Megan Smith-Harris
About
Megan is an entrepreneur with a passion for the arts. Her career encompasses documentary, television, film, theater, radio, writing, magazine editing, and teaching.
She is the founder and Executive Director of the Fairfield Film Festival in Fairfield, CT, and the former Festival Director of the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (RIFF), rated by FilmFreeway as one of the “Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals” in the world out of a field of 9,000 festivals.
As a filmmaker, she has helmed multiple long-form documentaries, which have aired nationally and around the globe. Notably, Megan produced and directed the award-winning documentary, The Buddy System and the critically acclaimed feature doc, Trial by Fire: Lives Re-forged, (PBS, Amazon Prime). Megan is currently in pre-production for the feature film A Stage of Twilight (starring Karen Allen and directed by Sarah T. Schwab), scheduled to shoot in New Milford, CT in 2021
From 2014 to 2020 Megan was the editor of Wilton Magazine, an upscale lifestyle magazine that was part of the TownVibe Media Group. She has won 24 Connecticut Press Club Awards for her features, as well as four national NFPW awards. Megan's work has been published in an array of regional and national publications. Her monologues and short plays have been performed at various venues in Connecticut. Her full-length play, Killing Mom—a Kilroy 2020 listed script—will premiere in New York City at ATA in 2022
As a speaker, Megan has delivered keynote addresses, served as a panelist at industry events, and interviewed dozens of authors and filmmakers. A committed and passionate volunteer, Megan has worked with The American Red Cross, Performers for Literacy, The Rett Syndrome Foundation, Miller Driscoll School, Cider Mill School, Connecticut Friends School, Weir Farm Art Center, Riverbrook Family YMCA, the YWCA of Greenwich, Wilton Library Association, Ambler Farm, Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County, and Theatre Artists Workshop.
For a decade, Megan donated her time as the programmer and moderator of the New Perspectives Documentary Series in Wilton, CT, where she lives with her husband , Bill, their son, Jack, and dog, Duncan. (CV below)
Megan, J.R. & Dr. Mehmet Oz
on the set of the Dr. Oz
(featuring TRIAL BY FIRE: Lives Re-Forged)
Best-selling author Jane Green presents Megan
with four awards at the
CT Press Club Awards Ceremony.
Megan discusses her documentary, The Buddy System
with Tommy and Susie Hilfiger
at an Autism Benefit in Greenwich
Interviewing the Property Brothers for the article "Brotherly Love." published in Wilton Magazine
Interviewing author John DiLeo
on the Golden Age of Hollywood
Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art
With super model Gigi Hadid on a commercial shoot at Megan's home.
With Actor/Producer/Singer
Allison Williams - "RIFFing With"
Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art
On location in Ridgefield, CT with legendary bass player Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick.
At Artisan, Southport CT with Actor/Author/Activist
Jane Fonda
CURRICULUM VITAE
MEGAN SMITH-HARRIS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FAIRFIELD FILM FESTIVAL (2021-Present)
Responsible for all aspects of running an annual four-day film festival in November, a one-day Virtual Reality Showcase, as well as year-round screenings, workshops, and panel discussions. Responsible for creating an annual budget, fund-raising, donor relations, and all programming including the Festival Favorites Film Series, Focus on CT Series, The Write Stuff Screenplay program, Who's Zooming Who? Interview Series, and the Film Craft Workshop Series. Oversee all staff and volunteers, plan and execute all events, panel discussions, and parties. FFF is a 50/50 gender parity film festival with a commitment to equity, access, and inclusion. fairfieldfilmfestival.org
EDITOR
WILTON MAGAZINE (2014-2020)
An award-winning regional lifestyle magazine was part of the TownVibe Media Group and collectively reached over 225,000 readers per issue. Responsible for all editorial content, hired writers, wrote features, edited content, scouted locations, produced all STYLE photo features (including fashion, house, and garden), revised layouts in InDesign, and served as an ambassador for the brand. Won 24 Connecticut Press Club Awards and four NFPW national writing awards for work in TownVibe publications.
FILM FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
RIDGEFIELD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL (2017-2020)
Responsible for all aspects of running an annual five-day film festival in October, a one-day children's film festival in April, and a series of one-off events throughout the year. Responsible for creating an annual budget, fund-raising, grant proposals, donor relations, and all programming (over 100 films annually). Help facilitate RIFF events at multiple venues throughout Ridgefield, CT including the Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield Theater Barn, Ridgefield Library, Keeler Tavern Museum, and Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. For three years, RIFF was ranked in the FilmFreeway "Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals" putting RIFF in the top 1.5% of over 9,000 festivals in the world.
PYEWACKITT PRODUCTIONS
OWNER / PRESIDENT (2008-Present)
Pyewackitt Productions is an independent production company dedicated to creating compelling, high-quality television programs and documentary films with a unique perspective. pyewckitt.com
FILM
A STAGE OF TWILIGHT (pre-production)
Producer
Independent feature film starring Karen Allen and written and directed by Sarah T. Scwhab. Lensing late Spring, early Summer 2021.
THE BUDDY SYSTEM
Producer, Director & Writer
Independent documentary about the impact autism assistance dogs can have on the life of children on the spectrum. Responsible for every aspect of production including research, budget, fund-raising, hiring, managing crewing, and marketing and promotion. BuddySystemFilm.org
TRIAL BY FIRE: LIVES RE-FORGED
Producer, Director & Writer
Independent feature documentary that follows the journeys of seven charismatic burn survivors as they reclaim their lives after the devastation of fire. Premiered in New York and L.A., Docuweeks pick, featured in Leonard Maltin’s Cinema Series, showcased on Dr. Oz, screened at festivals, continues to air on PBS, distributed by PBS International and available on Amazon Prime. TrialByFireDoc.org
TACKLE GIRLS: ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION
Executive Producer
Independent feature documentary that follows an elite group of women tackle football players who form Team USA. The film follows them on their quest for a gold medal in an international competition held in Helsinki, Finland. Responsible for budgeting, fund-raising, creating production schedules, producing, and post-production coordination. Currently in post-production. Tackle Girls Promo
ABUSE HURTS
Producer, Director & Writer
Documentary featuring five women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds who overcome domestic abuse. Responsible for all elements of production and post-production. Produced for the YWCA of Greenwich.
TELEVISION
SURROGATE STORIES
Producer, Director & Writer
Two-hour television special exploring the intimate world of surrogacy. Responsible for all research, budgeting, crew management, pre-production, production, post-production, and delivery. Commissioned by the Women’s Entertainment Network. Aired on WEtv and distributed by Off the Fence.
CHILD BRIDES
Producer, Director & Writer
One-hour documentary that examines the lives of teens who prematurely become wives and mothers, examining how their decision to marry young has profoundly changed the course of their lives. Responsible for all research, budgeting, crew management, pre-production, production, and post-production. Commissioned by the Women’s Entertainment Network. Aired on WEtv and distributed by Off the Fence.
POLYGAMY
Producer & Writer
One-hour documentary that looks inside the hidden world of polygamy featuring women who happily practice plural marriage and those who have broken free of the practice. Commissioned by the Women’s Entertainment Network. Aired on WEtv. (Production Company Blue Sky)
FAME SCHOOL
Associate Producer & Writer
One-hour documentary profiling exceptional students at the La Guardia School for the Performing Arts aka "The Fame School." Aired on PBS. (Production company Fresh Produce)
NIGHT ON THE TOWN with Peter Graves
Writer
Peter Graves explores the history of the famed Peter Luger's Steak House. Aired on A&E (Fresh Produce)
TORONTO ARTS AWARDS
Short Film Producer & Live Show Producer - Three Seasons
Produced 24, five-minute films (16 mm) on celebrated individuals in the arts over a three-year period. Collaborated with 24 different directors. Aired on CBC, TV Ontario, and Bravo. (Pyewackitt Productions CANADA)
WRITER (Magazines, Blogs, Radio, Television, Film, Theater)
FREELANCE WRITER
Articles published by the Weston Magazine Group (Greenwich, Weston, Darien, Rye, New York ), E-Chook Digital Publishing, Wilton Magazine, Ridgefield Magazine, Fairfield Magazine, Bedford Magazine, Litchfield Magazine, Ridgefield Media, and Brain Child Magazine.
BLOGS
MEGAblog (2014)
Creator, Writer & Photographer
A popular blog for Hearst CT Media. Conceived of and executed weekly blog. Responsible for all content and photos. MEGAblog consistently ranked in the top ten of over 200 blogs.
THEATRE
KILLING MOM (writer) **Kilroy 2020 Listed Play
Full Length Play - American Theatre of Actors debuts Spring 2021, New York, NY
Staged Equity Showcase Reading at ACT of CT, Ridgefield, CT
Developmental Reading at Theatre Artists Workshop, Norwalk, CT
THE PLAY DATE (Writer)
A Monologue
Performed at Play With Your Food (Greenwich, CT; Weston, CT; TAW Playwright's Festival (Norwalk, CT)
SMOKE BREAK (Writer)
A Monologue - performed at TAW Spring Playwrights Festival
A WHOLE NEW WORLD (Writer)
Award-winning one-act play (2016 Bijou Theatre One-Act Play Competition judged by Tony-award-winning playwright Terrence McNally)
MY FIRST PROM (Writer/Actor)
20-Minute monologue, performed at TAW Fall Playwrights Festival
COMPANY'S COMING (Writer/Actor)
A Monologue - in development at Theatre Artists Workshop
MAD IN CANADA (Writer/Producer/Co-Director/Actor)
Topical comedy revue - ran for a year (six months in Toronto and six months in Montreal).
SCREENPLAYS
THE GHOST OF YOU
Feature Screenplay - Dramedy (in development)
KILLING MOM
Feature Screenplay - adapted from Kilroy 2020 Listed play, Dramedy (in development)
BEHIND THE HEDGEROWS
Feature Screenplay - Psychological Suspense
CRYPTIC
Feature Screenplay - Suspense (Optioned)
ISLAND JUSTICE
Feature Screenplay - Thriller
SPEAKER, PRESENTER, & MODERATOR
PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER
Speaker for conferences of all sizes including arts groups, women's groups, community groups, and non-profits. Have spoken for the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival, Ridgefield Library, Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), Ridgefield's Women Forum, Nevada Burn Foundation, National Association of State Fire Chiefs, Phoenix Society, Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, National Speakers Association, Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, Firefighters Burn Institute, Utah Winter Fire School, Canadian Burn Survivor's Conference, The Power of Trial By Fire Special Event (Edmonton), various Rotary Clubs and Kiwanis Clubs in CT, regular speaker at the New Perspectives Documentary Film Series. Panelist at New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT). Moderator at the Readers & Writers Festival (Milford PA 2018, 2019) Also emcees, leads workshops, conducts celebrity author/filmmaker interviews, and serves as a fund-raising auctioneer.
EDUCATION
CANADIAN FILM CENTRE | Producer Resident
One of 4 Producer Residents chosen from across Canada. Toronto, Ontario
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY | Bachelor of Arts (Theatre Major & English Minor)
Kingston, Ontario
BANFF CENTRE FOR FINE ARTS | Women In The Director's Chair Resident
One of 15 women chosen from across Canada. Banff, Alberta
NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL OF CANADA | Acting
One of 7 women actors chosen from across Canada. Montreal, Quebec
AWARDS & HONORS
KILROYS List 2020 (for KILLING MOM)
24 Connecticut Press Club Awards 2015-2020
4 NFPW National Journalism Awards 2015-2019
BEST FILM "The Buddy System" Autfest 2017
FIRST PRIZE WINNER | Bijou Theatre 2016 One-Act Play Contest (judged by Terrence McNally)
FIRST PRIZE WINNER | Right/Left/Center Writing Contest
OFDC Market Mentorship | International Documentary Forum Amsterdam (IDFA)
Market Simulation HONOREE | Banff Television Festival
CTV Fellowship
Scholarship | Canadian Film Centre
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Connecticut Press Club
Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County
Dramatists Guild of America
Film Festival Alliance
International Screenwriters Association (ISA)
League of Professional Theater Women (CT Chapter)
National Federation of Press Women (NFPW)
New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT)
GIVING BACK
MODERATOR/PROGRAMMER New Perspectives Documentary Series (10 Years)
BOARD Member Theatre Artists’ Workshop
AUCTIONEER (multiple organizations)
GALA CHAIR CT Friends School
AUCTION CHAIR Weir Farm Art Center
ARTS ENRICHMENT Coordinator Cider Mill School
CO-PRESIDENT Canaan Ridge Parent's Association
AUCTION CO-CHAIR Greenwich Red Cross
PRESIDENT A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Women in Business
FILMMAKER Greenwich YWCA Gala
BOARD MEMBER Greenwich Newcomers Association
EVENT CHAIR "Climb For Hope" Gala for Rett Syndrome Association
