Dublin Feminist Film Festival promotes and celebrates female filmmakers, dedicated to inspiring women of all kinds to become involved with filmmaking. The films showcased over the years at the festival have highlighted not just women on-screen, but also behind the camera, and stand as Dublin’s most prominent celebration of female filmmaking. This November, the Dublin Feminist Film Festival 2018 will continue this tradition of displaying women as women as compelling characters and creatives.
2018 is the fifth year of the festival and is set to take place for the first time in Light House Cinema on the 21st and 22nd November. Special Launch Events will take place on 20th November nearby in The Generator Hostel, Smithfield.
After the 2017 edition of the festival focused on Feminist Futures, this year’s theme is ‘REFRAME/REFOCUS’. This time around, rather than foreground a specific topic, the festival programme will feature films not only directed by women, but also shot by female cinematographers. This theme was partly inspired by cinematographer Rachel Morrison, who unbelievably become the first woman ever (in ninety years) to be nominated for an Academy Award for Cinematography for her work on Dee Ree’s Mudbound. Dublin Feminist Film Festival 2018 aims to expand the notion of who ‘makes’ a film and what ‘Films by Women’ means, while also raising questions about whether and how films shot by women feature a different or other gaze. Short film submissions this year may feature two women taking up roles as director and cinematographer or one woman filling both roles.
As always, the festival will explore female filmmaking and its themes not just through its films but through talks and Q&As. These events are free, but booking is advised to ensure your place at the table. On Tuesday, November 20th, the Generator Hostel in Smithfield will host a Talk with Dr Paula Quigley of Trinity College, who will consider the distinctive contribution of women directors and cinematographers to developments in film style and spectatorship. This talk will take place from 7 – 8pm. Then, from 8 – 9pm that evening, filmmakers Deirdre O’Toole and Eimear Ennis Graham will be in conversation.
The festival is also set to feature the 2018’s 10 Shorts Award Finalists, with the winner announcement and award presentation by Megan K. Fox and Mia Mullarkey. You can see Cate Blanchett star in a film for the very first time in Aussie film Parklands, with director Kathryn Millard and DOP Mandy Walker, and the festival will have an Irish premiere with Indonesian film The Seen and Unseen by Kamila Andini. Argentine film XXY by director Lucia Puenzo with cinematographer Nastahsa Braier will also screen at the festival, exploring the life of intersex teenager Alex with thoughtfulness and care. Finally, the festival will conclude with the documentary Cameraperson, Kirsten Johnson’s remarkable autobiographical documentary about her life and career as a cinematographer.
The full programme for the Dublin Feminist Film Festival 2018 is available now. Check out the schedule below:
FREE TALK: Women and Cinematograph
A consideration of the often distinctive contribution of women directors and cinematographers to developments in film style and spectatorship.
FREE EVENT: Filmmakers Deirdre O’Toole and Eimear Ennis Graham in Conversation
Award Winning Filmmakers Deirdre O’Toole and Eimear Ennis Graham discuss their work.
Shorts Programme + Parklands Combined Screening
Tickets €13/€11
IRISH PREMIERE: The Seen and Unseen
Director Kamila Andini, Cinematographer Anggi Frisca, Indonesia 2017 (1hr 23mins)
Tickets €11/€9
Director Lucia Puenzo, Cinematographer Natasha Braier, Argentina 2007 (1hr 26mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY9fLc0ZUJM
Tickets €11/€9
Cameraperson – Light House Cinema
Director and Cinematographer Kirsten Johnson, US 2017 (1hr 42mins)
Tickets €11/€9
For more information about this year’s events, check out the festival’s website here. Tickets for all festival events are available now from Eventbrite here.