The Femme Filmmakers Festival is largely about the creative talents of those women behind the camera, of course. But designing the official poster of the online event has always been a somewhat exhilarating - and creative - task in itself for this editor. Over the years we have had posters paying wondrous honours to female filmmaking greats, past and present. I have my favourites, sure, the Agnès Varda inspired…

Fleeting is the short film directed by award-winning Louisa Connolly-Burnham. It is a moving short on the tension surrounding the Repeal the Eighth movement in 2018.  The title Fleeting is an intriguing choice. It could be a comment on the moment in time, the transitory period or the way things passed. The short has fantastic empathy and educational value. I think it’s wonderful that writer and actress Lisa O’Connor sought to examine her relationship with her father after he voted against overturning the abortion ban.

The first time I watched Claire Denis’ Trouble Every Day, I hadn’t read its synopsis. It was a film I’d sought out entirely based on its gorgeous film poster. I was tired, I was in an airport and I hadn’t paid attention to its opening scene. Other than the Comic Sans title card, which— yes— in hindsight, should have suggested this film was full of violence. 

Opening your movie with a tableau-like scene of the titular character (Samantha Morton) awaking in the embrace of her dead boyfriend, only to have her immediately hit the pub, is undoubtedly phenomenal. That’s exactly how Lynne Ramsay opened Morvern Callar in 2002. It’s Christmas Day, and Morvern’s dead boyfriend has left her a Word document suicide note: Don't try to understand, it just felt like the right thing to do.

In this interview, Filmotomy got the chance to talk to up-and-coming director Misha Hassan. We discuss her entry into this year's Festival, Awaaz Oonchi Karo (Louder), with Misha sharing her passions for South Asian representation, with a specific focus on the repressed emotions of South Asian women. You can watch our interview below:

Is there a journalistically appropriate way to say I love this film and it was very sweet of Ariane Louis-Seize to make it for me? Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person—is a pretty plot-explanatory title. Main character Sasha (Sara Montpetit) is a vampire that happens to be impotent when it comes to tearing into people’s throats. This defect is symptomatic of a deep psychological impairment: empathy.

Fifty-Four Days is a short film co-directed by Phoebe Torrance and Cat White (who also wrote the script). Coincidentally, this is the second film in the Femme Filmmakers Festival that connects grief to water. It’s even more of a coincidence that these are two of my favourites from the shorts I’ve reviewed at the time of writing. Characters Ruby (Cat White) and Josh (Joshua Williams) lose their father on the night of his 54th birthday.

Badger presents us with a seemingly innocuous situation that quickly morphs into something extremely uncomfortable. While waiting for a wildlife expert to come and remove an injured badger, our lead character starts talking to a stranger whose behaviour begins to cause alarm. The sound design and music are employed well to ramp up the stress and tension. However, this escalates so quickly that you could be forgiven for wondering at times if there was a twist coming.

Magpie, a 13-minute short film directed by Erin Curran and Megan McDonagh, crafts a poignant narrative, that beautifully captures the bittersweet intricacies of familial love and coping with loss. The film deftly balances youthful curiosity with raw emotional depth. Encapsulating the universal struggle of grieving while holding onto hope and joy. From the opening scenes, Magpie subtly sets the stage with a refreshing, yet deeply intimate, lens.

Profile Roxana has studied Film Directing at the National University of Theatre and Cinema “I.L. Caragiale” in Bucharest. Her short movies have participated in numerous International Festivals and have gained several awards. Her 2013 short PERENNIAL PLANTS won the Critics Award at the International Student Film Festival CineMaiubit in Bucharest, while BLACK FRIDAY was named Best Romanian Short at Transilvania International Film Festival in 2015.

Profile Molly Lipson is a writer, editor and filmmaker from London, UK. She has had her work published in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Dazed, Atmos, Huck and more. She tends to write about themes around reducing harm and envisioning a better future through the lens of entertainment, culture, sport and climate. Her foray into filmmaking was as script consultant on the short film FOR PEOPLE IN TROUBLE, written and directed by Alex Lawther, starring Emma D’Arcy and Archie Madekwe, and produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

Profile A born creative, Holly Joyce has worked for twenty years as an actor, script consultant, theatre director, producer, and performance coach. After being asked to direct her first short film NAPOLEON in 2022, Holly discovered a new passion for screen directing. In September 2024 she completed a Masters with Distinction in Film Production at the University of Hertfordshire, and produced and directed her final film, A BED OF FOXGLOVES starring Phyllis Logan, adapted from a play by Anna Jordan.

Profile Nicole is a BAFTA long listed filmmaker and has been directing for over ten years, building up a portfolio of bold, strong films including ‘Kaleidoscope’, ‘Powerless’ and ‘Asphyxiate’ that have been selected, and won at, several film festivals across the world. Her most recent short ‘WanderLand’ is on the festival circuit and has received selections at the BAFTA qualifying Bolton Film Festival and Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, as well as long-running festivals Woods Hole Film Festival and Hell’s Half Mile Film and Music Festival.

Profile As a Vietnamese female director with a passion for art and psychology, "Scarlet Silence" represents the culmination of my creative vision. This film explores the universal human desire to be loved, completed, and to find oneself, whether through love or art. Set in London, with this project, I hope to break preconceived notions and stereotypes by showcasing Asian casts in lead roles within a Western concept film.

Profile Born in London, and raised in Toronto, Shari Sharpe is a filmmaker of Jamaican descent who brings unapologetic humour to her work. She began her career writing features for TV, paving her way to L.A. Up next: two short films she directed and produced. In 2020, Shari was the Pilot Winner of the ScreenCraft Comedy Contest and a winner in the UCLA X Writing Competitions.

Lusthouse, a whimsical short film written and produced by Neeraja Raj, offers a vibrant and playful exploration of youthful infatuation, cleverly wrapping its comedic narrative in just five minutes. The film effortlessly bridges the gap between a mundane chore and a sudden, overwhelming rush of emotions. All while maintaining an effervescent sense of humour. From the outset, the aesthetic choices in…

Speaking to director Issabella Orlando, Filmotomy got the chance to discuss her entry to the Festival, Topos. This poetic documentary is awash with heritage, history and heart and Issabella discusses this, as well as her journey as a filmmaker. You can watch the interview below:

The idea of two sisters arguing, despite one of them being dead, should hold a lot of promise. However, the opportunity is somewhat lost in My Sister is Dead.  While getting ready for an event, unusual noises and light-flickering alert Anaaya that her deceased sister Miraal is about to make an appearance. When she does appear, she is very angry that her sister has betrayed her and an argument begins.

Nice Package, a whimsical short film written and directed by Fran St Clair, is a delightful romp through the world of romantic comedies. Cleverly distilled into a vibrant, 12-minute experience. With a nod to the light-hearted and often absurd essence of rom coms, the film employs humour, colour, and relatable life challenges to weave a narrative, that is both charming and amusingly unpredictable.

Motherhood is an oft-explored topic in filmmaking. But Zoe Ellender manages to secure her place in this category with a worthy and distinct voice. Francie is an elegant portrayal of a mother without a (second) child. And Ellender avoids any cliches or over-explored ideas that could so easily have been relied on. Exposition is handled expertly through echoes rather than visual flashbacks.

On the face of it, C U Next Tuesday is a simple short story depicting an attempt to book a doctor's appointment. However, in the hands of director-writer-cinematographer, Eden Sandy, and lead actor Maeve O'Haire, it becomes much more. Sandy uses the conventions of film-making to reassure us immediately of the type of film we are watching. Blending realism with heightened senses.

During the introduction the voice-over asks "Who am I? How do I fit in?". It's a question we've all asked ourselves. And It's a Family Thing uses an extended family reunion to address the issues raised by those questions. It's a Family Thing feels like an enduring mystery or puzzle. One that we are invited to watch being solved. There is a warmth and dedication in this group of people that makes us care about their histories.

Happy Snaps is a short submitted by Tyro Heath, funded by the BFI network. The film follows two young boys, Gabriel (Osian Pirotte) and Sami (Adi Gimziunas), living on the Isle of Sheppey. Gabriel has Cerebral Palsy. The title is a reference to the kids taking pictures with one of those made-for-children cameras (one rule: no funny faces). It’s the boys final days together before Gabriel moves to Newcastle.

I did a bit of investigative journalism whilst rewatching the short film Distance (perhaps on the verge of internet stalking?). Anyway, I discovered that Distance is the final project of a group of university students in their final year. It was director Jennifer Williams who initially conceived the story, and Danny Rowan then developed it into a script. However unintentional, watching the short with the detail of it being a final project in mind creates an enjoyable story in itself.

Cassidy is a backpacker getting through a day of door-to-door sales in Toronto. At a time when three other women have gone missing. When she calls at a house where the male owner is willing to engage and invites her in, she becomes increasingly uncomfortable. The title suggests that this character, probably like many of us, may put her own safety at risk just to avoid seeming impolite.