We are thrilled to announce that Andi Armaganian, Olivia Newman, and Kat Coiro are joining Alliance of Women Directors as Icon Members!
Beyond their remarkable accomplishments behind the camera, each of these incredible filmmakers has already been a generous supporter of AWD, sharing their time, mentorship, and expertise with our community through workshops, fellowships, and events. Their willingness to lift up the next generation of directors exemplifies exactly what our Icon Members represent: exceptional artists who are equally committed to building a more inclusive, collaborative, and equitable industry.
Please join us in welcoming Andi, Olivia, and Kat to the AWD Icon community!
ANDI ARMAGANIAN is a television Director and Producer with over thirty episodes in the director’s chair and a background in editing. She has directed some of the most visually ambitious series on network, cable, and streaming — including Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Starfleet Academy, Dead Boy Detectives, Rescue: Hi-Surf, Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash, and DC’s Stargirl, where she also served as Producer/Director for Season 3. Andi began her career editing features and more than 100 episodes of television before transitioning into directing. She brings a deep understanding of performance, visual storytelling, and on-set collaboration, and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of talent.
OLIVIA NEWMAN is an award-winning director and writer known for her work across film and television. Newman’s latest feature, REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, which she co-wrote and directed for Netflix, was nominated for three Emmy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress. Adapted from the New York Times bestselling novel, the film stars Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, and Alfred Molina.
Newman previously directed WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (2022), the film adaptation of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel for Sony, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, David Strathairn, and Harris Dickinson. The film was a global box office success, grossing over $140 million worldwide.
Prior to that, Newman wrote and directed her debut feature, FIRST MATCH, starring Elvire Emanuelle, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Domingo, and Jharrel Jerome. The film premiered at SXSW in 2018, where it won the Audience Award for Best Feature, and was acquired and distributed by Netflix.
In television, Newman directed the pilot and served as co-executive producer on the limited series THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME for Apple TV+ and 20th Century Studios, starring Jennifer Garner and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. She has also directed episodes of FBI, CHICAGO FIRE, CHICAGO PD and DARE ME.
Newman is an alum of the Sundance Directors and Screenwriters Labs and received her MFA in Film from Columbia University.