Twenty short films have been selected to screen across four programs. Four of those filmmakers will then be awarded a three-month mentorship with a seasoned filmmaker. There will also be a weekend retreat opportunity to spend time with the mentors in-person. This is a new addition, as we had started the festival during the COVID lockdown, and an in-person event for the program was not an option.
Above are our mentors for our 2024 festival, (L-R) Ellie Foumbi (“Our Father, the Devil”), Emily Lape (“Mercy’s Girl”), Glamhag (“Holy Trinity”), and Emily Robinson (“Eighth Grade,” The Year Between,” “Virgin Territory”). Learn More. In prior years our esteemed mentors have been Isabel Sandoval, Melora Walters, Stephanie Filo, Julie Keck, Christine Swanson, Jennifer Reeder, Lisa Robinson, Annette Davey, Kate Hackett, Cecilia Albertini, Deborah Kampmeier, Haroula Rose, Patricia Vidal Delgado, and Laura Moss. Our mentees have gone on to successful projects at Disney, HBO, and more. We are so excited about how this program is blossoming.
A film critic will choose the film and filmmaker they will write about and interview. Past winners have been Weronika Szalas (“Curiouser and Curiouser”), Jaqueline Xerri (“Monkey Bars”), Emma Thatcher (“Fletcher”), Sarah Sherman and Jessica Barr (“September”) and Juli Del Prete (“Caroline”).
In honor of the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, we award a producer with the Halyna Hutchins Producer award. This award will be given to the producer of one of the selected films who is exemplary at managing crew and creating a safe set. 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.
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. This award will be chosen by a group of Chicago film organizations. The prize is a video interview that will be featured on our YouTube platform and shared on our website and other Chicago media platforms.
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 will be chosen by Rebecca Martin Fagerholm, Festival Director of Cinema Femme Short Film Fest and Managing Editor of Cinema Femme magazine, awarded with an interview and featured on cinemafemme.com. Past Phenomenal People have been Veronica Miles (“Bess”), Katrine Weber (“A Morning, A Mother, and A Boy”), Anna Fredrikke Bjerke (“Other People”), Mazdey Snob (“Mijo”), and Tiffany Tenille (“Albion Rose”).
This award is given to the film that is the most watched and has the highest ratings. The film recipient will receive a laurel and announcement of their award in a press release.