Author: femalefilmfestival

The irony of this festival is that its goal is to not be around in 5 years time. To eventually not be relevant because there is zero need to have a festival geared for female talent and female stories because the stories presented in Hollywood and around the world are a balanced showcase of the human experience from both sexes.

Our goal is to achieve a lot of success and then fold into oblivion simply because there is no need for this festival.

This festival was created by the FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival as a simple reaction to a strong need to showcase female talent from around the world in a more profound way.

When putting together the weekly festival, the administration noticed a lack of a female presence in the stories being shown at the festival.

A classic example and analogy to the frustration is how the festival noticed that even the smaller roles in a screenplay were written for a man to play. There was zero reason for this in many stories. How a police officer, or a political campaign manager, for example with 3-4 lines in a screenplay was a "HE" character. Why? And these are the screenplays written by the winners! The talented one who have obtained agents and have began/beginning their careers as a writer.

‘The Iron Lady’ is an Unconventional Biopic of a Controversial Leader — Screen Queens

Meryl Streep’s Academy Award winning portrait of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady enables her to sit on a higher pedestal than ever before. It’s a delectable study in vicariously entering her subject’s decidedly power-packed, incisive nature as an administrator. Streep’s performance has enviable command throughout whereas the film’s vision falters quite […]… Continue reading ‘The Iron Lady’ is an Unconventional Biopic of a Controversial Leader — Screen Queens

“Hang in There Joan”: Recognising Joan Cusack — Screen Queens

When her younger brother John was awarded a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012, Joan Cusack was the one who presented it to him. Her speech started with a comedic bit about how she, having worked in film for over 30 years and being a two time Academy nominee was the “person […]… Continue reading “Hang in There Joan”: Recognising Joan Cusack — Screen Queens

Pretty Women: Garry Marshall’s Damsels in Distress — Screen Queens

Pictured: the childhood feminist hero in question. Consider this a formal apology to fellow feminists everywhere: I love makeover scenes. My upbringing made me politically conscious enough to know that everything about the one in The Princess Diaries (2001) should irk me to no end. The idea that Mia Thermopolis, a fifteen year old girl, […]… Continue reading Pretty Women: Garry Marshall’s Damsels in Distress — Screen Queens

On Women and Trauma: ‘Top of the Lake’ and the Power of Empathy in Crime TV — Screen Queens

Season Two of Top of the Lake (2013–2017) begins with a suitcase in the ocean. Two lifeguards have spotted the suitcase, with long black hair protruding from the side, and have alerted the police to its presence. Detective Robin Griffin, played by Elisabeth Moss, arrives at the scene. As Robin approaches the suitcase to open […]… Continue reading On Women and Trauma: ‘Top of the Lake’ and the Power of Empathy in Crime TV — Screen Queens

When ‘Here Awhile’ Finds its Footing, It is a Tender Film About Death and Acceptance — Screen Queens

‘Death’ and ‘choice’ are not words we often find together. It’s such a deep rooted evolutionary fear that we all assume we could never choose. On the surface, Here Awhile is a film about a brother and sister reunited. A story of healing and forgiveness. But it also offers an interesting perspective on what ‘life’ […]… Continue reading When ‘Here Awhile’ Finds its Footing, It is a Tender Film About Death and Acceptance — Screen Queens

‘Sunset Boulevard’ and the Ageing Woman: Sexism and Ageism in Hollywood — Screen Queens

As soon as women hit the age of eighteen, we’re jumped on about concerns of ageing. We’re told our bodies are on a downward spiral and after 25 we won’t be able to eat all the things we want to. We’re told it’s never too early to invest in a good eye cream and that […]… Continue reading ‘Sunset Boulevard’ and the Ageing Woman: Sexism and Ageism in Hollywood — Screen Queens

‘Parkland Rising’ Sees the Spirit of Youth Rise from the Ashes of Tragedy — Screen Queens

In Parkland Rising, a documentary detailing the aftermath of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, following a mass shooting on February 14th, 2018, the perpetrator is never referenced. The person responsible for the deaths of 17 of the school’s students and faculty is not named, granted any relation to the school community, or given […]… Continue reading ‘Parkland Rising’ Sees the Spirit of Youth Rise from the Ashes of Tragedy — Screen Queens

‘Dead to Me’ S2 has Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown — Screen Queens

“So you’re that friend, you’re the clutch friend?” asks potential love interest Michelle (Natalie Morales) to Judy (Linda Cardellini). We, the audience, shout back a resounding yes — but what’s wrong with that? Over the course of the first series of Dead to Me, Judy and Jen (Christina Applegate) embark on an intense friendship formed […]… Continue reading ‘Dead to Me’ S2 has Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown — Screen Queens

Confronting Discomfort: On Re-watching ‘Pride’ — Screen Queens

A bright-eyed baby queer, I first watched Pride on its release in 2014. The film follows the true story of LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) led by Mark Ashton (Ben Schnetzer), aiming to aid miners amidst the 1984 to 1985 strike. It pulled me in – gave me a cup of tea, a […]… Continue reading Confronting Discomfort: On Re-watching ‘Pride’ — Screen Queens