Slamdance 2026: Jessica Barr and Ryan Simpkins on Their Stunning Single-Take Film, “The Plan”
The sun is just beginning to set as the twenty-something characters in Jessica’s Barr’s mesmerizing new film, “The Plan,” start to congregate in an East LA apartment. The calmness of the setting gradually proves to be deceptive, as the mounting tension within these friends—particularly Evan (Ryan Simpkins)—threatens to erupt. With the helicopter blades of an […]
Berlinale 2026: “Mouse” Destined to be Hailed Among the Year’s Best Films
There is no filmmaking duo whose work I await with greater anticipation than Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson. In 2019, Thompson made his debut feature, “Saint Frances,” written by and starring O’Sullivan as a thirty-something nanny with an unwanted pregnancy, who forges a bond with the six-year-old she looks after. O’Sullivan brought her next script, […]
Being Fully Present: Alicia Witt on David Lynch, “Longlegs,” Her New Concert Tour and More
A longtime holiday wish of mine will be granted this month when I finally get to see one of my favorite actors perform in person. As part of her “Spending Christmas” tour, Alicia Witt will be putting on a holiday concert at Evanston SPACE, featuring tunes from her wonderful album, “I Think I’m Spending Christmas […]
Cinema Femme presents F*CK THAT GUY Short Film Virtual Premiere
F*CK THAT GUY stars Carys Douglas in her breakout role, alongside Victoria Pedretti (YOU, Origin, Ponyboi) and Micheál Neeson (Somewhere Quiet, On Our Way), and Dagmara Dominczyk (Priscilla, Bottoms, Succession) with Sydney Lemmon (Succession, TÁR) F*CK THAT GUY stars Carys Douglas in her breakout role, alongside Victoria Pedretti (YOU, Origin, Ponyboi) and Micheál Neeson (Somewhere Quiet, […]
Cinema Femme’s Most Anticipated Films at the 2025 New Orleans Film Festival
Rental Family, directed by Hikari Set in modern-day Tokyo, “Rental Family” follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese ‘rental family’ agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that […]
Introducing Our 2025 – 2026 Advisory Council
We are proud to announce the formation of our Advisory Council — a dynamic group of visionary leaders, creatives, and changemakers shaping the future of storytelling, media, and social impact. Each member brings a unique perspective and proven track record across film, television, branding, advocacy, and the arts. Together, they will guide and support our […]
First Look: Tiffany Tenille’s “A Woman’s Body” Confronts Love, Faith, and the Silence Around Female Pain
“What happens when love meets the limits of the body?” That’s the quietly devastating question at the center of “A Woman’s Body,” the new short film from writer-director Tiffany Tenille. Set on a single wedding night, the film follows newlyweds Jolene and Clyde as their joyful celebration gives way to an unexpected reckoning: Jolene, suffering […]
Cinema Femme Short Film Festival Returns to the Music Box Theatre, July 17–21, 2025
🎬 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival Returns to the Music Box Theatre, July 17–21, 2025 Opening Night Reception, Dynamic Panels, Celebrated Shorts, and Awards Presentation Among the Highlights CHICAGO, IL — June 20, 2025 — Cinema Femme is proud to announce the full lineup for the 2025 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, returning July 17–21 […]
Tribeca 2025: Forged in Fractures, Connie Shi on “The Rebirth”
Connie Shi’s newest short, “The Rebirth,” premiered at Tribeca Film Festival on June 6th. The story follows Hana, a waitress who takes a black market abortion pill in a near-future world where it’s nationally outlawed. Forced to go to work in spite of the abortion taking place, Hana comes to find that the pill has […]
Rachel Feldman on her film about the inspirational Lilly Ledbetter
In 2008, Lilly Ledbetter, a blonde haired grandma from Alabama, stepped up to the podium at the DNC during the year of the presidential election. She talked about equity and her fight for equal pay during her years at Goodyear Tire. Filmmaker Rachel Feldman was immediately drawn to this figure upon first glance. She could […]
Emmy-winning Editor Wax Taber on the Unique Moment of College Admissions and COVID-19
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started PBS’s “The Class,” a six-part mini-documentary series that started airing in March. Directed by Jaye and Adam Fenderson and executive produced by Daveed Diggs and Nicole Hurd, the mini-series focused on six Deer Valley High School seniors and their college advisor Mr. Cam who is trying […]
He Believed in Me: Sabrina S. Sutherland on Her Favorite Person, David Lynch
It’s difficult to put into words the gratitude I have for Sabrina S. Sutherland. The collaborations she forged with filmmaker David Lynch, particularly over the last decade, have transformed my life in ways I never could have anticipated. Sutherland executive produced Lynch’s 18-part masterpiece, 2017’s “Twin Peaks: The Return”—or as she prefers to call it, […]