Two days of panel discussions were preceded by a reception at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, where an exhibition of the work of women independent filmmakers was on display. Photo by Karl Rabe.
Women’s Work excavated and celebrated the often invisible organizing labor, much of it performed by women, that made independent film and video production possible from the 1970s through the 90s.
When:
February 26–28, 2026
Convened by:
Erica Stein, Associate Professor and Chair of Film at Vassar; Noelle Griffis, Associate Professor of Communication and Media Arts at Marymount Manhattan College; Fabio Andrade, Assistant Professor of Film at Vassar; and John Hulsey, Assistant Professor of Art at Vassar.
Attendance:
100 participants
When:
February 26–28, 2026
Convened by:
Erica Stein, Associate Professor and Chair of Film at Vassar; Noelle Griffis, Associate Professor of Communication and Media Arts at Marymount Manhattan College; Fabio Andrade, Assistant Professor of Film at Vassar; and John Hulsey, Assistant Professor of Art at Vassar.
Attendance:
100 participants
The program convened filmmakers, archivists, scholars, artists, and media professionals to reflect on the histories of independent media production and discuss strategies for preserving and recirculating these works for future audiences. The event fostered intergenerational conversations about feminist media practices, archival preservation, collaboration, and artistic labor. Participants engaged in screenings, panel discussions, and community conversations centered on the future of independent media and cultural memory.
Participants valued the event not only for its programming, but for the connections it fostered, emphasizing opportunities to reconnect with longtime peers, build new professional relationships, and engage across generations. Many highlighted the thoughtful integration of screenings and discussions with hospitality and informal opportunities for conversation, creating an environment that encouraged both intellectual exchange and meaningful connection.
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An amazing experience to reflect upon and recognize our collective work in supporting independent media. It was great to be able to reconnect with and meet so many amazing women in the field.”
So many amazing pioneers and incredible people.”
Thank you!! You created such an extraordinary experience for all of us.”
In Pictures
The exhibit
The organizers
Conveners of the conference (left to right): John Hulsey, Assistant Professor of Art at Vassar; Erica Stein, Associate Professor and Chair of Film at Vassar; Noelle Griffis, Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies and Assistant Division Chair, Communication and Media Arts, at Marymount Manhattan College; and Fabio Andrade, Assistant Professor of Film at Vassar. Photo by Karl Rabe.
The panelists
Panelists (left to right) DeeDee Halleck, media activist, filmmaker, and co-founder, Paper Tiger Television; Ariel Dougherty, filmmaker, co-founder, Women Make Movies; and Sandra Schulberg, President, IndieCollect, and founder of Independent Film Project, talk about the work they have been doing over the past five decades. Photo by Kelly Marsh
Mona Jimenez
Panelist Mona Jimenez began using video in 1974 for creative and social justice projects. Photo by Kelly Marsh.
Juana Suárez
Panelist Juana Suárez is a scholar, film critic and media archivist whose research interests include media preservation, Latino-a cinema, gender studies, and immigration studies. Photo by Kelly Marsh.