About Fusion

“The Fusion Film Festival is a wonderful and important celebration of women in the film, television and new media industry. Most importantly it is created and run by the students. Their work is breaking barriers and represents the future of the industry. I can’t wait to attend this year’s festival.”

– Dean Allyson Green
New York University, Tisch School of the Arts

Fusion Faculty Advisor Susan Sandler with Fusion Alumni
(L.to R. Cidney Hue, Susan Sandler, Natalie Erazo, Nicole Quintero Ochoa)

Our Mission

Celebrating Women in Film, Television, & New Media

The Fusion Film Festival is New York University’s premiere festival dedicated to celebrating women in film, television, and new media from student to icon. Founded in 2003 at Tisch School of the Arts by two students Emma Heald and Gina Abatemarco, Fusion has been passionately guided by Kanbar Professor Susan Sandler.

Fusion offers programming throughout the school year, culminating in a three day spring festival of screenings, industry panels, master classes, retrospectives, networking events, and competitions in fourteen categories all focused on women’s voices and work behind the camera.

In the twenty-two years since its launch, Fusion has attracted scores of accomplished artists and visionaries from across the industry, including Melina Matsoukas, Reed Morano, Christine Vachon, Misha Green, Amy Sherman-Palladino, and Kasi Lemmons to mentor and inspire the next generation of great storytellers.