Press info for The Women's Film Festival
The 2008 Women’s Film Festival in Brattleboro, Vermont
The
2008 Women’s Film Festival, coming up March 14-23, promises
a jolt to winter doldrums as it offers ten days of thought-provoking,
enlightening, and entertaining films about women, almost all
made by women. Far from the usual Hollywood fare, the festival
line-up shines a light on real issues of real people -- with
great artfulness, grit, and the occasional spice of fun and
whimsy.
The Festival’s 30 films will take you far from Vermont’s
wintry landscape and deposit you in Ethiopia, Lebanon, Israel,
Afghanistan, Poland and Iran, to name a few of the films’ eleven
countries of origin. The United States is strongly represented
with films spotlighting Navajo and Mexican-American women
mariachis (MISS NAVAJO and COMPANERAS); and tackling social
ills from the paucity of maternity leave for working mothers
to the rights of the handicapped, and corruption in the
church (as exposed by the magnificent Sister Jane).
The Women’s Film Festival opens with the timely IRON
LADIES OF LIBERIA, a film featuring Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,
the first woman elected head of state in Africa. Other
politically-oriented films in this year’s line-up
includes RUN GRANNY RUN, about Doris Haddock’s walk
across the United States to publicize campaign finance
reform and subsequent run for Governor of New Hampshire;
and ENEMIES OF HAPPINESS, a film featuring Malalai Joya,
the first Afghan woman ever to enter Parliament.
Along with women in politics, this year’s Festival
touches on many important aspects of women’s lives
today: women’s health (CRAZY SEXY CANCER, MULTIPLE,
BODY AND SOUL, A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL); gay rights (FREEHELD,
MOM’S APPLE PIE, BORN AGAIN); women in the arts (WHAT
REMAINS: THE LIFE AND WORK OF SALLY MANN, WOMEN BEHIND
THE CAMERA, OLIVE PIERCE, MAKING TROUBLE), self-image (INSIDE/OUT,
LET’S FACE IT, WEAR SOMETHING NICE), and the rights
of working mothers as spotlighted in the eye-opening THE
MOTHERHOOD MANIFESTO.
Many of the directors will be present to introduce their
film and answer questions. A number of films will be accompanied
by a panel discussion.
Films are chosen for their entertainment value as well
as subject matter, and this year’s line-up includes
many award winners from festivals world-wide. There are
two 2008 Academy Award-nominated films: PERSEPOLIS, an
animated feature about a girlhood in Iran during the Islamic
revolution; and FREEHELD, a powerful film that documents
a gay couple’s struggle for equal rights around survivor
benefits.
The Women’s Film Festival is a unique benefit
and outreach event for the Women’s Crisis Center
held annually In Brattleboro since 1992. It takes place
in three downtown venues -- The Latchis Theater, the Hooker-Dunham
Theater & Gallery, and the New England Youth Theatre
-- surrounded by excellent restaurants, cafes, and one-of-a-kind
shops.
Running concurrently as part of the Festival throughout
March (Women’s History Month), is “Visions”,
an exhibit of work by women artists from the region which
will be on display at the Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery.
The show opens on March 7th during Gallery Walk. All work
is for sale through a silent auction with bidding continuing
all month. Final bidding will take place at a closing party
on March 29th.
All proceeds from tickets sales, and from the sale of work
in “Visions”, will go to benefit the Women’s
Crisis Center. In its 30th year, the Crisis Center is a
non-profit organization whose goal is to end physical,
sexual, and emotional violence against women and children.
WCC is a provider of advocacy and shelter to survivors
of sexual assault and battered women and their children
in Windham County and beyond.
Five-show discount passes for $35 and $30 (students and
seniors) offer $1 off per show. Passes are available at
bookstores throughout the region, at the festival web site,
and at theaters once the Festival starts. Tickets at the
door are $8, and $7 for students and seniors. A Benefactor
pass for $100 admits the bearer to all 18 programs of the
Festival at a sizeable discount.
| Click on the picture for a copy of the Poster. (2mb file, 11x17, 150 dpi, PDF format) |
For a copy of the Schedule click on picture (288kb file, 8.5x11, 150dpi, PDF format) |
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Our logo in .jpg format (1mb) |
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For a copy of the Press Release,
click here. |
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