Membership

Change Starts With You.

The film community that believes women and gender-expansive creators should be visible, sustainable and supported.

Member Levels

Membership Annual Plan

Be a Cinema Femme member and get exclusive benefits!

View Cinema Femme Membership membership sales.

All Cinema Femme members receive a one-year digital subscription to Cinema Femme magazine, featuring the best in cinema coverage — including in-depth interviews, thoughtful criticism, and reviews. Membership also includes access to our year-round community, with both virtual and in-person programming designed to connect filmmakers, industry professionals, and passionate cinephiles.

Members enjoy access to all virtual events and industry conversations, members-only Zoom Q&As and monthly meetups, and our members newsletter with exclusive updates and opportunities. Additional perks include discounted festival passes and tickets, a merchandise discount, and free entry to select member events throughout the year.

Whether you’re looking to launch or deepen a career in film, or simply want to engage with great cinema and the people who make it, Cinema Femme offers a vibrant, Chicago-based film community you’ll love being part of.

To purchase a student membership, email a copy of your valid student ID to cinemafemme@cinemafemme.com with the subject line “Cinema Femme Student Membership” to receive the discount code.

Questions? Email cinemafemme@cinemafemme.com

Upcoming Events

Cinema Femme in Focus:
Screenwriting in Today’s Indie Landscape

Join us for an intimate, one-hour conversation with Kelly O’Sullivan as she explores screenwriting in today’s independent film landscape, tracing her journey from Saint Frances to Ghostlight and her latest film, Mouse. Known for her deeply human, character-driven storytelling, O’Sullivan will discuss how personal experiences shape her work—from her time as a nanny to writing about reproductive choice—and how those stories resonate even more urgently in today’s cultural climate.

The conversation will also dive into her creative partnership with Alex Thompson, her roots in Chicago’s vibrant theater and filmmaking communities, and the evolving realities of making independent films—from funding challenges to the importance of artistic institutions. O’Sullivan will reflect on how Saint Frances helped normalize conversations around abortion, miscarriage, and postpartum depression, and how storytelling can serve as a powerful tool for connection and healing.

Wednesday, May 13
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Central Time)
$25 (non-members)

Free for Members

Café Femme

Screenplay Swapmeet
Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 9:00–11:30 AM

Join us for a dynamic morning of writing, feedback, and connection at our upcoming Screenplay Swapmeet, hosted by Taryn Stickrath-Hutt, Cinema Femme’s 2026 Workshop Director.

Bring one hard copy of up to 10 pages of your script, take part in the swap, and walk away with fresh insights—and new creative collaborators. Whether you’re refining a draft or just getting started, this is a welcoming space to share work and build community.

The tool of every self-portrait is the mirror. You see yourself in it. Turn it the other way, and you see the world.

Agnes Varda

Truly creative things happen when one thinks differently, yet nobody wants to think differently.

Shonda Rhimes

Creator, Founder and Producer

Hope for the unknown is good.

Sarah Polley, Director

Ona (Rooney Mara), Women Talking (2022)