NextWave Film + Media Summit | Free Panels, Workshop and Networking | ITWIFF 26

Hey film community! 👋
We are so excited to invite you to the NextWave Film + Media Summit, a full day of free panels, workshops, and networking happening Saturday, September 26, at Regal Union Square as part of ITWIFF 26.
Whether you are a filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, actor, or just someone who loves cinema and wants to connect with others who do, this day is for you. No pass required. Just RSVP Here

Here is what we have planned:
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pitch Perfectly: Pitching and Packaging Your Film
Presented by GreenHause
You know your story. Now learn how to sell it.
In just one hour you will walk away with everything you need to get your film funded — loglines, treatments, pitch decks, elevator pitches, and packaging strategy, plus the pitfalls that sink pitches before they even get started.
Taught by Gautam Singhani, NYC-based Line Producer whose credits include the Emmy-nominated Bono: Stories of Surrender and the Oscar-nominated The Barber of Little Rock.
Perfect for writers, first-time directors, producers, and emerging filmmakers. Come with a story. Leave pitch-ready.

***

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Building Cinematic Worlds
Ever wonder what it actually takes to build a world audiences believe in? Come hear from the award-winning department heads behind some of the biggest films and series of the last decade. This is the kind of panel you will be talking about for years.
Panelists:
🎤 Canella Williams-Larrabee — Unit Production Manager and Line Producer (The Night Agent, Raising Dion, The Undoing, Evil)
🎤 Caroline Duncan — Emmy-nominated Costume Designer (Sirens, When They See Us, The Affair, Marry Me, Trap, Old, Knock at the Cabin)
🎤 Joe Giganti — Editor (Succession, Master of None, Kindred, Dr. Death)
🎤 Kalina Ivanov — Production Designer (The Penguin, Lovecraft Country, Grey Gardens, The Boys in the Boat, Little Miss Sunshine)
🎤 Stefanie Maridueña, ACE — Editor (America's Sweethearts, Cheer, The 1619 Project, The Circus)
Moderated by John Gibson, VP of Public Affairs and Industry Relations at the Motion Picture Association (MPA).
Seats will go fast. Arrive early.

***

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Connect and Cocktails: NextWave Mixer
The panels are done. Now let's connect!
Stick around after the panels for our free networking mixer. This is your chance to meet fellow filmmakers, exchange cards, find your next collaborator, and keep the conversation going in a relaxed, creative vibe. Cash bar available. Drinks not included.
Some of the best connections in this industry happen in rooms like this one. Come find yours. 💛

***

All events are free and open to everyone. No festival pass required. Seating is first-come, first-served so arrive early to guarantee your spot.
This is part of the 11th Annual Imagine This Women's International Film Festival (ITWIFF 26) running September 25–27, 2026, at Regal Union Square in New York City. ITWIFF is dedicated to amplifying the voices of women, gender-expansive, and BIPOC filmmakers from around the world.
We hope to see you there! 💛

🌐 imaginethiswomensfilmfestival.org
📸 @imaginethiswomensfilmfestival

#ITWIFF26 #NextWave #WomensFilmFestival #IndependentFilm #NYCFilmFestival #Filmmaking #Screenwriting #Networking