THE 10th ANNUAL FEMALE EYE FILM FESTIVAL

Festival Director’s Statement – Leslie Ann Coles

The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF), “Always honest, not always pretty”.

I am pleased to present the 10th Anniversary edition of The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF), June 20-24th, 2012. We are an independent festival, presenting films directed by women and not often found in the mainstream cinema.  Our program includes high calibre features, shorts, documentaries, animation and experimental films.

There has been tremendous growth in women-directed films over the last two decades, and this has been reflected in a substantial increase in the number of films submitted to FeFF every year. Women-directed films are becoming more common in the bigger film festivals, with many breaking through the glass ceiling to indisputable box office success:  In 2010 Kathryn Bigelow won six Oscars at the 82nd the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Screenplay for “The Hurt Locker” including Best Director for Bigelow.  She was the first woman to win this award.

The Female Eye Film Festival offers a perspective of the world that recognizes the relationship between the written, visual and media arts with an eclectic program that illuminates the best of emerging and established filmmakers from around the globe.   As a competitive festival we present hand-crafted engraved award statuettes at the closing of the event, and are one of the few international women’s film festivals that boast a competitive edge.  FeFF concludes the festival with an awards gala and reception on April 1st, at which time the awards are presented for Best Films and Best Screenplays.  I might add that although the films must be directed by a woman, the Script Development Program (est. 2003) is also open to men.

This year we continue the tradition of launching our festival at WARC Gallery as part of the ABORIGINAL FILMMAKER SERIES. This year we are featuring JULES KOOSTCHIN’s “ALIVE WITH BREATH”, created under the auspices of The Ontario Arts Council (OAC).  Koostchin’s presentation is an empowering multi-media installation that celebrates the lives of Mushkegowuk (Cree) Elders before they were sent to residential schools.

As part of the Aboriginal Filmmaker Series we proudly present a tribute to documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomswain.  Alanis is a member of the Abenaki Nation, and is one of Canada’s most distinguished filmmakers.  Additionally, a series of super 8 short experimental films from the 3rd Female Eye Filmmaker Development Workshop will showcase films directed by debut aboriginal female directors who have been mentored by FeFF alumni filmmakers in the production of their first films.

The BEST IN THE BIZ SERIES is a tribute and mini master class series presented by the 2012 Honourary Director and Maverick (TBA). In conjunction with a diverse selection of features, shorts, experimental and animated films, we will host the 3rd edition of the Directors Round Table Discussion, the Filmmakers Panel Discussion, a Distribution Workshop with Kelly Hargraves and First Run Features (NYC).  We are also thrilled to present the 3rd annual Career Advancement Module, produced by Carol Whiteman, CEO and President of Creative Women Workshops Association.

A special thanks to all our sponsors, community partners and especially our volunteers who make this festival possible year after year.

We look forward to celebrating the 10th Annual Female Eye Film Festival with you!

Sincerely,
Leslie Ann Coles,
FEMALE EYE Founder & Director