While the number of women directors of major studio films has dropped to all-time low of 4.6% in 2014, it’s encouraging that various studies show that larger numbers of female directors of indie cinema are holding their own.
One study by the Sundance Film Festival showed that women directors accounted for 25.5% of the films screened at Sundance 2014. While that’s far from home run (indie male directors are 74.5%) it’s certainly progress, hard fought and hard won.
To celebrate local women indie directors who are helping crack the resistant celluloid ceiling, the Midwest Independent Film Festival presents “Female Filmmakers Night” of short films, Tuesday, June 2 at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema.
The women filmmakers whose work will be displayed are part of Chicago’s important, growing indigenous film community. They will be in attendance for Q&A after the screening.
DIRECTOR JENNIFER REEDER, “A Million Miles Away,” multi-winning drama. She is currently an Associate Professor in Moving Image and the head of the Art Department in the School of Art and Art History at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
WRITER/DIRECTOR KRISTYN BENEDYK, “Flat Chested,” a cancer awareness comedy, whose cast includes Alicia Witt, Rebekah Ward and Luke Perry. She chairs DePaul’s screenwriting program within the School of Cinematic Arts. She helped launch the M.F.A. Screenwriting degree in 2011, which is one of the most sought after graduate school programs in the nation.
DIRECTOR/FILMMAKER KRIS SWANBERG, “Baby Mary,” a drama produced by Jacqueline “JJ” Ingram and Annie Gomberg. Official Selection of SXSW. Her feature “Unexpected” was a 2014 Sundance hit. She is also an actress who has appeared in films made by her husband, Joe Swanberg.
WRITER/DIRECTOR SUE GILLAN, “The After Party,” a Chicago premiere co-starring David Pasquesi and Gillan. A former writer, director and improv actress at The Second City, Gillan is currently creative director of ad agency O’Keefe, Reinhard & Paul.
FILMMAKER JOANNA RUDNICK AND KARTEMQUIN FILMS,“On Beauty,” a documentary about challenging norms and redefining beauty that has won three “best short” fest prizes and aired in ten countries.
DIRECTOR CRISTEN LEIFHEIT, “Power(less); a Chicago premiere from photographer and stop motion video artist exploring life cycles and technology in landscapes. Her films have screened in festivals and galleries worldwide.
Prior to the 7:30 p.m. screening, Canon will introduce its new C300 Mark II and XC10 4K cameras, starting at 6 p.m.
At 2828 N. Clark; tickets are $10 general admission.
