Ana Tiwary shortlisted for NSW Woman of the Year Award
[press release from WIFT NSW]
Women in Film and Television NSW congratulates management committee member, Ana Tiwary on being a finalist for the NSW Woman of the Year Award.
She is the first woman from the Film and Television industry to be short-listed for this prestigious award. The NSW Woman of the Year Award is about recognising the work of an outstanding woman, who can represent all the talented women who give their time and experience to other women and their communities in NSW. The Award recipient will be announced at the Premier’s Reception for International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 5 2009.
Ana Tiwary is Vice President of Women in Film and Television NSW and has established the successful and popular Media Mentorship for Women (MMW) program, which enables one to one relationships between industry professionals and emerging female filmmakers in order to create a supportive community and improve the status of women in the industry.
Latest statistics on the Screen Australia website reveal that in many technical areas, the number of women working dropped between 1996 and 2006. For example the number of women Editors dropped from 26% to 23% and women Sound Technicians reduced from 15% to 10%. The numbers of women Directors (24%), Technical Directors (10%), Directors of Photography (6%), Camera Operators (5%), and Lighting Technicians (9%) have not significantly increased. President of WIFT NSW, Lindy Monson states that “Women are under-represented in most areas of filmmaking. This remains not only a matter of equal employment opportunity but also impacts on the way stories are told on screen.”
Before immigrating to Australia in 2007, Ana travelled around the world making films to support numerous charity organisations, giving a voice to the powerless and telling untold stories. A passionate filmmaker, Ana has made a film about the Women’s Peace Movement in war-torn Liberia and the election of the World’s first Black Woman President. From interviewing World Leaders to filming in Bombay slums, from National Geographic Channel to ‘Bollywood’, Ana continues to work on some very challenging projects. Ana holds double masters in English Literature and Film Production from the American University, Washington DC.
Ana says, “When I first moved to Australia, I did not how and where to start. I joined WIFT NSW and started volunteering as Technical Director for the WOW Film Festival. A speech by Tania Chambers (CEO, NSW Film and TV Office) inspired me to launch the Mentorship program.” In Round 1, 75 women were accepted into the program and 38 have been successfully matched with mentors in 10 different technical areas. Mentorship Round 2 has already attracted 77 applications and the matching process has begun. Talking about the popularity and interest the program has generated Ana adds, “The success of the program shows that there is a definite need for mentorship opportunities in the Media industry. I am absolutely amazed by the support the NSW Government, Private Sponsors, Industry Partners and our wonderful Mentors have given to the program.” The Media Mentorship for Women program is attempting to create a nurturing, warm and supportive atmosphere in which women filmmakers can thrive.
While announcing the State’s top-ten women, NSW Minister for Women, Hon. Verity Firth, said “The NSW Woman of the Year Award recognises the achievements of women and the leadership they provide as positive role models, particularly to younger women”.
Mentorship Coordinator, Heaven Muecke has worked closely with Ana in making the program a success. She states, “Ana’s desire is to create a community in which women support each other as well as improving the status of women in the Film & Television industries, which has continued to decline in the last ten years. Her passion, commitment and generous spirit is outstanding and worthy of recognition, she inspires me to dream big.”
Ana feels honoured and energised by being short listed for the 2009 NSW Woman of the Year Award. She is herself inspired by the incredible role-models she has met in Australia - Hon. Virginia Judge, Hon. Verity Firth, Wendy McCarthy, Rosemary Blight, Tracey Mair, Debra Richards, Sonia Borella, Jane Roscoe, Jan Chapman, Heidi Tobin, Katrina Southon and her mentor Tania Chambers.
Tags: Ana Tiwary, MMW, NSW Woman of the Year Award
March 17th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Great initiative - we need female role models, and congratulations to Ana Tiwary.
Mentorships makes a difference in so many ways. When an experienced person illuminates the path we which to follow - it is made possible. Top athletes use visualizing as a mental exercise to achieve their goals, protégés can do the same.
When expressing your goals, you are closer to achieving them. Most of us just live our lives with out deciding what we really want. And this is what a mentorship is excellent for, making you think, decide and reflect while someone is listening - in most cases that is equivalent to achieving.
As the founder of Mentory (http://mentory.com) a free global mentorship community. My goal is making it possible for everyone to experience the gift of giving as a mentor and learning and achieving as a protégé.
We use mentors for different subjects, formal, informal and sometimes unconsciously. Some may inspire us on our carrier, others on our dreams and finally strength us as individuals.
June 14th, 2009 at 5:58 am
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