Latest news with #womeninfilm
CBC
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Remembering the NFB's groundbreaking women's film studio, 50 years later
Social Sharing An event in Cobourg, Ont., is shining a light on a precedent-setting piece of Canadian film history. And it all started in a basement room at the National Film Board. That was the first location of Studio D — created in 1974 with the purpose of making films by, for, and about women, and initially given a shoestring budget of just $100,000. Fifty-one years later, the studio is being highlighted by the Canadian Women in Film Museum with a screening of a documentary about its history, as well as a screening of one of the most acclaimed works to come out of it — the academy award-winning 1977 short documentary, I'll Find a Way. "Without that policy that the film board had started, I would have never gotten an opportunity to become a film director," Beverly Shaffer, director of I'll Find a Way, told CBC News. As outlined in a blog post by the film board last year, it was the NFB's Kathleen Shannon who pushed for, founded, and served as the first executive producer of Studio D, which gets its name from the NFB's traditional in-house letter naming system. "No such thing existed anywhere in the world at that time," said Shaffer of the publicly-funded, explicitly feminist film studio, which provided training and support to fledgling filmmakers until 1997 when it was shut down. "Initially, a lot of the women didn't have filmmaking experience, but the film board was surprised and astonished [to learn] there was a big audience for these films, because of the issues and the perspective that they were showing," she said. Those issues included difficult or under-covered topics like abortion around the world, queer life in Canada, pornography, motherhood and the dangers of nuclear war. Not only did audiences respond — critics did too, ultimately awarding Studio D filmmakers with 130 awards in total, including three Oscars. The first one of those, Shaffer's win in 1977, carried extra significance because it broke a multi-decade academy award dry spell for the film board. Rick Miller with the Canadian Women in Film Museum in Cobourg told CBC Toronto that he feels awareness about Studio D and its films is "pretty low," inspiring him to hold Sunday's screening event. "It aligns with the narrative of our museum, which is film history of Canadian women … and also aligns with our narrative of women who are overcoming the gendered expectations of their time," he said. The museum will screen a number of other Studio D titles this fall, Miller said. The NFB itself has also endeavoured to raise awareness about Studio D, uploading some 90 of its films to a new online channel in 2024. According to Suzanne Guèvremont, current NFB chairperson, the film board remains committed to gender parity, with 56 per cent of productions in 2023 and 2024 directed by women. It also sets targets for Indigenous, Black and racialized filmmakers, she said. "Studio D marked the NFB's first step on a broader journey toward equity, diversity and inclusion across all areas of our work," Guèvremont said in a statement.
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
From Cannes to Oscars, Bollywood's women challenge India's ‘misogynistic' storylines
India 's giant movie industry is known for its macho, male-centric storylines, but a wave of women filmmakers is helping to break the mould. Advertisement 'More women are writing their stories, turning them into films,' said writer-director Reema Kagti, who believes the trend brought a more 'real and healthy perspective' to films, with complex, outspoken women characters who are masters of their own story. The world's most populous nation churns out 1,800 to 2,000 films in more than 20 languages annually – and Hindi-language Bollywood is one of the largest segments, with more than 300 productions. Yet the films have often failed to portray women authentically, choosing instead to box them into being passive housewives or mothers who bow to societal pressure. A 2023 study by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences found that female characters in most chart-topping Indian films play the role of a romantic interest – and were 'fair skinned with a thin body type and a small screen time'. Advertisement But industry insiders point to a slate of women-directed films earning international acclaim that have also scored well at the tough domestic box office.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nicole Kidman supports female filmmakers in Hollywood
Nicole Kidman is determined to uplift women in Hollywood. The Oscar-winning actress vowed in 2017 to work with a female director every 18 months, and Nicole remains passionate about uplifting female filmmakers. Speaking at the Kering Woman in Motion event at the Cannes Film Festival, Nicole - who founded the production company Blossom Films in 2010 - explained: "I was at a point where we had a discussion where there was such a disparity in terms of the choice. You'd go, 'Could a woman direct this?' And there wasn't a number of names where you could even consider people. They'd say it was someone's first time and you didn't want to risk it. "I had to start to say this is how I am doing it. This is what I am doing. "We will take the risk and we are going to mentor and support and help and then really protect. Because part of it is protecting and surrounding the women with almost like a forcefield of protection and support so they can do their best work. "At the same time, it's giving them the opportunity where they feel like this isn't the only chance. A lot of is like, 'OK, you get one shot.'' Nicole is also eager to fight ageism in Hollywood. The 57-year-old actress wants filmmakers of all ages to understand that their careers needn't be defined by a single failure. The award-winning film star - who has been one of the best-paid actresses in Hollywood since the late 90s - said: "You get to a certain age and maybe you had made a great film in your 20s that got lauded and then suddenly you're in your 40s and you haven't followed it up or made choices that didn't succeed. But you're like, 'I'm not over! Please still keep believing in me and investing in me.' That is important too, resisting ageism. "There's the emerging talents and then the ones that are still going who have a wealth of knowledge and experience and have somehow been cast out or are not the cool person. It's about going, 'No, you actually can have a second or third chapter.'"
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
WIFF highlighting women in summer programming
Signage for WIFF's summer programming seen in Windsor, Ont. on May 16, 2025. (Stefanie Masotti/CTV News Windsor) The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) will honour and celebrate women with a weekend of screenings in June, expanding its Women of WIFF program. From June 21 to June 22, films of women and made by women will be showcased. Those will feature Picture A Scientist, Samia, Breakaway Femmes, Sally!, We Lend a Hand, and Mamma Mia!. If you would like to partake in Women of WIFF, tickets are available now. In addition, WIFF Under the Stars will run from June 13 to June 15. 'Through continued support from our patrons, community, and partners, we are thrilled to once again be hosting free outdoor screenings at WIFF Under the Stars, the perfect way to celebrate the summer season and great film,' said Vincent Georgie, executive director and chief programmer for WIFF. 'We are also thrilled to expand our Women of WIFF programming and to highlight a great selection of films outside of the festival. We can't wait to celebrate with our patrons at WIFF Under the Stars and the Women of WIFF event next month.' WIFF Summer programming May 2025 Signage for WIFF's summer programming seen in Windsor, Ont. on May 16, 2025. (Stefanie Masotti/CTV News Windsor) WIFF Under the Stars will take place in downtown Windsor at a green space outside of the Windsor Aquatic Centre and Art Windsor Essex. Family classics, blockbuster hits, and festival favourites will be shown. More information is available on WIFF's website.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Simone Ashley to attend Oxford film event
Actors Simone Ashley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are appearing at an Oxford University event celebrating women working in the film Oxford Cultural Programme is putting on the free day of screenings, talks, and panel discussions at the Sheldonian Theatre and Curzon Cinema on event also aims to explore changes in the perception and representation of women in film, and the challenges taking part are Lucy Bevan, casting director for The Batman and Barbie, Finola Dwyer, producer of Brooklyn and An Education, and actor and producer Oriane Pick. Simone Ashley has starred in Bridgerton, Sex Education, The Sister, and the live-action version of The Little Mbatha-Raw, who grew up in nearby Witney, acted as Ophelia opposite Jude Law's Hamlet in the West End and Broadway, and also in Black Mirror, Loki, Surface, and the upcoming Doctor Who spin off The War Between the Land and the Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said it was an "honour" to welcome the guests to a "day that celebrates how women are shaping change and progress in the film and television industry". 'Incredible artists' Guests will be sharing their behind-the-scenes experiences and breaking down their creative preview screenings will feature work by new female filmmakers, and industry professionals will provide advice on story ideas and is also a screening of For Sama, a documentary about young mother Waad al-Kateab's experience of the Syrian civil war, followed by a discussion between al-Kateab and Nevine Mabro, the commissioning editor of Channel 4. Josie Bamford, executive producer, said: "As we build our programme towards the opening of the new Schwarzman Centre at Oxford University, we passionately believe in bringing together incredible artists, creatives and thinkers to help address some of the biggest issues facing the world at this time." Prof Tracey said: "The interaction between people with such rich and diverse experiences is sure to spark fascinating conversations."She said the local community, university members and alumni were all welcome to the events. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
