April Showcase Phenomenal Womxn Award recipient Anna Fredrikke Bjerke breaks through the male gaze with her cinematic lens
The Cinema Femme Phenomenal Womxn Award is given to a filmmaker who embodies the spirit of Cinema Femme, which is exemplified by womxn supporting womxn in the industry. The recipient has a positive and unique approach to filmmaking, and is also recognized for displaying a strong style and vision in her work. The award was […]
Filmmaker Elizabeth Wolff illuminates the Kathleen Lombardo case in her special “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” episode
Something about true crime has always drawn me in, but nothing like the case of the Golden State Killer. Why? Because of one woman, Michelle McNamara. I’ve always been drawn to women who have mastered their craft and are driven by elevating female stories like myself. Michelle’s craft was writing about true crime, and it […]
For Juneteenth, we celebrate and elevate “As Of Yet,” directed by Chanel James and Taylor Garron
For Juneteenth today, we will be celebrating the Tribeca film “As Of Yet” directed by Chanel James and Taylor Garron. Juneteenth has now become a national federal holiday, which would not have happened if it wasn’t for the #BlackLivesMatter movement that rose to prominence last year in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna […]
“Withdrawals” director Jorja Hudson and producer Kelly Stier talk mental health, comedy, and creating on screen magic
When “Bridesmaids” came to the screen in 2011, I was floored by its all-women ensemble. I had not seen a female comedy like that before in that way, and I wanted to see more of it. When I watched “Withdrawals” for the first time, I felt the same way. Like “Bridesmaids”, the short film is […]
“Holler” director Nicole Riegel and star Jessica Barden talk about the beauty and the grit of Middle America
I was fortunate to speak with “Holler” director Nicole Riegel and star Jessica Barden (“The End of the F***ing World”, “Pink Skies Ahead”) about their film that comes to select theaters and On Demand today. I talked to them separately, so the format of the interview is a bit unconventional, but that really fits within […]
Kate Marie Smith and team bring her solo show to the screen with “One Woman Hamlet”
When people collaborate, it’s a beautiful thing, especially when it’s a team of people who are passionate about the same cause. In this case, it’s bringing an awareness to mental illness on the screen in a real and creative way. I share this passion with the team behind Kate Marie Smith’s solo show, “One Woman […]
Elliot Frances Flynn and Elizabeth Mehling spotlight queer mental health in “Memories of Rain”
Actor/writer Elliot Frances Flynn (“Shoplifters of the World”, “Mare of Easttown”), is an emerging talent who has been a strong supporter of Cinema Femme over the past year, and I’ve gotten to know her more through our social media and virtual events. This year, she made her feature debut in the dramedy “Shoplifters of the […]
Anja Marquardt brings sci-fi spin to third season of “The Girlfriend Experience” on Starz
Artificial intelligence and science-fiction have gone hand-in-hand for a long time onscreen, from “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) and the “Terminator” films to “The Matrix” (1999), “Minority Report” (2002) and “Ex Machina” (2014). Since AI has infiltrated more and more of our present reality, taking a closer look can be frightening as seen in last […]
Look back: Lynn Chen flips the gender perspective in her directorial debut “I Will Make You Mine”
For AAPI Heritage month we bring back our interview with Lynn Chen about her film “I Will Make You Mine” from May 2020. Watch feature here. Imagine that you are listening to a record. It’s a good tune, one that you really savored during a particular time in your life. Then you return to the […]
Look back: Not just Gilda, but Rita too
“Every man I knew went to bed with Gilda . . . and woke up with me.” -Rita Hayworth The following personal essay was posted in November 2019. We’re bringing it back for Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s powerful when you see yourself represented in a real way onscreen for the very first time. I’m […]
Look back: Anna Serner blazes trails at the Swedish Film Institute with her 2019 gender equality report “What Women?”
*The following interview was conducted at the end of December 2019 and was featured on cinemafemme.com on January 2020. We are bringing the interview back for our site because she is stepping down from her role as CEO at the Swedish Film Institute. We are grateful for her hard work for women in the film […]
Filmmaker Cecilia Albertini brings underrepresented female-centric stories of immigrants to the screen
Filmmaker Patricia Vidal Delgado (“La Leyenda Negra”), who served as the mentor for our Inaugural Short Film Festival, suggested I reach out to Italian filmmaker and actor Cecilia Abertini as a potential candidate for a future program mentor. Knowing little about her at that time, I am so glad Patricia connected us. Cecilia is an […]