On Thursday, May 2nd, at 2:00 PM Central, Festival Director Rebecca Martin Fagerholm and festival collaborators announced the award winners for the 2024 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, starting with the new award coined for an emerging filmmaker who has a first-time film that shows a lot of promise. The recipient of the inaugural Filmmaker on the Rise Award is NYC-based filmmaker Autumn Thompson, director of “The Pieces.” “This film is so joyful and it has so much heart,” said Rebecca Martin Fagerholm. “I’m just so honored to give Autumn this inaugural award. I was inspired by her story and the lengths she went to take us on this journey of finding her roots.” The prize for this award is a written interview for Cinema Femme magazine. Next up was the Audience Favorite Award given to Bridget Frances Harris’ “Places of Worship.” The film is about the sexual awakening of an altar server after an incident that happens after Catholic mass when she starts having visions of The Virgin Mary, forcing her to confront queer feelings for a movie theater coworker. Rebecca Martin Fagerholm said, “My husband, Matt Fagerholm, and I were blown away by this film’s astonishing portrayal of self-discovery as experienced by a young alter server played in a revelatory performance by Virginia Alonso Luis. This picture further cements Bridget Francis Harris as a major talent both in front of and behind the camera. And there’s no question that the Music Box never looked better.” After each shorts program, a QR code was on the screen where people could scan with their phones to vote for their favorite film of that program. “Places of Worship” was awarded the Audience Favorite award because they received the most votes.  As it is the second in-person screening year for the festival at the Music Box Theatre, it is the second year Cinema Femme has given out the Chicago Spotlight award, last year awarded to Margaret Kellas, director of “this was not the morning i thought i was going to have.” This year, the award went to Chicago local Jewells Santos. This award is given to a filmmaker who is based out of Chicago and has been recognized for the exciting work they are doing in the Chicago filmmaking community. The award is a YouTube interview that will be showcased on various Chicago media platforms. “This was a scrappy production, and you told us in your Q&A that you only had a $300 budget for this film, and you just used the resources that were around you,” Rebecca told Jewells. “I feel that’s really a Chicago thing, being scrappy and using what’s around you.” The film delves into body image, and online dating in a very vulnerable way.  Another film about body image was elevated during this award’s ceremony with the director, UK-based Claudia Lee, being the recipient of the “Phenomenal Person in Film Award.” The recipient of this award will be the filmmaker who most exemplifies our mission at Cinema Femme in their work and in their lives. Our mission is about supporting emerging women and non-binary filmmakers in the industry. The recipient of this award was chosen by Rebecca Martin Fagerholm, Festival Director of Cinema Femme Short Film Fest and Managing Editor of Cinema Femme magazine, awarded with an interview featured on cinemafemme.com. Rebecca Martin Fagerholm said, “Your film was beautiful in how it subverted the gaze typified in renaissance paintings by re-envisioning the imagery through a female perspective. The visual poetry of your film, and the magnetic presence of your lead, Jess Temple, were wonderful to behold.” “  In honor of the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Cinema Femme awarded a producer with the Halyna Hutchins Producer award. This award was given to the producer of one of the selected films who is exemplary at managing crew and creating a safe set. This is the third year Cinema Femme has given out this award. In addition to being given the award, the winner will receive a package from Festival Formula that will help the recipient of the award in having the best festival run. Katie and Ian Bignell behind Festival Formula awarded Hannah Schierbeek the award based on “Video Funeral,” directed by Linh Tran, and how the film deeply spoke to them. Katie said, “This was a touching and naturalistic slice of life that managed to bring a world of emotions in an otherwise claustrophobic location. Tender when it needed to be and handling the silence when it was needed with no fear. To put together this production and give it the life it needed was beautiful to watch. We commend the whole creative team for putting this together and telling this story of two sisters battling with grief, family expectations, and traditions in a fast moving world.”  One of the most prestigious awards is the Critics’ Choice award. This award is given by a film critic, and this year, the film was chosen by Peyton Robinson, film critic for RogerEbert.com, and contributor to Cinema Femme magazine. Peyton chose “[subtext]” as the winner of the Critics’ Choice award. She said, “This film was utterly relatable, hilarious at some points and devastating in others. It had acrobatic writing that juggled tone and perspective with a little bit of fun and a little bit of humility. While this was a story that told the tale of two specific people, to me, it really represented a microcosm of our present culture. The film engaged in a conversation of our personal hopes with our histories and anxieties and where they all collide. It also spoke to how we as people try to reconcile those things. As well as trying to give ourselves the same grace that we give to other people.”  The final awards given out were for the Breaking Down Walls Mentorship program, which is the induction of four filmmakers behind four of the selected films. These filmmakers were each matched with a mentor. Each mentor reviewed the films and read the bios of the filmmakers along with their director statements, and then chose their mentee. With this award, there will be a 3-month mentorship with a weekend retreat in Galena, IL in spring 2025. The retreat is a new addition to the program.  (L) Krista Kane, recipient of the 2024 Breaking Down Walls Mentorship Program, (R) Breaking Down Walls Mentor Emily Lape Chicago-based filmmaker Emily Lape (“Mercy’s Girl”) chose Krista Kane, director of “Except” as her mentee. She said, “Krista, I love your use of dance and music in your film. I thought it was absolutely brilliant. I loved the subject matter and the bits of humor you had scattered throughout.”  (L) Allison Torem, recipient of the 2024 Breaking Down Walls Mentorship Program, (R) Breaking Down Walls Mentor Glamhag Allison Torem, director of “Road Head,” was the next recipient announced to be inducted into the Breaking Down Walls mentorship program. Chicago-based-director Glamhag chose Allison to be their mentee. “I thought the film was so unique, funny, and well made. I was really impressed with the world building and the overall structure of the film. It was so satisfying to see a genuinely funny and weird and complete in a comedic short.”  (L) Annika Chavez, recipient of the 2024 Breaking Down Walls Mentorship Program, (R) Breaking Down Walls Mentor Emily Robinson Annika Chavez, director of “Bad Jew, Good Girl,” written by and starring Lucy Grebin, was the next awarded recipient into the mentorship program. Her mentor, LA-based director and actor Emily Robinson (“Eighth Grade” and “The Year Between”) said, “I was incredibly taken by ‘Bad Jew, Good Girl . . . ‘ There is so much you explore so effectively, so thoughtfully and creatively. It’s really beautiful, incredible, and impressive.”  (L) Linh Tran, recipient of the 2024 Breaking Down Walls Mentorship Program, (R) Breaking Down Walls Mentor Ellie Foumbi Ellie Foumbi ended the awards announcing her mentee, Linh Tran, director of “Video Funeral.” She said, “We have a lot in common as immigrants and actors turned filmmakers. You have such a strong voice with a quiet confidence in your work. There is an assuredness. I really connected with the themes you explore.” To conclude, Rebecca Martin Fagerholm said, “A special thank you to all the filmmakers who were involved in the festival this year. This year’s talent and level of artistry was mind-blowing. And I’m so grateful.” |
Click below to see our event photos!
| Thank you to our fiscal sponsor IFA Chicago for supporting our fundraising. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation, you can donate here: givebutter.com/cinemafemme2024 We’d also like to thank our sponsors, Noisefloor, Optimus, Periscope Post & Audio, and Camera Ambassador. And thank you to our in-kind donators that led to a very successful silent auction! |
