4/29 – 12 PM LIVE Q&A with Anna Hints director of “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood”
The Q&A had to be pre-recorded because of a time conflict with Anna’s schedule. We hope she got to answer some of your questions. Thank you for coming to the screening!
April 29th Q&A with “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” director Anna Hints, following up our in-person screening at the Music Box Theatre on 4/28 at 7 PM. In the darkness of a smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences, washing off the shame trapped in their bodies and regaining their strength through a sense of communion.
Anna Hints is an Estonian film director with a background in contemporary art and experimental folk music. Having deep roots in the distinct culture of South Estonia, Anna’s second home is in India. As an active dumpster diver, Anna’s short documentary For Tomorrow Paradise Arrives (2021) initiated public discussion and growth of new grassroot movements against food waste in Estonia. Anna’s first feature documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood premiered at Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Documentary Competition program in January 2023 with Anna winning the Directing Award. After that the film won McBaine Feature Documentary Award at San Francisco International Film Festival Golden Gate Awards, Eurimages Audentia Award for the Best Female Director, two more awards and got nominated for LUX – The European Audience Film Award by European Parliament and European Film Academy. Anna’s upcoming short fiction Weight of Light (2024) depicts the life of female rag pickers in Delhi. Anna is a singer in the electronic-folk trio EETER that was nominated in the Best Film Music category at the Estonian Film and TV Awards 2018. EETER collaborated with Icelandic composer Edvard Egilsson for the original score of Smoke Sauna Sisterhood. Anna is currently pursuing a Masters Degree at the Department of Drama of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
4/29 – 3 PM LIVE Q&A with selected filmmakers, moderated by Annarosa Mudd
Producer and actress Annarosa Mudd (“TAPE”) moderates a Q&A with Cinema Femme Short Film Fest 2024 selected filmmakers Amaka Lin director of “STASIS”, Krista Kane director of “Except”, Lucy Grebin writer and star of “Bad Jew Good Girl,” Lua Borges (“Madonna”) and Claudia Lee, director of “Bodily Renaissance.”
4/29 – 8 PM LIVE Q&A with selected filmmakers, moderated by Gabriela Ortega
Cinema Femme Short Film Fest 2020 alum Gabriela Ortega (“Papi”), actor and director, moderates a Q&A with Giovanna Molina (“Hickey”), Laney Marquette (“Sensitivity”), Autumn Thompson (“The Pieces”), T. J. Blanco (“A Land Memory”), Marion Forbes (“Thank you, Neck”), and Kaitlyn Busbee (“Layaway”) for the 2024 Cinema Femme Short Film Fest.
4/30 – 12 PM LIVE Q&A with selected filmmakers, moderated by Zoë Worth
Zoë Worth, producer of the Sundance 2024 indie gem “Thelma”, starring June Squibb, moderates a Q&A with Cinema Femme Short Film Fest 2024 filmmakers , Katherine Bourne Taylor and Mary Tilden (“Fern”), Bridget Frances Harris (“Places of Worship”), Erin Lovett (“The Knowing”), and Olivia Haller (“[subtext]” .
4/30 – 3 PM LIVE Producer Panel moderated by Rebecca Martin Fagerholm
Cinema Femme Festival Director Rebecca Martin Fagerholm moderates an all-star dream team producer panel with women and non-binary producers. Panelists are Rhianon Jones (Neon Heart Productions), Oluwaseun Babalola (KOSINIMA Inc), Flor de oro Tejadda (“Bone Black: Midwives vs. the South”), and Liz Cardenas (Ten to the Six Pictures).
4/30 – 8 PM LIVE Q&A with selected filmmakers, moderated by Tiffany Tenille
Cinema Femme alum filmmaker Tiffany Tenille (“Albion Rose,” “Jezebel”) moderates a Q&A with Cinema Femme Short Film Fest filmmakers with Allison Torem (“Road Head”), Marissa Chibás (“72”), Lua Borges (“Madonna”) and Jessica Barr (“Tight”).
5/2 – 10 AM LIVE Q&A | Spotlight Series | Rachel Annette Helson “Good Daughter”
About the film: A small-time con artist rips off elderly dementia patients by pretending to be their daughter – before the con catches up with her. Starring Samantha Sloyan (Midnight Mass, Grey’s Anatomy.)
About Rachel!
Rachel Annette Helson is a New York City based director repped by Buchwald for narrative film. Her latest short film GOOD DAUGHTER starring Samantha Sloyan (MIDNIGHT MASS, GREY’S ANATOMY) premiered at the Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, and it is currently on the festival circuit. She is developing the short into a feature alongside writer Jesse Harris (JESSICA JONES.) Her 2019 short film HATCHED (starring Melissa Ponzio) played at festivals across the US, and in recognition of her work, she was named a New Director to Watch by Shoot Online Magazine. Rachel’s feature-length TV Movie directing credits include THE ENGAGEMENT DRESS (2023,) HOW TO LIVE YOUR BEST DEATH (2022) and THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW (2021.) As a character-driven director, she is heavily influenced by her acting background. Select credits include: FULL CIRCLE (directed by Steven Soderbergh – TRIBECA PREMIERE,) THE KNICK, LAW & ORDER: SVU and POWER. Rachel is a proud member of Film Fatales and the Alliance of Women Directors – as well as an alumna of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She holds the distinction of being the Youngest Producer in Broadway history to be Nominated for a Tony Award for her work on Neil LaBute’s REASONS TO BE PRETTY – and has been featured in publications like the New York Times, Backstage and Forbes.
5/2 – 2 PM Awards
2024 Mentors Ellie Foumbi, Emily Lape, Glamhag, and Emily Robinson will announce their mentees | other awards: Critics Choice, Halyna Hutchins Producer award, Chicago Spotlight, Phenomenal Person in Film, and Audience Choice. Learn more about our awards!