Penelope Berkemeier (Director) is a graduate of Sydney Film School and the Actor’s Centre of Australia, where she trained both on and offstage. She has worked in the Australian film industry for over ten years, an experienced 1st, 2nd & 3rd Assistant Director of countless features, short films, webseries and television series, including “Home &… Continue reading Director Biography – Penelope Berkemeier (REMOTE ACCESS)
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.
Short Film: REMOTE ACCESS, 20min,, Australia, Drama/Thriller
In the Blue Mountains of Australia, police must interview a broken couple to determine who is responsible for two brutal murders. Were they innocent bystanders of a domestic violence incident, or did something more sinister occur? Project Links Website Facebook News & Reviews “Why Saying “Get Off the Internet” is Terrible Advice for Victims of… Continue reading Short Film: REMOTE ACCESS, 20min,, Australia, Drama/Thriller
Director Biography – Elina Gress, Lenee Son (MY NAME WAS JANUARY)
Photo: Lenee Son (left) and Elina Gress (right) BIOGRAPHY OF LENEE SON Lenée is a Khmer Krom settler who grew up in Surrey on unceded Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, and Kwikwetlem territories. She has a Bachelors of Journalism and minor in Sociology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her work as a freelance multimedia journalist has appeared in… Continue reading Director Biography – Elina Gress, Lenee Son (MY NAME WAS JANUARY)
Short Film: MY NAME WAS JANUARY, 25min., Canada, Documentary
When a trans sister, January Marie Lapuz, is brutally murdered in her own home, a community reacts and her friends and other trans women of colour come to share and voice their issues, concerns, and challenges. January was seen as a bright light in the lives of many. This is the story of January, a… Continue reading Short Film: MY NAME WAS JANUARY, 25min., Canada, Documentary
Director Biography – Gretl Claggett (STORMCHASER)
GRETL CLAGGETT is a writer and director committed to creating singular stories that reflect current dilemmas but are timeless — stories that entertain and catalyze conversations that can transform cultures. Gretl’s first film Happy Hour — narrated by Julianne Moore — is based on true events and a poem from her book, “Monsoon Solo: Voices… Continue reading Director Biography – Gretl Claggett (STORMCHASER)
Short Film: STORMCHASER, 27min., USA, Drama
All Bonnie Blue ever wanted was to chase tornadoes with her Dad. But dreams die with time. Now, she’s become a different kind of storm chaser — hawking storm-doors “door-to-door” for her charismatic boss, Flip Smyth: a cult-like father figure to Bonnie and his tribe of young sales bucks. In the guise of “tough love,”… Continue reading Short Film: STORMCHASER, 27min., USA, Drama
SHORT Female Festival Screenplay Reading: Discord, by Jax Smith & Helene Taylor
This short is about a female musician putting up with inappropriate advances from a senior male musician in order to secure a job. CAST LIST: Server: Daniel Jones Narrator: Regan Brown Meastro: Luke Robinson Jane: Cassandra Guthrie — Producer/Director: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com Festival Moderators: Matthew Toffolo, Rachel Elder Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne Editors: Kimberly Villarruel,… Continue reading SHORT Female Festival Screenplay Reading: Discord, by Jax Smith & Helene Taylor
Top Female Festival Screenplays of 2019
Watch the winning readings performed by professional actors. 18 screenplays in total. 3 1st Scene Screenplays: 1st Scene Female Festival Reading: Sins Of My Father, by Jane Therese https://femalefilmfestival.com/2019/12/18/1st-scene-female-festival-reading-sins-of-my-father-by-jane-therese/ Female Festival 1st Scene Screenplay Reading of Drones & Drivers, by Haley Isleib https://femalefilmfestival.com/2019/03/01/female-festival-1st-scene-screenplay-reading-of-drones-drivers-by-haley-isleib/ 1st Scene Screenplay Reading of Drones & Drivers by Haley Isleib https://femalefilmfestival.com/2019/01/29/1st-scene-screenplay-reading-of-drones-drivers-by-haley-isleib/… Continue reading Top Female Festival Screenplays of 2019
1st Scene Female Festival Reading: Sins Of My Father, by Jane Therese
A young woman in Ireland, grapples with the love she has for her father after bringing charges of abuse against him, rocking a country when his sentence is suspended. CAST LIST: Colleen: Christina Leonard Brendan: Geoff Mays Narration: Sean Ballantyne Eamon: Aaron Maxwell Imogen: Carina Cojeen Robert: Aaron Williams — Producer/Director: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com Festival… Continue reading 1st Scene Female Festival Reading: Sins Of My Father, by Jane Therese
Winning Female Festival Short Script: You Don’t Deserve My Jelly Strips, by Tai-Ying Chi
A newly arrived International student finally gets to see her high school crush in New York, but the gap between their understandings to their relationship finally forces her to choose between falling in love, or to admit the harm that would draw them apart. CAST LIST: Drunk Man: Charles Gordon Yu-Chen: Wildred Lee Narrator: Gene… Continue reading Winning Female Festival Short Script: You Don’t Deserve My Jelly Strips, by Tai-Ying Chi