosted by Jonathan Bennett.

Most recently, on December 30th, Fisher shattered the world record for most walking lunges at Aviation Park in Redondo Beach, California.

Fisher shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Davey's Favorite Movies

On his favorite movies, he said, “I have to lean towards comedies because that is where my heart lies. Probably ‘Step Brothers’ for a comedy, and ‘Terminator 2’ was super nostalgic in my childhood. There are so many. I’ve always thought ‘The Departed’ is really pretty.”

SuzeeBehindtheScenes Holds Holiday Mingle and Jingle Party in Midtown Manhattan - Photos

SuzeeBehindtheScenes held a "Holiday Mingle and Jingle" at Route 66 Cafe in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Guests from all aspects of the entertainment industry and influencers mixed and mingled and enjoyed an array of delicious foods prepared by the cafe's chefs. 

This year, SuzeeBehindtheScenes will close the year reaching nearly 1.6 million views, with 5-6000 readers visiting the site per day. With over 1500 articles, the site is known for its celebrity interviews and its support of new filmmakers and creatives as well as non-profits. Next year, the focus will be showing the work of more females, as well as highlighting the productions going on in NJ - what is now becoming known as "Hollywood East". In the coming years, NJ has at minimum Netflix, Paramount and Lionsgate building huge production facilities in the state among other studios already here or with plans to build. 

PHOTOS

The 2025 Collaboration Awards Held in New York City: Honored Women Helping Women - in Partnership with the Women in the Arts and Media Coalition- See Honorees

The 2025 Collaboration Awards: Women Working with Women  honored outstanding artists creating new interdisciplinary work in theater, film and dance on December 8, 2025 in New York City. The gala, produced by the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition (WAM Coalition), honored outstanding partnerships between professional women from different specializations across the arts and media industries. The event, held in the Fred and Adele Astaire Ballroom at the Houghton Hall Arts Community in Manhattan, was presented at a time when opportunities for both women and the arts are under threat.

 

(Above Photo: Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago is presented the Community Collaboration Award by Terry Lawler credit Ken Howard Photography)

Feel Good Interview Series: Orion Smith of 'The Conjuring: The Last Rites' - 10 Things to Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos

Orion Smith is one of the stars in "The Conjuring: The Last Rites," who plays Young Ed (the younger version of Patrick Wilson's character) opposite Madison Lawlor (who plays a Young Lorraine). This rising star shared 10 interesting and fun things about himself.

Orion Smith's Favorite Movies

On his favorite movies, Orion shared, “I really like ‘Interstellar.’ I love ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and ‘Dr. Strangelove’.”

Feel Good Interview Series: Caitlin Houlahan of "Only Murders in the Building" and 'Mare of Easttown" - 10 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos

Caitlin Houlahan is known for her acting work in “Only Murders in the Building,” “American Rust” and “Mare of Easttown.”

Presently, she is starring in the Off-Broadway show “Not Ready for Prime Time,” where she is playing Jane Curtin.

Houlanhan shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself.

The Surflight Theater in Long Beach Island NJ Serves Up a Stupendous, Magical Production of Elf - Fun for the Whole Family

By Suzanne Ordas Curry (Suzee)

Elf is one of my favorite movies, one of my go-to classics for putting me in a good mood and in the holiday spirit. I've watched it so many times my kids like to tease me about it. However, we all have fun piping in each others conversations with some of the best lines from this movie. I can't even begin to list them all but any Elf maniac knows what they are. But..here are some of my favorites:

"SANTA ! I know him."

"You're not Santa - you smell like beef and cheese"

"Christmas Gram. What's That? I want one!"

I am also an Elf purist. I can tell when certain parts are edited out of the TV versions. However, even being a purist, I enjoyed seeing the musical/play version of it. I saw it Off-broadway many years ago and most recently I saw it at the Surflight Theater in beautiful and cozy Long Beach Island NJ.

Feel Good Interview Series: Logan Shephard of Hallmark's "Finding Mr. Christmas" - 11 Things to Know About Him

By: Markos Papadatos

Logan Shephard was a contestant on "Finding Mr. Christmas" Season 2 on Hallmark, which is hosted by Jonathan Bennett. Shephard is an actor and photographer, who hails from Cincinnati, Ohio.

He shared 11 interesting and fun things about himself.

Logan Shephard's Favorite Movies

He listed “Twister,” the “Terminator” films and “The Fast and The Furious” as his favorite movies.

Fabulous Females Interview: Meet Alixx Schottland, Who Created the Short "Love, Music, Shelter" After Seeing the Experience of Homeless Women - How She Hopes the Film Will Raise Awareness and What She Wants to Do Next

By Suzee

I had the pleasure of meeting Alixx Schottland at the annual NY Women in Film and Television Muse Awards, as she was seated with a renowned casting director, Adrienne Stern, that I know. Her name came up again a few months later as her short, Love, Music, Shelter, was playing the the Lighthouse International Film Festival on Long Beach Island, NJ. We had also both worked with the same producer, Scott Rosenfelt (Home Alone, Mystic Pizza). I was immediately impressed with the film as I attended that festival. Not only did it have a strong feminist angle, but it tackled the subject of homelessness and poverty in an interesting, engaging, realistic and above all musical way.  Read on to find out what inspired her to do a film about single motherhood and what's next on the horizon for this multi-talented woman. Plus, she gives some spot-on advice on how to motivate oneself to get one's dream project on track!

New Anthology Project Debut - The Public Figure Songbook Features America's Fabled Houseguest Kato Kealin - Hear Interview about This Unique Compilation of Original Songs by Brad Forenza and Shane Bordeau That Capture Moments in Recent American History

The Public Figure Songbook, an original Americana concept album, is now available across all major streaming platforms. The anthology project features songs (and some multimedia content) ripped from the headlines and sung from the imagined perspective of accidental public figures (e.g., Christa McAuliffe, Tammy Faye Bakker), as conceived by Shane Bordeau (music) and Brad Forenza (lyrics). 

Among the participants lending their perspective to the reissued project is an actual public figure (Kato Kaelin), best known for his testimony in a mid-1990s “trial of the century.” Kaelin offered praise for the project—and further contextualized himself—in a new interview conducted by album lyricist, Brad Forenza.

Watch Kaelin’s video interview about the project here:

https://youtu.be/r8T3e4qeR1E

Feel Good Interview Series: Get to Know Gabriel Thaxton of "Finding Mr. Christmas'"— 10 Things to Know About Him

By: Markos Papadatos

Gabriel Thaxton is an actor, model, and he was a contestant on Season 2 of "Finding Mr. Christmas" on Hallmark. He is a father of a daughter, and one is on the way. He shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself.

Gabriel's Favorite Movies

His favorite movies are the new “Frankenstein,” “Forrest Gump,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Klaus,” and “F1.”

Favorite Series to Binge

His favorite series to binge-watch are “The Office” and “Friends.”

Prestigious Organization New York Women In Film and Television Announces New and Returning Board Members, Women's Preservation Fund Holds Screening at MoMA and More News

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is pleased to announce the results of its 2025 Board of Directors elections. As a non-profit 501 (c) (3) public charity, NYWIFT is governed by a board of directors elected by the membership. Board members serve on committees in the areas of Development, Special Events, and Advocacy and Education. Two spots on the board have been filled, with one new and one returning member. 

Jake Shore's "The Slide is the Negative" To Run at the Chain Theater Through December - Stars Cady McClain, Ryan Tramon, Sophie Moshofsky and Brad Fryman

Axial Theatre and JCS Theater Company in association with the Oberon Theatre Ensemble, Fortify.Space, Michael Howard Studios and Good Juju Industries present the world premiere of Jake Shore's THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE at The Chain Theatre as part of the Factory Series. THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE runs November 29 – December 21 with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM with additional performances Wed 12/17 at 7:30pm & Fri 12/19 at 2pm. The Chain Theatre is located at 312 West 36th Street 4th floor NY, NY 10018 Tickets are $38.50 general admission, $25.00 senior and $20 students, available at www.jcstheater.com

NY/NJ Area Event - See Dawn Derow Perform in SING HAPPY - A Celebration of Broadway's Unforgettable Women - at the TRIAD in NYC, November 18th and December 1, 2025

Feel Good Interview Series: Marcia Cross of "Desperate Housewives", Daytime Dramas and More - 10 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos

Marcia Cross is an American actress who is best known for her portrayal of Bree van de Kamp in the hit TV series "Desperate Housewives." This role earned her three Golden Globe nominations, a Primetime Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series." She also played President Claire Haas in the ABC show "Quantico."

She got her start in the soap opera world playing characters in "The Edge of Night," "Another World" and "One Life to Live" prior to moving into primetime TV with a recurring role on "Knots Landing." She also played Kimberly Shaw on "Melrose Place."

Most recently, Cross starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals" as Mags opposite Catherine Curtin as Bernie. She shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself. 

YOU GOTTA HEAR HIS LAUGH - Richard Kind Gets Roasted and Toasted at Richard Kind: Everywhere All At Once - A Benefit for The Creative Coalition in New York City as Part of NYC Comedy Festival - PHOTOS Included

By Suzanne "Suzee" Ordas Curry

I heard Richard Kind laugh in person - and I'll never forget it.

You might think his laugh is infectious and unique when you hear him on screen, but when it's in person it's just hard to describe. His laughter makes you laugh involuntarily, and it puts you in a good mood. He's got different kinds (pun intended) of laughs - it's just not one standard laugh. And some are knee-slapping- literally. Here's one of them: