A Time For Women, Film & Fashion
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger
It is time for women to make a strong statement and you too are invited to take part in this influential event which is set to take place from June 3 – June 7, 2014. In two weeks from now, leaders from the entertainment and fashion industry along with media, will descend upon New York City to take part in the 2nd Annual Women & Fashion FilmFest (WFF). You may ask, what exactly is this all about? It is part conference, part film festival with the main mission in mind to empower women and girls across the universe. LIM College is partnering with the Women & Fashion FilmFest to serve as the festival’s main venue. LIM College gives students amazing opportunities for real hands-on experience and profession development. Alumni have gone on to excel at top companies such as The Jones Group, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus.
Even though this marks only the second year for this life-changing event, it has made a huge difference in many lives already. The event examines social issues and fosters social responsibility, mainly towards women and girls. It was founded in 2013 by Jeanine Jeo-Hi Kim.
WFF also provides information, tools and creative opportunities for women and students, and honors leaders for their societal as well as their artistic contributions. WFF is a Partner of MARITAGE International, a new UNITED NATIONS affiliated platform focusing on empowering women and addressing poverty by creating employment opportunities for women artisans and artists. WFF is also a growing dynamic online Community that will share its panels online as part of its global outreach.
It will all kick off with a Red Carpet Opening Night Benefit hosted by Celebrity Stylist Phillip Bloch on June 3rd, 6-10pm at the Gold Bar (389 Broome St.) in Manhattan. Starting at 6 pm, fashion designers will walk the red carpet with models wearing their designs to celebrate fashion. WFF will present its first Inspiration & Visionary Award to Sara Ziff, Founder of the Model Alliance. Governor William Paterson, Catherine Malandrino, Stephen Burrows, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Nigel Barker, Supermodels Pat Cleveland, Sessilee Lopez, Grace Bol, Nykhor Paul, Candace Huffine and Crystal Renn are among the Honorary Hosts. It is an amazing lineup of participants including the legendary VOGUE Editor, Andre Leon Talley, Carla Hall who stars in ABC’s “The Chew” and Fashion Director of US Weekly, Sasha Charnin Morrison. These are just a few of the many names that will take part.
WFF will include panel discussions with luminaries in fashion, film, television, magazines, and beauty; screenings of films made by both established filmmakers and high school and college students; workshops for girls, and a fashion show that will feature original designs from students.
Important highlights include a Supermodel panel at the Girls Film Festival, on which Crystal Renn and others will talk about important issues affecting girls such as body image; a panel on African American women in Entertainment & Media, and a panel with leading women in Entertainment including Sundance Production President Laura Michalychshyn, Vimeo President Dae Mellancamp, SnagFilms COO Stephanie Sharis, and Ovation EVP, Network Strategy Liz Janneman discuss issues affecting women executives in entertainment.
Filmmaker James Belzer (The Tents), who will offer an advance preview screening of his latest documentary, Make It in America: Empowering Global Fashion — which examines the loss and subsequent re-invigoration of domestic apparel production in the U.S. — Sundance Productions President Lauren Michalychshyn, Vimeo President Dae Mellencamp, Fashion Director of US Weekly Sasha Charnin Morrison, and Ovation Executive VP, Network Strategy Liz Janneman, who will discuss The Fashion Fund.
“Since our inaugural festival last year, we’ve gained much momentum in building awareness of our platform to empower women and girls. In addition to our stellar lineup of panels and screenings, I am especially excited about our new Girls Film Festival and the Girls Empowerment Fashion Runway, which is aimed at inspiring girls and giving them the chance to express their creativity and develop their skills and talents,” says WFF Executive Director Jeanine Jeo-Hi Kim, who was recently named U.S. Chair of MARITAGE International, a UNITED NATIONS affiliated platform focused on empowering women and addressing poverty by creating employment opportunities for women artisans and artists.
Says LIM College President Elizabeth S. Marcuse, “LIM College is delighted to serve as the main venue for the Women & Fashion FilmFest. We have been preparing students for successful careers in the business of fashion since 1939, so naturally we wholeheartedly support WFF’s mission as they create opportunities for, and support the professional ambitions of, girls and young women.”
WFF will conclude on June 7th with the Girls Empowerment Fashion Runway (GEFR), a fashion show sponsored by True Model Management and Runway The Real Way at the Yotel Hotel (570 Tenth Ave.). The show will feature designs by young designers from the United Colors of Fashion, a non-profit organization that provides free fashion education to under-resourced youth.
If you are unable to attend, spreading the word on all your social media platforms comes in as a close second. Kindly follow the social media handles for event updates: www.facebook.com/WomenFashionFilmFest and on twitter, @womenfashfilm. Join the conversation with these hash tags: #WFF14 #womenfashfilm. If you are interested in attending, you only have until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29th, 2014 to register.
It will be loads of fun and you can get all the details on how to attend, prices, the five day schedule and more at www.womenfashfilm.com. This event promises to be exciting, informative, energizing and inspiring.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WOMEN & FASHION FILMFEST FACEBOOK PAGE
#WFF14
Comments are closed.