Andria Mirza

Source: ReFrame

Andria Mirza

Women In Film and Sundance Institute industry support initiative ReFrame, the non-profit designed to increase the representation of women in the industry, has named Andria Wilson Mirza director.

Mirza will work with ReFrame ambassadors and partner companies to implement key programmes including the distribution of the ReFrame Stamp denoting distinction on productions that demonstrate gender-balanced hiring practices, the ReFrame Rise programme in support of mid-career women directors, and the expansion of the group’s Culture Change Handbook into the interactive ReFrame Playbook, which will launch this year.

She most recently served as executive director of Toronto LGBTQ festival Inside Out and the International LGBTQ Film Financing Forum and led the development of strategic partnerships that focused on industry advocacy and professional development for underrepresented filmmakers.

She co-founded the North American Queer Festival Alliance and the LGBTQ talent database Out On Set, launched an endowment fund for queer women and trans emerging directors, and spearheaded a four-year partnership between Inside Out and Netflix to expand career and content development programmes for LGBTQ filmmakers.

Organisers also announced the newly formed ReFrame Council including the initiative’s founding members WIF executive director Kirsten Schaffer, Sundance CEO Keri Putnam, and producer, WIF president emeritas, and founder of Welle Entertainment Cathy Schulman.

Also elected to the council are Warner Bros. Television chairman and CEO Channing Dungey, The Black List founder Franklin Leonard, UTA Independent Film Group co-head Rena Ronson, and Bird Runningwater, senior director of indigenous programme and DEI, Sundance Institute.

The Council will lead the strategic development of ReFrame’s initiatives and provide oversight on future advocacy efforts.