Newsletter - Page 13 of 15

Coffee Chat: Blue Sky Sessions

Sep 27, 2021 | Event

Join us for our Blue Sky Sessions!

This month, we are hosting two coffee chats themed around a Blue Sky thinking. All chapters are welcome to join and share their ideas for WIFTI’s future. What would you like WIFTI to do, what do be for your chapter?

We believe that the strength of WIFTI comes from the strength of every member of every chapter. So every year, we want to know, what YOUR idea of a global network of sisters is.

Apart from sharing your visions, you’ll get to meet our sisters from all around the world!

Both coffee chats take place on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Register below for the time zone that suits you best.

Session 1: 9am Central European Time

Session 2: 7pm Central European Time

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

WIFTI stands in solidarity

Sep 8, 2021 | News

WIFTI stands in solidarity with our Afghan sisters

Read our statement below:

WIFTI Annual Report

Sep 6, 2021 | News

Read the WIFTI Annual Report 2020-21 here

With our fiscal year 2020-21 having ended on August 31, it’s time for our chapters to renew their membership – and for new groups to think about whether they want to join the global movement and become a member of WIFTI.

It’s also the time, where we update you about our growing and evolving organisation. Find our annual report here and read more about our projects of the past year, amongst others:

March 8 Short Film Showcase to celebrate International Women’s Day
Nordic Women in Film which strengthened our Nordic-US network
New chapters in Bhutan, Israel and China
Festival Collaborations with Berlinale and African Pavillon in Cannes

The WIFTI Board thanks you for your support and for your work, we appreciate all your efforts, as they will inevitably make the next generation’s lives better!

Read the Annual Report 2020-21 here.

European Organisations Join Forces Against Racism

Jul 1, 2021 | News

WIFT International fights against racism together with ARTEF

In the Summer of 2020, a group of European film industry professionals gathered to form ARTEF, the Anti-Racism Taskforce for European Film. WIFT International has been a member from its beginnings. Engaging over thirty organisations, our first step was an awareness training programme lead by Dr Emilia Roig, trainer, author, and founder of the Centre for Intersectional Justice in Berlin. The workshop encounters lasted between November 2020 and May 2021 online with an average of forty participants from all over Europe in each session.

With a broad and intersectional approach ARTEF’s main aim is to dismantle racist structures and combat all forms of racism in the European film industry. Our goal is to become a task force for change: by raising awareness, by offering education and insights, by suggesting revisions to regulations and practices, as well as to weather opposition from the industry — especially from those who habitually benefit from institutionalised racism.

After its initial year, ARTEF will continue organising training programmes for European film professionals who are keen on tackling institutionalised racism and willing to do the personal work needed to help dismantling existing structures, and help building new, inclusive ones in the decades to come. Anyone who has been or is affected by racism in the European film industry is invited to come forward and engage with ARTEF to help us build a meaningful task force together.

Thus far, we have been laying the ground for future actions and we will be reaching out to all European film institutions, including film festivals, film commissioning, organisations and filmmaking collectives, asking them to join ARTEF, and commit to training, ring fencing of resources, and to turn their awareness into actions.

We invite filmmakers in every European country to write to their institutions, collectives, unions, and organisations to request they join and support ARTEF!s work, and to engage with us with ideas, suggestions and/or requests.

LIST OF MEMBERS

Initiated by Matthijs Wouter Knol, the newly appointed Director of the European Film Academy, ARTEF was also co-founded by its current Board of Directors: Helene Granqvist (producer Nordic Film Factory and president WIFTI), Paula Alvarez Vaccaro (producer Pinball London and European Producers Club vice president), and Marion Schmidt (co-director Documentary Association of Europe).

Steering committee

Paula Alvarez Vaccaro, Véronique N. Doumbé, Helene Granqvist, Laurence Lascary, Regina Mosch, Marion Schmidt, Matthijs Wouter Knol

Funding partners

Bertha Foundation, British Film Institute, FOCAL, HessenFilm, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schles- wig-Holstein, International Sámi Film Institute, Film Fund Luxemburg, Netherlands Film Fund, Norwegian Film Institute, Swedish Film Institute and contributions from the participating organisations ACE, EAVE, EWA, and WIFTI as well as production companies Magic Hour Films and Pinball London and further donors.

The awareness trainings were attended by top-level representatives of the following organisations

ACE Producers, British Film Institute, Cinéastes non alignées, Collectif 50/50, Creative Diversity Network, DAE — Documentary Association of Europe, Doc Society, EAVE, European Film Academy, EFM — European Film Market, EFP — European Film Promotion, EWA — European Women’s Audiovisual Network, EPC — European Producers Club, FOCAL, International Sámi Film Institute, Magic Hour Films, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Netherlands Film Fund, Norwegian Film Institute, Pinball London, Power to Transform, Programmers of Colour Collective (POC2), ProQuote Film, Swedish Film Institute, Queer Media Society, WIFTI — Women in Film and Television International

Press contact: Pascal Edelmann, European Film Academy

p.edelmann@europeanfilmacademy.org

WIFTI x Cannes International Film Festival 2021

Jul 1, 2021 | News, Event

Producing & Social Impact with Pavillon Afriques in Cannes

We are delighted to be co-hosting a conversation with Pavillon Afriques at the Cannes International Film Festival.

Our moderator Inya Lawal, WIFTI board member and President of WIFT Africa, will speak to Tope Oshin (Nigeria), Joyce Pierpoline (US), Didahr Dohmeri (France) and Nangita Pritish Nandy (India).

The conversation will explore the journey and growth of successful producers in the film/tv and digital industry with a key focus on how they use their knowledge and position to positively impact upcoming creatives. The panelists will share nuggets on building a career and tips that helped them rise or overcome career difficulties. The conversation will also touch on the mutual benefits of mentorship; and the benefits of psychosocial support, career guidance and role modelling for protégés.

Sign up here!

WIFTI Worldwide Webinar with Christin Baker

May 24, 2021 | News, Event

Producing, Distributing & Social Impact with Christin Baker

// How to put underrepresented topics on the radar? What is it like to get your own production company and streaming service off the ground? How to find investors for your indie project?

In this highly interactive webinar, we will meet Christin Baker who is an award-winning director, Emmy-nominated producer and owner of Tello Films. Tello focuses on lesbian/queer content and is the first lesbian/queer network to receive an Emmy Nomination. The series Secs & EXECS has received a 2017 Emmy Nomination for Mindy Sterling, Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy/Drama Series. In 2019 the series “Riley Parra” received 2 Emmy nominations for actresses Liz Vassey and Carolyn Ratteray.

Christin is passionate about telling relevant and meaningful original stories. Tello Films is the leader in distributing and creating original content (features, shorts and series) as well as creating a platform for monetizing niche entertainment. Christin was awarded Best Director for her work on Maybelle at the 2016 London Raindance Film Festival and is a member of the Producers Guild of America as well as the Television Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Join us for an inspiring talk on how to make your dreams reality!

christin baker wifti

Date: 14th June, 2021

Time: 9am PST / 12pm EST / 6pm CET

Register here!

WIFTI Worldwide Webinar: Filmmaking in Bangladesh

Apr 28, 2021 | Event

Filmmaking in Bangladesh: Cinema as Feminist Intervention

Re-watch the webinar here.

Filmmaker and WIFTI Board Member Rubaiyat Hossain will be in conversation with filmmakers Elizabeth D. Costa, director of Bangla Surf Girls, 2021, and Zana Shammi, director of Untying the Knot, 2019, on real impact of films on society.

We will discuss the systemic exclusion of women directors, but how in that, the act of filmmaking can become a space for the filmmakers as well as the characters to express themselves.

We will talk about how the films by women directors like Elizabeth D. Costa (Bangla Surf Girls, 2021), and Zana Shammi (Untying the Knot, 2019) create real impact on society by engaging young women surfers and survivors of domestic violence in a conservative Muslim society with a strong patriarchal culture. How can films can be a tool of feminist intervention for women to be seen, heard and create tangible changes in society?

Elizabeth D. Costa is rapidly emerging as one of Bangladesh’s most exciting female directors and cinematographer. As a Bangladeshi born and raised one of the few Christian minorities she has over 10 years of experience and are passionate about storytelling. Her first feature doc “Bangla Surf Girls” recently world premiered on HotDocs 2021. She was nominated by her Producer and shared the Don Haig award this year in HotDocs. In 2017, she was selected for the Chicken and Egg Accelerator Lab. Elizabeth was also selected to attend the IDFA academy in 2017, to hone her craft. Elizabeth began her career as a script supervisor with the acclaimed pioneer Bangladeshi filmmakers Tareque and Catherine Masud, before earning her MA in Film Studies from the University of Dhaka. She has directed television shows and worked in several short films for a range of media outlets domestic and internationally including PBS Newshour, SBS Dateline, BBC Media Action, NOS News – Netherlands, Vice News UK, and Bloomberg TV, La Sexta Spanish TV and also worked as line producer on two times Academy award winner, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s documentary “A Journey of Thousand Miles”. From 2016 to 2017, Elizabeth worked as communications advisor for UNDP Bangladesh and in this capacity produced a number of media advocacy stories about women empowerment. And during the Rohingya exodus 2017 – 2018 she covered for International organizations like Human Rights Watch, Dutch Television and PBSNewshour as a Producer/Cameraperson inside the refugee camp.

Zana Shammi is a Bangladeshi-Canadian journalist and filmmaker. Her first feature documentary, Untying the Knot, was commissioned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and premiered at the renowned Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto, under the banner ‘Films Changing the World.’ Untying the Knot has screened internationally and won awards on the festival circuit, including Audience Choice and Courage in Cinema. In 2019, it was part of Samabhav, a traveling film festival and discussion forum that screened in multiple cities across India. Before coming to North America, Zana worked as a journalist in her hometown of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Dhaka.

Date: 25th May, 2021

Time 9am PST / 12pm EST / 6pm CET

Re-watch the webinar here.

Letter from Anna Serner to WIFT members & SFI’s Facts & Figures 2020

May 26, 2021 | News

Letter from Anna Serner to WIFT members

Following our open letter thanking Anna Serner for her decade-long work for gender equality, Anna has sent us a response, amongst others also drawing on the Swedish Film Institute’s latest Facts & Figures report. Their work is beyond inspiring, but also nowhere near finished as Anna humbly acknowledges.

Read the report here.

Dear WIFT members,

I am proud to present Facts & Figures 2020, our yearly report providing a comprehensive insight into film in Sweden today. As you know, 2020 was a very challenging year for all of us. It affected the whole industry, Sweden included. Still, when it comes to gender equality things looked brighter.

The share of Swedish feature-length fiction films with funding from our commissioners that were directed by a woman was at 64%, with the same percentage for films with a female producer, and films with a female screenwriter was at 57%. Also, Swedish feature films released in 2020 had as many female leads as male leads, and 59% of all the feature-length fiction films of last year passed the Bechdel test. With this said, there is still a lot of inequalities when we put our intersectional glasses on. Gender equality means equality for all women, disregarding skin colour, sexual orientation, age etc, and it should apply to all budgets and genres.

I am still overwhelmed and deeply touched by your letter following my notice of resignation a few weeks ago. Thank you again, and thanks for all the work you do – every day. As I’ve said to some of you, I will stick around for another six month and I hope our paths will cross many times before and after that.

Warmest regards,
Anna Serner
CEO, The Swedish Film Institute

50 organisations celebrate Anna Serner alongside WIFTI

Apr 28, 2021 | News

WIFTI joined by 50 Organisations in Open Letter to Anna Serner

After 10 years as CEO of the Swedish Film Institute, Anna Serner has handed in her resignation on 27 April, 2021.

Women in Film & Television International is grateful for and proud of Anna’s work for gender equality and inclusion in the global film industry, and we wish to express our admiration with this open letter signed by 50 international film organisations.

Dear Anna,

Thank you for your decade long commitment and work towards inclusion in the global film industry. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of your work for gender equality. Since taking the helm of The Swedish Film Institute in 2011, you’ve been an unwavering force for women at all levels of the industry. With your passion, dedication and clarity, you’ve led by example, and given us all hope, encouragement and strength.

When 50/50 by 2020 was introduced in Cannes in 2016, it became a global rallying cry – heard by film institutes, festivals, studios, companies and organizations on all continents. Since then, the industry has taken strides, but we still have a long way to go. We won’t stop. We won’t quit.

We all wish you the best of luck with your next endeavor and hope that we will be working with you again in the future.

In gratitude.

Your friends,

Helene Granqvist, Women in Film and Television International

Inya Lawal, Women in Film & Television Africa

Katrina Graham, Women in Film & Television Australia

Rubaiyat Hossain, Women in Film & Television Bangladesh

Nagila Guimares, Women in Film & Television Brasil

Susan Brinton, Women in Film & Television Canada

Tsiako Abesadze, Women in Film & Television Caucasus

Li Dan, Women in Film & Television China

Petra Terzi, Women in Film & Television Cyprus

Malene Flindt Pedersen, Women in Film & Television Denmark

Eeva-Sofia Anttonen, Women in Film & Television Finland

Nicole Ackermann, Women in Film & Television Germany

Rea Wallden, Women in Film & Television Greece

Anna Sæunn Ólafsdóttir, Women in Film & Television Iceland

Petrina d’Rozario, Women in Film & Television India

Dr. Susan Liddy, Women in Film & Television Ireland

Domizia De Rosa, Women in Film, Television & Media Italia

Kirsten Schaffer, Women in Film LA

Eva Brazdžionytė, Women in Film & Television Lithuanian Chapter

Cynthia Lopez, New York Women in Film & Television

Patricia Watson, Women in Film & TV New Zealand

Ingebjørg Torgersen, WIFT-Norway

Gabriel Baur & Stéphane Mitchell, SWAN Swiss Women’s Audiovisual Network

Caroline Ortmark, Women in Film & Television Sweden

Melissa Houghton, Women in Film & Video Washington DC

Paula Vaccaro, ARTEF – Anti-Racism Taskforce for European Film

Julie-Jeanne Régnault, EFAD – Association of European Film Agencies

Franklin Leonard, The Black List

Dr. Emilia Zenzile Roig, Center for Intersectional Justice Berlin

Delphyne Besse & Laurence Lascary, Collectif 5050

Deborah Williams, Creative Diversity Network

Nanna Frank Rasmussen, Chair of Danish Film Critic Association

Brigid O’Shea & Marion Schmidt, Documentary Association of Europe

Alessia Sonaglioni, EWA Network

Matthijs Wouter Knol, European Film Academy

Dennis Ruh, European Film Market

Kate Kinninmont, The f Word Media Company

Effie T. Brown, Gamechanger Films

Anna Möttölä, Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy

Marge Liiske, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event

Anne Lajla Utsi, International Samí Film Institute

Gyda Velvin Myklebust, New Nordic Films Haugesund

Dögg Mósesdottír, Nordic Girls Shoot Iceland

Victoria Emslie, Primetime

T. Bhebhe, H. Currimbhoy, L. Mukerjee, P. Struthers, Programmers of Colour Collective

Stephanie Thogersen, Stockholm Feminist Film Festival

Tabitha Jackson & Keri Putnam, Sundance Institute

Dame Heather Rabbatts, TIME’S UP UK

Bérénice Vincent, Totem Films

Theo Lindberg, Trans and Non-binary Film Network

Bina Paul, Women in Cinema Collective

Melissa Silverstein, Women and Hollywood

Jan Miller, Women in View Canada

WIFT International congratulates Chloé Zhao!

Apr 26, 2021 | News

Historic Win! Chlóe Zhao wins Best Director at Academy Awards!

Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI) celebrates Chloé Zhao’s win at today’s Academy

Awards, for Best Director for feature film “Nomadland”. Zhao is the first Asian woman to receive the award for Best Director and just the second woman to win in the 93-year history of the Academy Awards.

WIFTI president Helene Granqvist comments, “Well done Chloé Zhao for taking out this year’s Academy Award for Best Director. We have been thrilled to watch Zhao breaking glass ceilings this year. It is our hope this inspires other women in the screen industry to feel encouraged and to continue to aim high.”

Zhao also made history as the first woman of Asian descent and second woman ever to win the Best Director award at the 78th Golden Globes hosted earlier this year.

The 2021 Director category was also significant because for the first time in history, more than one female filmmaker was nominated. Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell earned nominations for their films “Nomadland” and “Promising Young Woman,” respectively. Granqvist says “We are immensely proud to see two women nominated in this category – another first! We feel positive that soon we will see more of an equal representation across all categories, including Directing, for women.” Zhao is the second female filmmaker to win Best Director. Kathryn Bigelow was the first ever woman to win in 2010 for “The Hurt Locker”. Before this year, only five female filmmakers have been nominated for best Director: Lina Wertmüller ( “Seven Beauties”, 1977), Jane Campion (“The Piano,” 1994), Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation,” 2004) Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”, 2010) and Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird,” 2018).

“Nomadland” is the third feature film from director Chloé Zhao – following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad.

The 93rd Academy Awards 2021, were hosted today Sunday April 25, in Los Angeles, honouring movies released in 2020.