And to their amazing jury too.
Our Female Filmmaker Film Festival opened this week and we are certain they’re on the way to making 2017 the year of women filmmakers. The quality of these films mirrors what Jill Soloway said in her TIFF lecture: “I can tell a woman wrote and directed it because I feel held … the emotions are being prioritized over the action.” This isn’t a gimmick, used to draw attention. This is a passionate initiative – TO GIVE WOMEN OPPORTUNITY AND EXPOSURE as the brilliant, creative, extraordinary filmmakers they are. Go watch them. You’ll be a better person for it.
And here is the equally stunning jury we assembled to determine our top six winners:
Nora Brown
Nora Brown is the film commissioner and executive director of the Rochester/Finger Lakes Film Commission, which promotes filmmaking across the region, and is the executive director of High Falls Film Festival, which was founded in 2001 to celebrate women in film. She brings to these positions more than 30 years of professional filmmaking experience with numerous major and indie features, music videos, and documentary projects. Brown is also an adjunct lecturer and professor at Monroe Community College and the School of Film and Animation at Rochester Institute of Technology. She is a member of NYWIFT (New York Women in Film & Television) and AFCI (Association of Film Commissioners International).
Susan Norget
Susan Norget Film Promotion is a film publicity and marketing agency that has represented the work of some of the world’s most visionary filmmakers, from established auteurs such as Lars von Trier, Claire Denis, Olivier Assayas, Terrence Malick, and Catherine Breillat, to acclaimed documentarians such as Werner Herzog, Joshua Oppenheimer, Liz Garbus, Steve James, and Jehane Noujaim. The company represents films at major international festivals, including Cannes, Toronto and Sundance, and has spearheaded close to 400 release campaigns. Films the company has promoted have been honored with 4 Best Documentary Oscars (and 21 nominations); 83 Independent Spirit awards and nominations and dozens of top Cannes and Sundance prizes.
Arianna McGregor
Arianna is a Vancouver-based actor, writer and director. On the board of Women in Film + TV, she has served two years on the Festival Programming Committee, one as a member and one as chair. A Hot Shot Shorts semi-finalist, Vancouver Filmrace audience choice, and Crazy8s alumna, she is excited to have the opportunity to further champion Women working and creating in film and television.
Rachel Gregg
Rachel Gregg is the Executive Director of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. A true believer in the ability of film to foster community and ignite positive change, Rachel completed her MA in Communication at the University of Montana studying rhetoric and environmental documentary film. Following her work in venue management and event promotions, Rachel joined the Montana Film Office where she coordinated public relations, marketing, communications, web & social media promotions, as well as event-based marketing and brand activation at film festivals including Sundance, SXSW and LA Film Festival.
