The Tamesis
On the first weekend of 2026, Cherry Lane Theater in Manhattan’s West Village opened its famous red doors for Autonomy in Focus, a fundraiser supporting New York’s abortion fund, setting the tone for a goal-driven, community-led year ahead. “This is the perfect way to start the new year,” said actress and event co-chair AnnaSophia Robb Fashion. “Get together with friends and community to discuss the things that really matter.”
The venue’s new Wild Cherry restaurant was quickly filling up with familiar faces on Saturday night. The mood is like the first day back at school after an indulgent vacation. Amid extra-long hugs, plenty of martinis, and heartwarming reunions, filmmakers and culture buffs alike reflected on their New Year’s Eve and holiday recaps, and of course, the movies they watched.
The industry event was organized to highlight the work of the New York Abortion Fund – which spans the country. “It feels good that we’re here to invest in something that’s not abstract or symbolic,” said Havana Rose Liu, one of the evening’s co-chairs. “NYAAF is doing important work on the ground every day to support people across the country, and we will continue that action.”
The spirit of NYAAF—accessibility, visibility, and unity—is evident in every corner of this cozy, 1970s-style restaurant. The sleek circular bar, fully scuffed green leather booths, and chrome dining tables are filled with Lola’s tampons, Julie’s emergency contraceptive pill, and NYAAF pins that read “Funded Abortion = Community Care.” “Cherry Alley is an iconic space for activism and radical change. It provides the perfect backdrop for us,” Chelsea Williams-Diggs, the organization’s executive director, told us Fashion. “We believe in the power of community, and this space reminds us that change doesn’t start with policy, it starts with culture.”
Once everyone was settled, Katherine Romans and Charlie Traisman (founders of the female-led production company Madhouse Films and the evening’s sponsor) invited the co-chairs to join them high up in the restaurant. The cast — AnnaSophia Robb, Havana Rose Liu, Lola Tung, Ruby Jean Cruz, Louisa Jacobson and Rachel Hilson — stood tight with soft smiles on their faces as their NYAAF remarks were read. They shared stories of real people who use the fund; people who travel across the country to receive the life-saving care the organization provides.
After the speeches, the barely-there music reaches another climax and the atmosphere gently shifts. The co-chairs connected with many people, balancing the seriousness of the issue with the lightheartedness that made talking about body autonomy over cocktails and French fries not only appropriate, but encouraged. “It’s important to change the language so people aren’t afraid to talk about it,” Cruz said. “The heart of the matter is that people have autonomy over their own bodies. To me, that’s what we should be doing always talk. “
They did just that, while reuniting with friends like Nimay Ndolo, Alyah Chanelle Scott, Ella Stiller, Rivkah Reyes and Micaela Diamond. “Throughout the evening, we were surrounded by people who shared our passion for a sometimes scary topic,” Tung said. “But by being together, it becomes less scary and more powerful.”
As the clock neared midnight, guests slowly made their way past the box office toward the high street. Along the way, they snagged merchandise from the Cherry Lane Theater and Madhouse Films, and are buzzing about returning to the historic landmark in mid-February for upcoming shows. You are getting older.
