Turning Pain into a Message: Films on Women and by Women at Beirut Film Festival
Going to a festival is always an adventure, and as the very word “festival” suggests, it is a pleasant one. Yet a month prior to the Beirut International Women Film Festival, I lost my sleep, and instead of the usual anticipation filled with curiosity, I took a ride on an emotional rollercoaster of fears and […]
“Year One” Brings a Spotlight on Mental Health on College Campuses: A Conversation with Filmmaker Lauren Loesberg and Producer Imani Davis
I had the opportunity to speak with filmmaker Lauren Loesberg and producer Imani Davis about their film “Year One,” which explores mental health challenges that college students face in their freshman year of college. This theme resonated with another film where I interviewed, director Alex Heller, about her film “The Year Between.” I could relate […]
Salute Your Shorts 2024: Conversation with directors Renée Felice Smith and Chris Gabriel about their short film “Hoodie”
Mental health and how it is reflected onscreen has always been something I’ve been passionate about elevating. I wrote about my own personal journey with mental health in 2019 with Not just Gilda, but Rita too and covered films that have portrayed women onscreen with mental illness in a real way as in “Pink Skies […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]