ST. JOHN´S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN´S FILM FESTIVAL Interview by Sue Van Der Hout
Female screenwriters, directors, producers and filmmakers just aren’t getting the recognition they deserve … but all that is changing with…
What has prevented women filmmakers from getting the attention they deserve?
I think much of it has to do with financing. Judging by the over 500 submissions our festival alone receives from around the world, there is no lack of storytelling by women. Yet when you look at North American stats, women directed only 7% of the top 200 films in 2005 and again, in 2006, women accounted for only 7% of directors. In fact, this is less than the recent historical high of 11% recorded in 2000! So what gives? Many women filmmakers report unfair treatment in trying to get their films produced - it is still a boys club, unfortunately. Thus, most women filmmakers have had to go guerrilla and independently fund and produce their films. And once that´s accomplished, trying to get them broadcasted in yet another challenge. If they are not seen, then securing funding for the next film is just as difficult, etc. It´s a vicious circle.
| …, there is no lack of storytelling by women….Yet when you look at North American stats, women directed only 7% of the top 200 films in 2005 and again, in 2006, women accounted for only 7% of directors. |
What changes have you seen in women´s filmmaking since you began? From my perspective as a women´s film festival director, I have seen the
number of submissions more than double in the last four years. I´ve seen the diversity in subjects being tackled by women directors, producers and writers. With the advent of reasonably priced, high-quality cameras, I´ve seen the quality of work submitted increase immensely. And I´ve seen women filmmakers who´ve attended our festival leave after a week of networking, socializing and viewing other women´s work on such an incredible high. Women are wonderful collaborators; we "network" differently, we support one another, etc. and I know of many filmmakers in the last few years who have met at the festival and gone on to work together on productions.
| Women are wonderful collaborators; we "network" differently, we support one another, etc. and I know of many filmmakers in the last few years who have met at the festival and gone on to work together on productions. |
This province is a bit of an anomaly in Canada, as most successful film producers here are women. Whether or not that has to do with the fact that they´ve had a venue for screening and celebrating their work over the years is hard to say but it certainly couldn´t have hurt. Here´s what one filmmakers from New York wrote us about last year´s event. This is basically why we exist:
«The St. John´s International Women´s Film Festival is like no other. I can say that without any hesitation. Working in an industry where men out-number women 10 to 1, it´s more than difficult to meet other female filmmakers - the SJWFF has taken on this challenge and more than met it. I´ve NEVER EVER been surrounded by so many diverse and prospering female filmmakers. I´ve literally made connections coast to coast, and have found a whole new support structure. For that I am never-endingly grateful.
"At the festival I was able to make artistic connections as well as professional ones - I feel as if I have a whole new legion of gals ready to help me out. In addition, I learned so much about the Canadian film industry and need for Canadian content. Being a Canadian myself (though a NYC-bound one), it´s more than once made me think about my place of residence and I´ll probably be shifting that come 2007, and running for the border. I am very thankful to the SJWFF and all of the people I met and the knowledge I gained. What can I say - experiences like this one are one in a million.
Thanks again."
Tiina Treasure, Filmmaker, New York, NY
What´s exciting you about women´s film?
I spend a lot of my time dispelling the fact that women´s films are made just for women; that the subjects they choose to film or stories they tell are strictly about "women´s issues" or will somehow be man-bashing, etc. Our slogan is "films by women, for everyone" and it is precisely the range of topics that excites me about women´s film. I´m also thrilled to see that more women are getting behind the camera - an area certainly still dominated by men - as well as editing major box office films. And while as I said women are producing films on all sorts of topics, it is so refreshing to see women´s PERSPECTIVES on these topics. This is what excites me the most. Yes, make a film on war or boxing or genocide but give me a woman´s perspective because I´m just not getting that anywhere else. I want to know how other women are feeling about the things that concern and disturb me - just to see if I´m way out of line on my thinking. Society needs to hear women´s voices and perspectives. It´s crucial. And it is slowly happening through women´s film.
| Women are wonderful collaborators; we "network" differently, we support one another, etc. and I know of many filmmakers in the last few years who have met at the festival and gone on to work together on productions. |
What makes the St. John´s International Women´s Film Festival from October 16-20 sizzle?
Aside from the five days of amazing films, seminars, workshops, pitch events and parties, it truly has to do with the over 50 filmmakers we have land on us every year. It is a small, intimate festival during which everyone gets to know one another and magical things happen. There is a real energy when women filmmakers from around the world come together on this little colourful rocky island in the Atlantic to do nothing but live and breathe film.
| There is a real energy when women filmmakers from around the world come together on this little colourful rocky island in the Atlantic to do nothing but live and breathe film. |
Visiting filmmakers Erika Tasini (pictured left,
from Los Angeles) and Tiina Treasure of New York with festival director Kelly Davis (right) at the 2006 Women´s Film Festival
Women’s Film Facts
Women´s E-News reports that Lisa Wertmuller, Jane Campion, and Sophia Coppola are the only women to have ever been nominated for a Best Director award at the Academy Awards. No woman has ever won the award.
In her report "The Celluloid Ceiling: Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women in the Top 250 Films of 2004," Martha Lauzon discovered a decline in the percentage of women working as directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors on the top 250 domestic grossing films from 19% in 2001 to 16% in 2004. In her update of that report, she found that there has been a further decline. In 2006, women comprised only 15% of all directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors.
Also, Lauzon reports that 21% of the films released in 2004 employed no women directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers, or editors. In 2006, the number of films without women in those positions increased to 22%.
Women documentary filmmakers have traditionally been much luckier than their Hollywood dramatic feature counterparts when it comes to the Oscars. Eleven women have won awards in the documentary category.
Women directed only 7% of the top 200 films in 2005. In 2006, women accounted for only 7% of directors again. This is less than the recent historical high of 11% recorded in 2000.
Jane Campion is the only woman director to have won the Palme d´Or at Cannes.
35 international directors were asked to submit a 3-minute film to Chacun Son Cinema/ To Each His Own Cinema this year to celebrate the 60th birthday of the Cannes Film Festival. Even though it was conceived as a way to celebrate cinema rather than Cannes per se, only one of the 35 directors invited to participate was a woman.
01.10.2007
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