New York University’s only student run film festival, THE FUSION FILM FESTIVAL, now in its fourth year (March 1-3, 2007), celebrates the work of women directors and cinematographers at every stage of development -- from bringing women icons in the industry into meaningful contact with student filmmakers to illuminating the award winning work of those young filmmakers.

All EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Thursday March 1, 2007

Reflections of a Life in Documentaries: Screening of Shut Up & Sing Followed by a Discussion with Barbara Kopple. Moderated by Robert Christgau and Georgia Christgau

6:30-10:00pm

Cantor Film Center, 200

36 E.8th Street NY, NY 10003

From her groundbreaking success with 1976’s Harlan County U.S.A. to her newest film Shut Up & Sing, a documentary covering the aftermath of the anti-Bush commentary made about President Bush by lead singer of The Dixie Chicks, two-time academy award winner Barbara Kopple has established herself as one of the world’s leading documentarians.

Friday March 2, 2007

Docs in the Works: Pitching Your Documentary,

11:00am-1:00pm

Tisch School of the Arts, 006

721 Broadway NY, NY 10003

Winners of our student written documentary pitch competition will be pitching their work to a panel of industry guest in order to get feedback on not only their films but their all important pitching techniques. Panelists include: Milton Tabbot (IFP), Chris White (POV) and Jackie Glover (HBO).

Special Documentary Film Screening – Highway Courtesans directed by Mystelle Brabbée

Moderated by Priyadarshini Shanker

1:30-3:30pm

Tisch School of the Arts, 1027

721 Broadway NY, NY 10003

Highway Courtesans follows an independent-minded young girl who is born into a centuries-old tradition of prostitution. Against the rich backdrop of rural India, we follow Guddi Chauhan from the age of 17 through 23 as she struggles against tradition, family and love in hopes of accomplishing her dreams.

Writers to Watch: A reading of the Student Screenplay Competition Winners

4:00-6:00pm

Tisch School of the Arts, 1027

721 Broadway NY, NY 10003

Excerpts of the winning screenplays will be read by some of Tisch’s most promising young actors.

Filmmakers to Watch: Screening of Student Film Competition Finalists

7:00-10:00pm

Cantor Film Center, 200

36 E.8th Street NY, NY 10003

Come see some of the most impressive work being done by all levels of Tisch students.

Screening will be followed by our award ceremony, which will honor Fusions best Graduate,

Undergraduate and Sight and Sound students.

Saturday March 3, 2007

From Nickelodeon to the Oscars: Women Animating the World

Moderated by Candy Kugel

11:00-1:00pm

Tisch School of the Arts, 1027

721 Broadway NY, NY 10003

Jennifer Oxley (Little Bill and Wonder Pets!), Candy Kugel (Munchies and Life), Debra Solomon (The Lizzie McGuire Movie) and Peggy Stern (Oscar winner for The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation) will be sharing their experiences and insights into the growing field of animation and how women are booming in this traditionally male arena.

The Origins of Female Filmmakers: Retrospective on the work of Lois Weber

1:30- 3:30pm

Tisch School of the Arts, 1027

721 Broadway NY, NY 10003

One of the first big directors of the silent era and the first women to director a feature film Lois Weber has left and indelible mark on film history. Join us for a screening of her groundbreaking films and a discussion on the legendary Lois Weber with Professor Moya Luckett. *Reception sponsored by the Cinema Studies Department to follow.

Shorts from the Nantucket Film Festival: Women in the Festival Circuit

Moderated by Susan Sandler

7:30- 10:00pm

Tisch School of the Arts, 006

721 Broadway NY, NY 10003

Short films are an important part of the industry and the corner stone of university film programs. Come learn about the value your short films can have as you embark on your career path. Films being screened include: Happiness, Why Don’t You Dance, Fourteen, The Braggart, and The Tribe. Panel discussion with Dir Sophie Barthes, DP Andrij Parekh, Dir Kellen Hertz, and Sharon Badal (Tribeca Film Festival) to follow.