Women in film are always looking for places to promote their work. With an industry dominated by males, festivals for and by women are hard to come by. After years of looking, Here is my list of the best film festivals for women in film for 2021.
Many festivals over the years have been scrutinized recently for their lack of prominent female representation. Including the Toronto, Venice, and Cannes Film Festivals. In fact, women and people of color are still underrepresented at top film festivals from 2017-2019 worldwide.
Times are changing and festivals are starting to be more inclusive to women in the industry. These festivals all have something special to provide, so I’ll break them down individually.
1. The Women’s international Film and Arts Festival is hosted in Miami Florida, with the exception of it’s 12th year where it was held in New York City, the festival has been running since 2005 and seeks to act as a platform where women’s voices can be heard.
Located in Miami, Florida
Website - womensfilmfest.com
2. The Women’s International Film Festival encourages and supports the growing number of women in the film world. Created and run by women working in film, this festival aims to encourage and reward the accomplishments of like-minded filmmakers. People who aim to create interesting and boundary-pushing content.
This festival is not only for women who direct, write, produce etc. But also for any works that involve women in their production. Through acting, grip and electric work, and anything else. They love seeing the changing world of film and appreciate every job, no matter what it is, going to women in film.
Submit here - https://filmfreeway.com/WomensInternationalFilmFestival
Website - WomensInternationalFilmFestival.com
3. The Melbourne Women in Film Festival is an annual festival celebrating the work of Australian women screen creatives and technicians. This regional not-for-profit festival is aimed at celebrating and supporting the work of women filmmakers and creatives – from directors, writers and producers to cinematographers, sound designers and editors.
Please note that at this time they only screen films from women filmmakers working in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the island nations of the wider Moana Oceania.
Website - mwff.org.au
4. The Women Over 50 Film Festival champions film works from women over the age of 50 combating both the sexism and ageist views towards these women in the industry. WOFFF champions and showcases the work of older women on screen and behind the camera with an annual short film festival and year round events and film screenings.
Website - wofff.co.uk
5. The Chick Flicks Film Festival comprises of works made by independent women filmmakers. Submissions are now open for this years festival. Women in Film Dallas also run a variety of workshops and other events as well as offer grants and scholarships.
Located in Dallas, Texas
Website - https://www.wifdallas.org/page-969702
6. The Underwire Film festival is the UK’s largest film festival for female created content. Founded in 2010 the festival has awarded training and mentoring opportunities to over 50 filmmakers, and has screened over 300 films. The festival has become BAFTA recognised and alongside the festival runs Wired Women a program that hosts discussions, practical workshops and sessions aimed at emerging women in the film industry.
Website - http://www.underwirefestival.com/
7. The Lunafest Film Festival is a traveling film festival featuring films by women, about women. They have celebrated the work of over 170 filmmakers in 2,500 screenings nationwide. These films bring fresh perspectives and inspire communities. Lunafest has also made an impact at the local level, helping to raise over $6 million for women’s causes while providing a celebrated platform for women filmmakers.
Website - https://www.lunafest.org/
8. St. John's International Women's Film Festival is one of the longest-running festivals focusing on films made by women in the world. Established in 1989, the Newfoundland, Canada, festival includes a year-long program of film screenings, workshops, and other events promoting women filmmakers.
Located in Newfoundland, Canada
Website - www.womensfilmfestival.com
9. LA Femme International Film Festival focuses on platforming women filmmakers, "by women, for everyone". The Festival was created in 2005, to answer the need to enhance women behind the camera as directors, producers, and writers. It was the first women-focused festival in Los Angeles.
Located in Los Angeles, California
Website - www.lafemme.org
10. The Female Eye Film Festival is a competitive international film festival established in 2001. It is Toronto’s only international film festival geared specifically for women directors.
The festival was established and incorporated as a provincial not-for-profit organization in Toronto, Canada by founder and artistic director Leslie-Ann Coles, after she observed that women directors were a minority among filmmakers at the international film festivals she attended with her debut film, In The Refrigerator.
Located in Toronto, Canada
Website - www.femaleeyefilmfestival.com
Comments