Women in Film Chicago’s Jan. 14 Open House starts a new season of events, whose “goal will be to give women some of the tools they’ll need to succeed in this very competitive industry,” says Carrie Hunter, WIFC president.
As such, WIFC’s 2016 mission is to offer members more educational programming and better connections with industry professionals “to change the game by empowering women to get behind- the-scenes and call the shots and uplift one another.
“We will also offer scholarships and other assistance to female directors, screenwriters, producers, and others advancing their careers within the industry,” Hunter says.
The director of client relations / partner at post house Conspiracy, Hunter cites a 2014 study of women on the 250 highest-grossing films that revealed the increasingly disparate gender gap in Hollywood. In that study, 7% were women directors; 11% were writers; 23% producers; 5% cinematographers, while editors stayed consistent at 18%.
WIFC board members will introduce 2016 programming such as round table discussions, monthly meetups, Power Breakfast Series, special screenings, conferences, panels and the fall filmmaking weekend. Current non-members can sign up at discounted annual membership fee.
At Conspiracy production/post, 170 N. Sangamon; 6 p.m. For tickets, contact info@wifchicago.org.
Sidebar: Hunter also announced WIFC’s annual Focus Awards will be held Jan. 28.
