Please join WIFVNE and WIFT-US for our special event that provides practical advice and guidance on how to raise funds for your scripted / non scripted films projects. We'll discuss how to make contacts, best ways to network, fiscal sponsorship, and build your confidence to ask for money. Learn from a panel of filmmakers who have been successful raising above $20k.
Registration is required; click here for the Eventbrite listing.
This event is free for WIFVNE members, WIFT-US chapter members.
$20 for non-members.
Meet the panelists
Michelle Randolph Faires is an award-winning producer of narrative and documentary films. Her documentary producing credits include SXSW premiering features Becoming Leslie (2019), J.R.”Bob” Dobbs and the Church of the SubGenius (2019) and Honky Tonk Heaven (2016). Michelle was part of the producing team for critically acclaimed feature Fugitive Dreams (2020) and television series "Stand Up Empire" (PBS, KLRU).
Christine Merser is the managing partner of Blue Shoe Strategy, a marketing company specializing in content creation for all media platforms. But more than marketing, she loves film and TV and all things on a screen, however small. Eight years ago, she partnered with Heidi Sullivan, whose film, Ash Bash, A Love Story, was an entry in the Wood's Hole Film Festival, to start Screen Thoughts, a podcast reviewing all things on the screen from within a female lens. More than 250 episodes later, Christine continues to podcast weekly around film, although Heidi passed away a few years ago. In addition, Christine has worked with filmmakers to ensure their films are seen. Blue Shoe did the strategy and public relations around the documentary, India's Daughter, in its bid for an academy award. Christine has roots on Cape Cod and enjoys time spent there every year. The Wood's Hole Film Festival is always on her shortlist of festivals. Christine is a WIFVNE member.
Blythe Robertson is a WIFVNE member, a narrative and documentary producer who most recently Executive Produced Ira Sachs' Little Men, which premiered at Sundance 2016 and was released by Magnolia Pictures. Previously she was EP on Sachs’ Love Is Strange, which premiered at Sundance 2014, was distributed by Sony Pictures Classics and nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards. She produced About Sunny, starring Lauren Ambrose, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, garnered an Independent Spirit Award nomination and was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at Boston IFF 2012. Blythe was line producer on the PBS series, God in America, an American Experience/Frontline co-production. Other projects have included winner of the Special Jury Award at History Makers and The History Channel’s Emmy-nominated, Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America and on the board of directors of the Provincetown Film Society and Festival.
Jenny Waldo got her start in the documentary/educational industry of her hometown, Washington, DC. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts where she won a directing scholarship, Jenny continued to work on documentaries while also pursuing her passion for scripted filmmaking. Over the years, Jenny produced various scripted and documentary short films as well as writing/directing her own award-winning scripted projects. Credits include associate producing on the indie feature The Preacher’s Daughter which sold to Lifetime and the feature documentary The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing. An advocate for upcoming filmmakers, Jenny was Program Coordinator at the non-profit Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP) and now teaches filmmaking at Houston Community College. Jenny is thrilled to premiere her directorial debut feature film, Acid Test, to the world this fall - based on her own tumble through self-discovery as a 1990’s Riot Grrrl.
