The more that people ask me what the Femme Filmmakers Festival is all about, or how it was conceived, the more I have to think about it. Not because I do not know, or indeed that I am tired of telling folk. The whole event has become so vast and outreaching, my responses are only the more passionate and extended because of its success.
The Femme Filmmakers Festival was conceived as an extension of my love for cinema, for storytelling, for the opportunities that was largely the original brand of my heart and soul website, Filmotomy. It was a film platform not just for those who wanted somewhere to put their creativity and adoration of film, Filmotomy was – and still very much is – driven by content spotlighting the incredible areas of cinema that had a quieter voice. International cinema. LGBT. Documentaries. Independent and amateur filmmakers. Short films. Women.
Those ladies behind the camera were, of course, the spinal inspiration for the Femme Filmmakers Festival. And one they would dominate. And about fucking time. Remember at the Oscars in March 2004, congratulating Sofia Coppola for being the first American woman to be nominated for a Best Director Academy Award? I do, and wondered what we were applauding. I love Sofia dearly. But essentially it was an applause for breaking down the 70 year bullshit wall completely saturated (barring Lina Wertmüller in the 1970s) by men.
The issue of female-led filmmaking goes beyond the Oscars though, of course, but they are a historical timestamp we all measure by. This has been a massive industry problem for decades and decades. The illustrious visionary, Maya Deren, could have told you that 80 years ago. Women – half the population of the entire planet – are on catch up it seems. So this humble man felt it was a no-brainer to at least give them another door to open.
The Femme Filmmakers Festival itself, now in its 10 edition, is an online event right across the board. It started in 2016 as a shout-out to 10 feature films and encouraged watch-alongs, as I coat-tailed on Directed By Women’s innovative global program. My festival is now a renowned annual event for female filmmakers to showcase their films – the majority of which are shorts. The 10th edition has record-breaking 65 short films spotlighted across a 10-day period. Wow indeed.
As we have discovered in 2025 more than ever, the Femme Filmmakers Festival is much more than sitting down for 12 minutes in front of your laptop. It brings a community of film lovers together for unfiltered, enrapturing discussions. Whether scouting for volunteers, encouraging submissions, arranging interviews, reading the reviews, liaising with the jury members, scheduling screenings etc the conversations and preparations and anticipation is revitalising to say the least.
If you have read this far, then you are one of many I would like to thank for being part of this festival. Please have a look around the (newly launched) website, and see for yourself. And hope to see you all virtually for the 10th edition between 19th and 28th September 2025.
