Imagine This Women's International Film Festival
Where women take the spotlight and bold stories take flight — ITWIFF champions diverse voices in film through powerful storytelling, creativity, and community
MISSION STATEMENT: Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival is dedicated to championing and amplifying the voices of women, non-binary filmmakers, and storytellers from underrepresented communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ creatives. Our mission is to provide a platform that celebrates diverse narratives, fosters meaningful industry connections, and empowers filmmakers through screenings, educational initiatives, and professional development opportunities. By showcasing bold and inspiring stories, ITWIFF aims to drive change, challenge industry norms, and create a more inclusive and equitable future for film.
Patrice Francois
Co-Founder and Executive Director | Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival
Patrice Francois is a filmmaker, creative producer, and television professional based in New York City. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival (ITWIFF) — a celebrated NYC-based festival dedicated to amplifying and empowering women and non-binary filmmakers from around the world.
Driven by her mission to champion inclusivity and representation in media, Patrice Francois founded ITWIFF to support women by showcasing their work to the public, promoting equal opportunities for BIPOC women and the LGBTQIA+ community, and fostering educational and professional development within the film industry.
Continuing her vision to create impactful spaces for women in media, Patrice Francois launched the Girl Power Film + Media Summit, an inspiring and interactive event featuring panel discussions, workshops, film screenings, and networking mixers that celebrate the creative force of women in film. She also curated Ladies Rocking the Lens, a film series spotlighting the next wave of powerful female storytellers shaping local and global cinema.
With a passion for storytelling and community-building, Patrice Francois continues to disrupt the status quo — empowering women filmmakers and redefining the narrative of what’s possible in independent cinema.
Susie Francois
Director of Development | Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival
Susie Francois is the Director of Development at Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival (ITWIFF), a New York City–based festival dedicated to empowering and amplifying women and non-binary filmmakers worldwide.
Driven by her passion for helping people grow both professionally and personally, Susie Francois focuses on creating meaningful opportunities that promote cultural change and foster diverse voices in film and media. Her deep love for cinema and storytelling inspired her to co-found Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival as a platform to uplift underrepresented filmmakers and celebrate their creative achievements.
Together with her daughter, Patrice Francois, she also launched the Girl Power Film + Media Summit and Ladies Rocking the Lens, two initiatives that continue their shared mission to champion women storytellers, inspire collaboration, and advance inclusivity in the film industry.
PROGRAMMERS
2026 INTERNS
Kierra Douglas
Programmer Intern
Kierra Douglas is a junior Mass Media Arts major concentrating in Radio/TV/Film at Clark Atlanta University. Her passion lies in filmmaking and writing. In her spare time, she enjoys catching up on the newest shows. Sci-fi, drama, action, and horror are some of her favorite genres to watch. She is a member of CAU Writers Colony (screenwriting club) and 4Reel Productions (film production club). Kierra is excited to work with Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival.
Katherine Armstrong
Programmer Intern
Kate Armstrong is currently a Sophomore at Sarah Lawrence College, with a major in Animation and a minor in Latin American Studies. Kate has long been passionate about the creative arts, attending the Interlochen Arts Academy for her Junior and Senior years of high school, where she majored in Creative Writing and became published in the Forging Worlds: Writing from the 2023 Scholastic Awards for her short story, "Treasure". She has experience in a broad range of media, from novel and screenwriting to 2D and 3D digital art and animation. Her dream in life is to one day act as a writer and showrunner for an independent animated film or series. As a transgender woman, Kate considers her identity and the queer experience central to her artistic journey, and values input from creatives of all walks of life.
Outside of her artistic endeavors, Kate enjoys hiking, her pet triops, soup dumplings, and watching Godzilla movies.
Danielle Lugashi
Programmer Intern
Danielle is a Junior majoring in Digital Cinema and Filmmaking, with a minor in Sports Media and Broadcasting. She has had a passion for film since middle school, continually strengthening her knowledge over the years. She has an extensive collection of physical media and many published movie reviews. Her film experience consists of a variety of short projects and a mini-series, with her film criticism ranging from reviews to academic essays. Danielle believes that film is an art in which everyone should be able to express themselves. In her free time, she enjoys going to the movie theater and reading books.
Kayla owens
Programmer Intern
Throughout her life, Kayla Owens loved exploring the undiscovered. During and after attending Temple University, Kayla dedicated her professional prowess to broadcasting the underrepresented topics in the tri-state area. On television, she welcomed new small artists as executive producer of TUTV’s “The Vibe” and helped discover contributors to the Philadelphia community with WHYY’s “You Oughta Know.” Online, she helped promote women in the United Nations’ technological fields in their #DigitalUnite campaign. Kayla later found herself exploring her own creative path, creating her first film exploring the niche black art of Afrosurrealism. Kayla wishes to continue exploring the world of underrepresented creatives by contributing her knowledge to the Imagine This Women’s Film Festival
Matthew Arradaza
Programmer Intern
Matthew Arradaza (he/him) is a freshman at Pace University, majoring in Acting with a minor in Arts and Entertainment Management. He is passionate about expanding his palate for the performing arts by exploring directing, playwriting, and technical elements. His love for acting began in middle school when he joined his school’s thespian troupe. Outside of theater, he enjoys practicing guitar, playing basketball, and reading. A dedicated advocate for social justice since the age of 12, he is excited to contribute to the festival. Matthew looks forward to collaborating with fellow artists and making a meaningful impact.
Dreana Henry
Programmer Intern
Dreana Henry is a Junior at Pace University, majoring in Writing for Diversity and Equity in Theatre and Media and minoring in Film and Screen Studies. She has had a love for the arts ever since attending a Performing Arts school in her youth, and since then has been in many plays, musicals, and other public speaking performances. Dreana has now focused on her passion for writing and telling the stories she has always wished to see in the media. As a young black woman, she hopes to create films and other works of art that reflect her experience and the experience of those like her in authentic ways.
Since starting her journey of creating in college, Dreana has made case studies pertaining to DEI and it’s accurate representation in the media, and has worked with peers on projects that center marginalized voices. Through this trajectory, she hopes to have a career in screenwriting as well as becoming a novelist. Outside of her passions, Dreana also loves to read in her free time and has an interest in expressing herself through fashion. She is overjoyed to be joining the ITWFF team and can’t wait to see the greatness that comes from their efforts!
Mia Abdallah
Programmer Intern
Mia Abdallah is a sophomore at Pace University, majoring in Film and Screen Studies. She has a deep passion for photography, particularly film photography, and videography. Mia aspires to pursue a career as a producer in the film industry, believing that planning and pre-production are the most valuable aspects of filmmaking. To Mia, movies are not only enjoyable to watch but also serve as a compelling art form that connects people and captures important aspects of the human experience.
Throughout her time in college, Mia has developed strong critical thinking skills, which she applies to her analysis of films. She is particularly interested in working with film festivals, appreciating their role in showcasing diverse storytelling. Additionally, Mia has explored her interest in video editing, eager to constantly expand different skill sets in the field of filmmaking.
