St. John’s International Women’s Festival is open for submissions for its 2025 festival run! Since 1989, the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF) has proudly championed the creative work of women and gender-diverse filmmakers from around the world. As Canada’s longest-running women’s film festival, SJIWFF is guided by a bold vision of a gender-equitable and artist-focused screen industry, serving as a beacon for creativity, equity, and the transformative power of storytelling. Every October, the five-day Festival presents a dynamic program of film screenings alongside its acclaimed Film Industry Forum. Filmmakers enjoy unparalleled opportunities to connect with top talent, industry leaders, and key decision-makers through engaging panels, pitch sessions, project consultations, networking events, and unforgettable celebrations. Set against the breathtaking oceanside backdrop of Downtown St. John’s, SJIWFF is renowned for its signature hospitality and its intimate, inspiring, and welcoming atmosphere. Reflecting on 2024, we asked the women of SJIWFF some questions:
What inspired the creation of the Women’s Film Festival, and how has it evolved over the years?
The film and television industry has long struggled with a significant gender imbalance, with women, particularly those from Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, under-represented in key creative and financial roles. This disparity not only impacts the industry itself but also has far-reaching consequences for society, contributing to stereotypical gender portrayals on screen. Fewer women and gender-diverse artists employed as directors and writers results in media that often fails to reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives that shape our world. As an intersectional feminist organization, SJIWFF champions the work of women and gender-diverse artists, striving to reshape the industry and create a more inclusive and representative media landscape. The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF) was launched in 1989 in response to this imbalance, with a bold vision of supporting and promoting women’s creative work locally and internationally. Over three decades, SJIWFF has grown significantly, increasing both submissions and accolades. What began as a single film screening has evolved into a five-day festival and Industry Forum. Today, SJIWFF is a respected leader in the Canadian film industry and the movement for gender equity, bringing critical artist development and creative vitality to Newfoundland and Labrador.
What sets the Women’s Film Festival apart from other film festivals?
SJIWFF offers local audiences the best in cinema worldwide during its five-day festival and brings together provincial, national and international industry experts and creatives for a five-day Industry Forum. As the province’s flagship film festival, SJIWFF orchestrates year-round film screenings, community events, mentorship programs, industry training and networking initiatives, culminating in a signature five-day international film festival and film industry forum each October. As a testament to its growing importance and reputation as a must-attend event, the Festival receives over 1000 annual film submissions and welcomes upwards of 6000 guests year-round.
Amplifying the national and international profile of our local film industry talents and province as a cultural hub, SJIWFF brings critical artistic development and creative vitality to Newfoundland and Labrador. See what filmmakers have to say about SJIWFF here! Submissions for the 36th annual SJIWFF are now open! Women and gender-diverse filmmakers from anywhere in the world are encouraged to submit their films via Film Freeway at filmfreeway.com/womensfilmfestival.
Are there any plans to expand the festival’s reach or introduce new initiatives?
In August 2024, SJIWFF became the new home of Women In View, a renowned non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening gender representation and inclusion in film and television both on screen and behind the scenes, and the Canadian leader of the 50/50 by 2020 initiative, started in Sweden, which galvanized the international film industry. Read the press release here.
