Letter from Founding Member and First President

Women In Film Dallas was founded in my living room in 1984. There were about 20 people there, and one woman announced that night she had just received a partial grant for a documentary she wanted to make. We all cheered. The essence of why we started the organization then is still the essence of Women In Film nationally, internationally, and in Dallas today.

We want to support one another. We want to promote and enhance roles for women in film, video, and TV on both sides of the camera, on and off screen. We want to champion one another in our individual and common goals in the film and television industry.

As a group we can find a voice that can help us as individuals to break down barriers and realize the dream of being successful in all areas of the film and television business. Just this year, in 2002, the new president of the Directors Guild of America is a woman. We celebrate Martha Coolidge's achievement as much as we challenge ourselves to redefine who we, as Women In Film Dallas, really are. Much of that definition comes from you and your voice in the organization. A cornerstone of the mission for Women In Film Dallas has always been to educate our members with programs that address the issues they want to see addressed, and deliver information they seek to learn.

Over the years, Women In Film Dallas has established the Topaz award, a wonderful celebration that raises money for our annual scholarship recipients. Past recipients of the Topaz award have included Marcia Gay Harden, Ginger Rogers, and Tess Harper. Past scholarship winners include Rebecca Campbell, now Executive Director of the Austin Film Society, and Amy Talkington, a working screenwriter and director living in New York.

This year's board, while proud of our past accomplishments, is striving to model WIFD to the expectations of our current and new members. After all, this organization belongs to you. We invite you to choose how you want to participate, be it in our programs, workshops, membership, newsletter, website, Topaz Ball, Fair Park Film Festival, publicity, community relations, or volunteer committees.

We hope you will join us and help us to define and meet our challenges for the future. We need you!

Thanks for your support!