Women Of The Lens Film Digital Broadcast Festival 24th to 26th November 2017, providing rich programming focussing on the agency and autonomy of black women and women of colour: www.womenofthelens.com.

11.00 Theme: The Trouble With Women

What are the life experiences which mark women out as…’women’, the oftentimes binding gendered, constricted experiences? These experiences sometimes mark women’s narratives out as issue-driven without taking into account the very real ramifications of societies which are patriarchy driven. The Trouble With Women Theme films offer first hand experiences.

Hopscotch (2017), directed by Roxana Vilk
The D Word (2017), directed by Tamala Ceasar
Women’s March (2017), directed by Aly Spengler
Numbness (2017), directed by Milad Jarmooz

12.15 Theme: Count On Me

Those we’ve grown up with, those we’ve just met. Those who stay a lifetime, those who’re fair-weathered. Friendship is an important part of our socialisation. This Theme centres on our expectations of bonds which often supersede family ties.

Housemates, directed by Monique Needham
Scattered (2017), directed by Ellie Harvie
Morning Glory (2017), directed by Robert Bertrand

13.30 Theme: Who Do You Think You Are? Chapter One

Women Of The Lens was overwhelmed with productions concerning identity – so much so, we have two separate screenings and this is Chapter One. For women and other people categorised as ‘minorities’, the concept of identity is an ever present one. If the women are black or of colour this becomes exceptionally pertinent – if only because of the historical action of the stripping away of identity from one’s families, tradition, heritage and culture. We saw entries focussing on particular aspects of hair and skin colour (i.e. colourism) and some of the films are challenging, others still are celebratory and accepting.

In this Chapter we pay Tribute To A Classic which is the film Burning An Illusion (1981), directed by Menelik Shabazz. This screening will be preceded by an introduction.

Unlace Your Shoes…Put On Mine – I Am A Black Woman (2017), directed by Leon Oldstrong
Rise (2016), directed by Akili King
You (2017), directed by Rebecca Coley
50 Shades Of Melanin, directed by Naomi Grant

16.00 Theme: What Is Broadcast?

If one works in the industry, it’s often difficult to imagine a time without the Internet. As technology progresses and advertising revenues fluctuate between traditional and alternative platforms of broadcast, the blurring of what we’d understood to be broadcast has changed. Some of the latest developments include the BBC moving its Channel 3 to digital only. In this Theme and panel disucssion, we attempt to understand what is arguably a period in time which is redfining broadcast.

17.15 Theme: Sugar And Spice And All Things Black Girl Film & Panel Discussion

Girlhood as depicted through black children in film and the media is often fraught with representational issues. Often these representations are born as a result of historical atrocities and racial inequalities. It’s rare to see a black child carefree and unbound by race, gender, sex or issue-led dramas. This Theme will include a panel discussion about Black Girlhood and its representations in media and film. Featuring knowledgeable panelists, we’ll attempt to challenge some of these representations. Stay close to this and our social media platforms for updates about guest panellists.

The Fits (2015), directed by Anna Rose Holmer
Last Leg, directed by Ella Bennett
Please Don’t Cut The Flowers (2017), directed by Cathie Griffiths
They Charge For The Sun (2016), directed by Terence Nance
Zanzibar Soccer Dreams (2016), directed by Florence Ayisi

20.30 Theme: Power Of The Feminine

Pride, Pole Prejudice (2015), directed by Rebecca Graham
Nkosi Coiffure (2015), directed by Frederike Migom
Proclamation Punctuation (2017), directed by Sewra G Kidane
Bottom Of De Road, directed by Sharon Syric and Oyetayo Raymond Ojoade
The Date (2017), directed by John Dunn
The Pits (2017), directed by Shetu Modi
You Got Me (2017), directed by Muriel Narh

More details on all these films available on the website.

TICKETS & PRICING

Tickets: £5-£20 are available from Eventbrite.