WXF December 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season! 

We at Without Exception Films would like to extend our best wishes to you as 2024 comes to an end and the Holiday Season arrives. It’s been an incredible year, and we are grateful for your support this year!

Happy holidays! And looking forward to seeing you in 2025!

WXF Attends the “Impact + Profit” Conference

Last week, the WXF team attended SIE Society’s “Impact + Profit” annual conference. Spanning two days, it was a thought-provoking event featuring great panels and opportunities to network with over 350 fellow professionals in the entertainment industry, all focused on creating impact.

David Linde, the former CEO at Participant Media, was invited to speak at one of the panels. We are thankful for his role at Participant and the inspirational work that Participant did over many years.

We had many honest conversations with everyone and, perhaps not surprisingly, learned that most people are still trying to figure out how to make profit AND impact at the same time in the current media landscape.

We also want to extend a big thank you to SIE Society for organizing the conference and look forward to the next one in 2025!

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

California Removes Slurs Targeting Indigenous Women From Location Names

Original Article from LA Times

On Friday, November 13th, the California Natural Resources Agency announced plans to replace a derogatory term historically used in over 30 geographic locations throughout the state. This action is part of a broader initiative stemming from legislation signed in 2022 by Governor Gavin Newsom, which prohibits the use of the term in future place names and mandates its removal from existing locations. Deputy Secretary for Tribal Affairs, Geneva Thompson, the first to hold the role and a member of the Cherokee Nation, expressed the importance of this decision as a step toward acknowledging and addressing historical injustices against Indigenous peoples. The process of renaming these sites is set to begin in early 2025, aiming to foster healing and create inclusive communities.

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

In West Sacramento, local agencies collaborated with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation to rename two streets. The chosen name, “Tebti,” translates to “the streams that flow together,” symbolizing the meeting of the Sacramento and American rivers. This effort represents a meaningful partnership between tribal and local authorities to honor Indigenous cultures and replace harmful language in public spaces.

Continue Reading… 

Paying It Forward

Support us by donating to our impact campaign.

If you’ve enjoyed our newsletters in the past year, please consider contributing to our UNMUTED docuseries impact campaign to help us further our mission. We aim to take UNMUTED on the road in 2025 by hosting screenings, panels, and policy workshops with our impact partners to put an end on the harmful practices on women and girls featured in the series.

Learn more about our work and also contribute here:

Contribute Here

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 

Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF October 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

WXF at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting 

Without Exception Films has been selected as commitment-makers for both UNMUTED and Stolen Sisters at the 2024 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual  Meeting. These two films will represent the WXF’s commitment to advocacy and awareness campaigns focused on women and girls’ equality. Through educational screenings, actionable toolkits, and comprehensive social media campaigns, the films aim to drive meaningful policy change and provide direct services, engaging both communities and policymakers to inspire lasting solutions to critical social issues. 

Founded by President Bill Clinton in 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative is a community of doers representing a broad cross section of society and dedicated to the idea that we can accomplish more together than we can apart. Through CGI’s unique model, more than 10,000 organizations have launched more than 4,000 Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable projects and programs – that are making a difference in the lives of more than 500 million people in 180 countries. 

STOLEN SISTERS 

Directed by filmmaker Valerie Red-Horse Mohl (Cherokee) and produced by Dawn Jackson (Saginaw Chippewa) of Red-Horse Native Productions, this documentary brings attention to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis in the U.S. The film highlights the systemic failures that contribute to this epidemic while also focusing on the efforts of Indigenous leadership working towards meaningful solutions. We are seeking $1.2 million to complete the film and support an impact campaign that drives awareness and advocacy. 

Here are links to our Stolen Sisters One Sheet and Sizzle Reel. 

UNMUTED 

A 2024 Realscreen MIPTV Pick, UNMUTED is a three-part docuseries that explores the harsh realities of gender-based violence, focusing on child marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), and acid attacks. The series follows eight  survivors on their journeys toward reclaiming their agency while highlighting organizations working to protect women and girls globally. We are currently seeking $400,000, with a minimum investment of $100,000 to launch a 12-month impact campaign that includes educational screenings, social media initiatives, and policymaker workshops. 

Here are links to our UNMUTED One Sheet and Sizzle Reel. 

Visit withoutx.com to learn more about our commitments. 

Charlotte Lubert (left), Founder of WXF; and Milena Warns (right), Documentary Producer 
Left Photo: Charlotte, Valerie, Milena and Matt Damon Middle Photo: Charlotte, Valerie, and Milena met with Nicole Hockley (left), Co-Founder of Sandy Hook Promise, Right Photo: Charlotte, Valerie, and Milena

Face-to-Face at Last: Dave Cole Trades Zoom Filters for LA Sunshine! 

The WXF team caught up with Dave Cole from Evolution Post, a post-production house based in Sydney, Australia, on his last trip to Los Angeles. After so much work done through Zoom and email it is always nice to connect in person! 

Pictured from left to right: Dave Cole (UNMUTED Post Production Supervisor), Milena Warns (Producer), Wei Dai (Associate Producer/Assist. Editor), and Charlotte Lubert (Executive Producer). 

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

Photo Source: Larry Price 

Mark Ruffalo Joined the Navajo Nation’s 3-Mile Walk to the Polls, Here’s Why 

Excerpt from People, Authored by Kyler Alvord and Lizzie Hyman 

On October 12th, Mark Ruffalo joined the Navajo Nation’s 3-mile walk to the polls, a civic campaign to boost voter turnout among young Indigenous people in the 2024 presidential election. Side by side, Ruffalo and members of the Diné (Navajo) 

community walked to a ballot drop box to cast their votes early, honoring 100 years of Native American citizenship. Allie Redhorse Young, Diné activist and founder of the youth engagement initiative Protect the Sacred, says “This is a way to draw attention to all of the barriers [to voting], one of them being the long distances we have to travel — 45 minutes to an hour’s drive — to register to vote, and also to cast the ballot”. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

Native Americans continue to face voter suppression, with several states having enacted laws that have made it increasingly difficult for Indigenous communities to vote. Many reservations don’t have traditional street addresses recognized by the USPS. Additionally, some reservations don’t have any polling places or drop boxes at all, forcing voters to take time off of work and drive miles out of their way to cast their ballot. A 2017 survey of Native Americans reported that 32 percent of respondents in South Dakota said that the distance needed to travel to the polls affected their decision to cast a ballot. 

Continue Reading… 

Women Taking Action

Photo Source: Rodolphe de Brabandere

Mathilde Wittock’s Solution to Tennis Ball Waste 

Excerpt from CNN, Authored by Leah Dolan 

With the U.S. Open coming to a close, tennis watching and playing is at an all-time high. However, with the sport comes the rapid production and disposal of tennis balls. In fact, around 300 million tennis balls are produced each year — and almost all of them end up in landfills, taking over 400 years to decompose. Designer Mathilde Wittock took action against this environmental injustice and created eco-conscious furniture, giving used tennis balls a new life. Wittock has no plans on stopping here and intends on tapping into tens of thousands of tennis clubs in North America. 

Continue Reading…  

DID YOU KNOW 

Mathilde Wittock defines herself as a bio/ecodesigner and material researcher. 

Having studied biodesign and industrial design at Central Saint Martins in London, she uses her skillset to push the boundary for what is possible for design and uses unique materials to create a positive environmental impact. 

Photo Source: Barbara Chandler 

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 

Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF September 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

WXF Attending Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting 

Without Exception Films has been selected by the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) for two unique Commitments to Actions (CTA) focused on Women & Girls Equity. A CTA “is a positive and effective social impact project that is new, specific, and  measurable.” We will be making the announcement on our social media channels when the CGI Annual Meeting commences in NYC on September 23rd and will share more throughout the week. 

Help Us Spread The Word! You can support our two projects by engaging with our posts and sharing on your channels. 

You can also sign up to watch the meeting live on their website.

WXF Welcomes New Fall Intern 

Liliana Amato joined us this month as our Fall intern. Majoring in Media Arts Production and minoring in Nonprofit Communication at Emerson College, Liliana’s attending Emerson’s Los Angeles program for her last semester. During her time with us, she’ll work on impactful projects, gain experience in the non-fiction genre, and build relationships. Welcome, Liliana! 

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Being Set Alight by Ex-Boyfriend 

BBC News, Nairobi. Authored by Celestine Karoney, September 5, 2024. 

(Trigger Warning: This featured story discussed a deliberate act of gender violence.) 

Photo Source: Rebecca Cheptegei – Wikipedia 

Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan marathon runner, has died after being doused in petrol and set on fire by a former boyfriend in Kenya. Cheptegei, who competed in the recent Paris Olympics, suffered severe burns and sadly passed away in the hospital. Cheptegei was known for her generosity, including helping fellow athletes financially. Her death highlights the growing issue of gender based violence in Kenya, where 34% of women report experiencing physical violence. Kenyan and Ugandan sports officials, alongside international organizations like the UN, condemned the killing and called for justice. Cheptegei’s tragic death follows similar cases of violence against East African female athletes, including Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua. The sports community is mourning, and efforts are being made to raise awareness and combat domestic violence. 

Continue reading… 

A WORD FROM OUR PARTNER 

Judy Gitau, the Africa Region Coordinator at Equality Now, on how cultural and societal attitudes create gaps in legislation that allow this kind of behavior: 

“This is symptomatic of a bigger problem… We need to have systems that support victims, that support survivors to access justice, we need to have social change.” 

Watch the full interview here.

Photo Source: Judy Gitau Interview – Equality Now 

‘Reservation Dogs’ Star D’pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Brings Symbolic Message To Emmys With Red Hand Painted On Face: The Actor Was Standing In Solidarity With Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women.

 The Hollywood Reporter. Authored by Carly Thomas, September 15, 2024. 

Photo Source: The Hollywood Reporter 

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai took to the 2024 Emmys red carpet on Sunday with a powerful symbolic message. The Reservation Dogs star painted a red handprint over his mouth to stand in solidarity with missing and murdered Indigenous women. According to the organization Native Hope, it’s a symbol of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement and stands for “all the missing sisters whose voices are not heard” and “the silence of the media and law enforcement in the midst of this crisis.”

Continue reading… 

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 


Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF July 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

WXF @ Aspen Institute’s Socrates Summer Seminar 

Recently, WXF’s founder Charlotte attended the Aspen Institute’s Socrates Summer Seminar, a weekend-long roundtable discussion that brought together moderators and participants from various fields. Aspen Institute’s mission aligns perfectly with our goal of addressing the greatest challenges of our time. This experience provided a valuable opportunity for WXF to engage with thought leaders and discuss impactful solutions that benefit underserved communities.

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

Eighty-Year-Old Indigenous Grandpa Holding Hope for His Missing Granddaughter 

By: ABC News 

Eighty-year-old Ronnie Hostler has been searching for his granddaughter Khadijah Britton, a member of the Round Valley tribe in northern California, since he first reported her missing back in 2018. She was last seen being forced into a car in Covelo, CA, by her ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend was never formally charged. To this day, Ronnie is still holding hope and seeking closure. There have been over 5,000 unsolved cold cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. And murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native Women on tribal lands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

More than 4 in 5 Indigenous women have experienced violence in their life, and 56.1 percent of Indigenous women have experienced sexual violence. Indigenous women face murder rates that are 10 times higher than the national average in some counties in the U.S. and Canada. 

Continue Reading… 

Notable Historical Individuals Born in July

Emmeline Pankhurst 

Emmeline Pankhurst, born on July 15th, 1858, in Manchester, England, is celebrated as a pivotal figure in the fight for women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom. She founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903, which became known for its militant tactics to draw attention to the cause of women’s suffrage. Her leadership and unwavering commitment played a crucial role in securing the right to vote for women in Britain. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

Throughout her activism, Emmeline Pankhurst was arrested multiple times and participated in hunger strikes to protest the government’s treatment of suffragettes. After one arrest, she famously said, “We shall fight against the condition of affairs so long as life is in us.” 

Continue Reading… 

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 


Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF June 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

WXF Welcomes New Summer Intern 

Luna Lu joined us this month as our summer intern. Double-majoring in Economics and Film and Television at Boston University, Luna’s attending BU’s Los Angeles program for her last semester. During her time with us, she’ll work on impactful projects, gain experience in the non-fiction genre, and build relationships. Welcome, Luna! 

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

“We Can End Child Marriage in a Generation” 

By: BBC News 

Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney, and Melinda French Gates have teamed up to combat child marriage, aiming to end this practice within a generation. Their collaboration seeks to address the alarming rates of child marriage globally. Their visit to Malawi and South Africa underscored the urgent need for action. The three influential women are leveraging their respective foundations and expertise to speak up for those affected and push for policy change. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

According to UNICEF, an estimated 650 million girls and women alive today were married before their 18th birthday, indicating that one in every five girls may be forced into marriage. Concerted efforts are urgently needed to address the root causes of this harmful practice and to protect the rights and well-being of millions of girls. 

Notable Historical Individual Born in June

Hattie McDaniel 

We honor Hattie McDaniel as our Historical Person of the Month this June. Born on June 10th, 1895, McDaniel made history as the first black woman to win an Academy Award in 1940. Despite facing discrimination, she appeared in over 300 films, inspiring future generations of African American and female actresses. McDaniel’s legacy includes challenging stereotypes and advocating for racial and gender equality in the entertainment industry. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

Before her acting career took off, McDaniel was an accomplished singer and songwriter. She performed on radio shows and recorded several songs, showcasing her versatile talents beyond the realm of acting. 

Continue Reading… 

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 


Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF May 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

WXF’s Milena Warns Selected for NFL’s Women in Sports Filmmaking Experienceship 

Milena Warns from our team was selected to the highly competitive Women in Sports Filmmaking Experienceship, a training program designed to inspire and develop female talent in cinematography🎥 , sound capture🎙️ , and other aspects of production🎞️ . The two-day boot camp introduced us to an amazing cohort of fellow passionate female filmmakers and prepared us for future projects. 

WXF Attending International Documentary Association 

Getting Real Conference 

Representing the WXF team, Wei Dai attended International Documentary Association’s biennial conference on non-fiction content, Getting Real. This year, the event was held in Los Angeles and featured speakers from production companies, distributors, industry research organizations, and many more sectors of the industry. Meeting fellow filmmakers is the favorite part of our job and always inspiring! 🤝 

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

How the Climate Crisis Fuels Gender Inequality 

By: CNN Special Report 

Climate change catalyzes existing injustices, magnifying their impact. Women and girls, who already contend with gender inequality, face intensified challenges when extreme weather events ravage communities. According to the UN, inequalities worsen as a result of these weather events: incidents of intimate partner violence escalate; girls are withdrawn from school, early marriages of daughters increase; and women and girls displaced from their homes confront elevated risks of sexual  exploitation and trafficking. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

According to estimates from the Brookings Institution, for each additional year a girl attends school, her country’s resilience to climate disasters may increase by 3.2 points on an index measuring vulnerability to climate-related disasters. 

Continue Reading… 

Notable Historical Individual Born in March

Nellie Bly 

Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman, also known as Nellie Bly, was an acclaimed American journalist born May 5, 1864. She gained widespread recognition for her groundbreaking journey around the world in just 72 days, mirroring the exploits of Jules Verne’s fictional character Phileas Fogg. Additionally, she made headlines with her undercover investigation of an abusive mental institution, exposing its inner workings to the public. Nellie Bly’s contributions marked her as a trailblazer in investigative journalism, setting new professional standards. 

Continue Reading…

DID YOU KNOW 

In 1887, Nellie Bly rose to prominence as a journalist, achieving star status through her daring undercover investigation at a New York City mental health asylum. Her courageous exposé in the New York World revealed the appalling conditions within the institution, sparking widespread awareness about mental health treatment and catalyzing reforms in institutional practices. Bly’s reporting also heralded the dawn of investigative journalism. 

Continue Reading…

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 


Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF April 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

UNMUTED Featured on Realscreen’s “MIPTV Picks” List; WXF Attending MIPTV Market in Cannes 

We are very excited to announce that our docuseries UNMUTED was selected to be on Realscreen’s annual “MIPTV Picks” list. 🎉🎉🎉 Each year, Realscreen highlights a group of non-fiction projects that will be at the MIPTV market in Cannes that people shouldn’t miss out on. 

(Check out more about UNMUTED and the entire MIPTV Picks list here.) 

Our executive producer, Charlotte, and producer, Milena, attended MIPTV, a content market in the beautiful Cannes that provides diverse content and facilitates networking among industry professionals from over 100 countries. We met with a lot of co-production partners and networks and discussed our slate of projects. 

WXF Attending Mount Saint Mary’s University event on The Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California 

WXF team’s Charlotte, Milena, and the director of our Stolen Sister project, Valerie, attended the annual public event on The Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California. For the 13th year of the Report, Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles hosted the event at the Skirball Cultural Center, gathering over 500 thought leaders to foster conversation and inspire action to address inequalities and gender gaps in our state. Read the full report here. 

WXF Speaking at the Women in Media, Entertainment & Technology Panel 

The WICT (Women in Media, Entertainment & Technology) Network is an organization dedicated to empowering women leaders who light the way for others and create a lasting legacy of diversity, equity and inclusion. Recently, it hosted a panel featuring our docuseries UNMUTED, and our executive producer Charlotte, producer Milena, and showrunner Dena were invited to the panel to speak about their experiences creating the show. Thank you to all who attended!

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

In A First, West African Country Moves Toward Ending Ban on Female Genital Cutting 

By: Rachel Chason 

Gambia’s National Assembly voted to advance a bill overturning the ban on female genital cutting, sparking global concern. Lawmakers claim it’s about upholding cultural and religious rights. Gambia’s move could set a dangerous precedent, as FGM affects millions worldwide. Despite efforts to educate, some still support FGM, believing it controls women’s desires. Personal debates within families reveal generational divides on the issue. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

The United Nations reports that approximately 75% of girls and women aged 15 to 49 in Gambia have undergone genital cutting, often referred to as female genital mutilation (FGM). Globally, over 200 million women and girls are believed to have survived this practice, which may involve the removal of parts of the clitoris and labia minora, and in extreme cases, the closure of the vaginal opening. Medical professionals emphasize that these procedures lack medical benefits and can result in various short- and long-term consequences, such as infections, intense pain, and infertility. 

Continue Reading…

Notable Historical Individual Born in April

Maya Angelou 

Maya Angelou, born April 4, 1928, as Marguerite Johnson, was a celebrated 

American poet, storyteller, activist, and autobiographer. Her diverse career included singing, dancing, acting, composing, and directing, making her Hollywood’s first female black director. However, her remarkable talent as a writer, editor, essayist, playwright, and poet brought her widespread acclaim. Angelou was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement, collaborating with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. She also made significant contributions to education as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

Angelou served on presidential committees for Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. She received the National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton in 2000 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2010. She earned over 50 honorary degrees throughout her life, leaving behind a lasting legacy of inspiration and influence. 

Continue Reading… 

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 


Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF March 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

WXF @ Women In Entertainment Summit 

As proud members of Women In Entertainment, we attended the 7th annual Women In Entertainment Summit at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center on February 28th. The event brought together forward-thinkers from all areas of the entertainment industry to explore a variety of topics that greatly impact women, from human rights and women’s leadership to diversity of storytelling across platforms and empowering the next generation of women to emerge as creative powerhouses

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

California Legislators Hear about Rejected Requests and Needed Changes for Year-Old Feather Alert MMIP System 

By: ELYSE WILD 

When Taralyn Ipina’s sister went missing in San Francisco last year, local law enforcement refused to issue an alert under California’s new Feather Alert system, launched in 2023, to aid in finding her sister. They deemed it didn’t meet the system’s criteria. Although her sister was eventually found alive, the rejection added to the complexity of an already difficult situation for Ipina. Recently, Ipina testified before California’s Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs on the effectiveness of the Feather Alert. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

Stats show that Indigenous women are being murdered at a rate ten times the national average, despite Indigenous women comprising only 2% of the total population in the United States. Homicide is the leading cause of death for Indigenous women ages 10-24 and the fifth leading cause of death for Indigenous women 25-34. While the Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates there are 4,200 unsolved MMIP cases, the actual number is likely higher as there is no accurate count of how many Indigenous women go missing or are murdered annually. 

Continue Reading… 

Notable Historical Individual Born in March

Susanna M. Salter 

We honor Susanna Madora Salter, born on March 2, 1860, in Lamira, Ohio, who achieved renown as the inaugural woman to be elected mayor in the United States, a pivotal moment in American political history. After graduating from Kansas State Agricultural College, Salter’s unanticipated nomination as the Prohibition candidate for mayor in Argonia, Kansas, propelled her to a groundbreaking triumph in 1887. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

During her time in office, Salter showcased exceptional leadership, steadfastly tackling sanitation, public health, and infrastructure matters. Her election broke down barriers, motivating women nationwide to seek political positions and pushing for societal change. Despite encountering challenges, Salter’s dedication to equality and fairness established a lasting impact, influencing the trajectory of women’s rights in the United States. 

Continue Reading… 

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 

Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF February 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

WXF @ Realscreen Summit in New Orleans 

Our team recently attended the 2024 Realscreen Summit, the largest and most respected global conference for unscripted and non-fiction content, in New Orleans. The team met with top industry executives to discuss our current and future projects. 

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

“Clothes were in pieces,” witness describes the scene of a chemical attack

By: Kristy Tamashiro 

Danying Zhang, 25, is the newest victim in a string of acid attacks in Hawaii. On January 21st, the incident happened outside an Ala Moana gym around 9:15 p.m. Danying suffered third-degree burns and life-threatening injuries after these attacks. We are currently in post-production with our episode on acid violence in our docuseries UNMUTED, featuring several survivors around the world. We work with many organizations to bring awareness and resources to this problem with growing global occurrences. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

Acid violence involves a deliberate attack by throwing corrosive acid onto an individual’s face and body, aiming to disfigure, torture, or even kill the victim. The impact is severe, as the acid penetrates the flesh, often reaching the bone, leading to lifelong impact. Beyond the physical consequences, survivors endure profound psychological trauma, frequently experiencing depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder. 

Continue Reading… 

Notable Historical Individual Born in Febraury

Rosa Parks

We honor Rosa Parks as our Historical Person of the Month this February. Born on February 4th, 1913, Parks became an icon of the civil rights movement through her courageous act of defiance on a Montgomery bus in 1955. Her refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and catalyzed the civil rights movement in the United States. Parks’ steadfast determination and commitment to justice continues to inspire generations worldwide. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

The civil rights movement heavily influenced the decolonization movements in Africa and Asia. Specifically, Indian, Ghanaian, and Nigerian people found inspiration from the United States civil rights movement, demanding social justice, political representation, and de-occupation in the late 50s. The cross-cultural exchange of ideas between the US civil rights movement in Africa and Asia exemplifies global efforts for social justice and equality due to the acts of civil rights leaders such as Rosa Parks. 

Continue Reading… 

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 

Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!

WXF January 2024 Newsletter

/in /by

WXF Updates

WXF Welcomes Spring 2024 Interns 

We are excited to have two new interns join our team at WXF for their spring semester! Griffin Yarmaloff from Loyola Marymount University (left pic) and Mia Blom from Emerson College (right pic) will be helping with all aspects of our projects. 

Stay Informed

Help us drive social change by learning about the topics we cover.

Notable Historical Individual Born in January

By: Debra Michals 

Alice Paul, a leading figure in the 20th-century women’s suffrage movement, was born on January 11th, 1885, in New Jersey. She played a vital role in securing the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, granting women the right to vote. After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, Paul co-founded the National Woman’s Party and employed protests and pickets for suffrage. Despite arrests and harsh treatment, her efforts gained President Wilson’s support for suffrage, leading to the amendment’s passage. Throughout her life, Alice Paul remained a dedicated champion for women’s rights and gender equality. 

Continue Reading… 

DID YOU KNOW 

After the passing of the 19th Amendment, Alice Paul co-wrote the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), proposing another constitutional amendment designed to guarantee legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. The ERA failed to be ratified by enough states before its legislative deadline, so Alice Paul didn’t get to see the ERA become part of the Constitution before she passed away. However, she laid foundation for many legislations that later passed. 

Washington State House Unaimously Passes Bills Banning Child Marriage 

Washington State Legislature 

The 2024 Washington State Legislative session began on January 9th, and the House quickly passed House Bill 1455, which aims to ban child marriage. The bill passed unanimously with a vote of 98-0 in the House and is now awaiting approval from the Senate. Currently, children under 18 can marry in Washington with parental consent or approval from a judge. The existing law leaves children without legal recourse if they encounter problems in their marriages, making this bill crucial for protecting them from potentially abusive or dangerous situations. 

Continue Reading…

DID YOU KNOW

If the Bill goes into effect in the state of Washington, it will make Washington the 11th state to ban child marriage. Nearly 300,000 children were legally married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018, according to a study by Unchained At Last, a nonprofit organization that advocates against child marriage (see our Non-Profit Nook for more info on Unchained At Last!). 

Continue Reading…

Support Independent Films

Without Exception Films is a women-led independent production company based in Los Angeles, CA. Our projects include docuseries and full-length documentaries that we develop end-to-end both in-house and through dynamic partnerships with other filmmakers. 

Making documentaries is important but costly, support us by making a tax-deductible donation to our latest project!