LA Femme Film Festival


LA Femme International Film Festival focuses on platforming women filmmakers, "by women, for everyone". The Festival was created in 2005, to answer the need to enhance women behind the camera as directors, producers, and writers. It was the first women-focused festival in Los Angeles. To meet the festival objectives of showcasing and promoting commercially viable films by women filmmakers, the organization offers mentorships, creates dialogues among creators, holds panels, and assists with finding distribution opportunities.

History

The film was founded by Leslie LaPage, after attending Sundance Festival 2005, and remarking on the fact that there were very few films by women. LaPage found it difficult to find sponsors, because, in her words, "almost no one in Los Angeles seemed to believed that women could direct anything other than a romantic comedy." But the event was mounted, and 25 films were screened in the 2-day festival. Since then, the festival has grown to include over 100 films screened over four days, in two theaters, and it includes seminars, panels, networking mixers, and gala events.

Awards

Winners

Some of the major awards granted at LA Femme Film Festival include:
YearAwardWinnerWork
2018Best DirectorMarcia KimptonBardo Blues
2018Best Feature ScreenwriterCatherine Dudley-RoseParallel Chords
2018Best Foreign FilmJo Morris, Aiman HarhishDagenham
2018Best Special Focus DocumentarySusan Scott, Bonne de BodStroop: Journey into the Rhino Horn War
2017Best Feature DirectorSandi SomersIce Blue
2017Best Animated ShortRoadside Assistance
2017Best FeatureBecky SmithAugust in Berlin
2017Best Foreign FilmJulia Frick, Alice FrickShop of Little Pleasures
2016Best Special Focused DocumentaryJulia Gibson, Audrey MeslerThe Last High: The Lure and Lie of Smoking Synthetics
2016Best DirectorDorie BartonGirl Flu
2016Best Foreign FilmJudy NaidooHatchet Hour
2015Best FeatureLisa ArnoldCaged No More
2015Best DocumentaryLaurie KahnLove Between the Covers
2015Best Feature DirectorCorey MisquitaReign
2015Best Feature WriterJenica Bergere, Doc PedrolieCome Simi
2014Best FeatureAnn LeSchanderThe Park Bench
2014Best Feature DirectorMiriam KruishoopGreencard Warriors
2014Best Feature WriterDominique SchillingA Reason
2014Best Foreign DocumentaryGeetha JAlgorithms
2014Life Achievement AwardMarion Ross
2013Best FeatureFinola Hughes, Christine Fry The Bet
2013Best Feature DirectorFrancesca GregoriniThe Truth About Emanuel
2013Best Feature WriterRachel Noll James, Katy KvalvikDon't Pass Me By
2013Best DocumentaryIlse van LamoenDaughters of the Niger Delta
2012Best Feature DirectorDeborah BrockThe Misadventures of the Dunderheads