The World of Women

The World of Women

A rescue mission in the land of the dead, looking for love at a humble train station and a documentary focused on burlesque clubs – These stories and more will be exhibited in the World of Women (WoW) Film Festival to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th.

The film festival highlights contemporary short films made with key creative input from women. Over 90 films will be shown across multiple venues, ranging from documentaries, animations, short films, feature films and experimental films.

Festival director Tamara Popper is in charge of the many necessary preparations. “Very, very busy,” she says. “But everything is falling into place brilliantly.”

This is Popper’s second time directing the festival, and this year she is presiding over its 20th anniversary.

“The theme of the WoW Film Festival every year is always ‘seeing the world through the eyes of women,’” she says. “We encourage cultural diversity and gender diversity as well. These are always the themes of WoW. And of course it’s a celebration of Australian and international female filmmakers, it’s a platform for them.”

Included in the festival are many other events besides film screenings.

Popper lists some, “We have talks from industry practitioners, a film stills exhibition, a writer’s forum, networking events, the awards ceremony, opening night, red carpet screening and the after party,” she says.

Popper sees the World of Women Film Festival as an important stepping-stone for beginner directors, producers and writers – especially female ones.

She says, “Festivals like WoW and Tropfest are very different but they both play a strong role in encouraging emerging filmmakers or established filmmakers to explore the short form and do something interesting, fun, or edgy with short filmmaking.”

One such emerging filmmaker is Newtown resident Stef Smith. Her first short film – a mockumentary called Josh – will be shown at Parliament House Theatre on March 5th and the Vanguard on March 10th.

“I’d love to do more short films after this,” she says. “Shorts really are the only way in for a lot of creatives and also a way for everyone to keep working and keep producing films.”

She’s grateful for the inclusion in the festival.

“If you’ve got talent and skill and you get broadcast on a platform like WoW or Tropfest, it’s only going to benefit your career.”

In her film actor Toby Truslove plays the eponymous Josh.

“Josh is a mockumentary on the missing Hemsworth brother, Josh Hemsworth,” Truslove says. “He’s the fourth, never-heard-of brother who has decided he wants to get into acting like his brothers. So he is hopeful but adorably blind to his own ineptitude; he’s not a great actor.”

Truslove is an established television, theatre and film actor. He starred in ABC’s Laid and Outland, and in Channel Seven’s The Strange Calls. Stef Smith contacted him through Facebook and he agreed to help out.

“Short films are fun to do, and short filmmakers tend to be the next generation of TV directors and filmmakers,” he says. “It’s important that we foster a healthy short film industry.”

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is ‘Inspiring Change’.

Tamara Popper says that this change is in encouraging female creatives to experiment with their medium.

She says, “WoW encourages filmmakers to change and explore their own filmmaking.” (FM)

Until Mar 14, WoW Film Festival, various venues, free-$35, wift.org

 

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day began in 1911, with rallies campaigning for women’s rights. It is celebrated on March 8th internationally, and is a public holiday in Russia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Uganda and many other countries. It is a day to celebrate the social, economic and political achievements of women while raising awareness of areas that need further action. These are just some of the events happening in Sydney.

 

Sydney International Women’s Day Breakfast

The official UN Women International Women’s Day event in Sydney, this breakfast features talks from prominent guest speakers about women and children in poverty.

The speakers include CEO of the Commonwealth Bank Australia, Ian Narev, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick from the Australian Crime Commission, the head of the UN Women Pacific Office Elzira Sagynbaeva, journalist and author Catherine Fox and director of Samoan organisation Women in Business Development, Adi Tafuna’i.

Mar 7, Australia Technology Park, $60-95

 

Speak Up to End Violence Against Women Art Auction and Cocktail Evening

A fundraiser for Women’s Legal Services NSW’s new campaign to help women escape violence. With feminist journalist and Destroy the Joint co-founder Jenna Price as MC, the event will exhibit works from prominent and upcoming Australian female artists.

Mar 5, Damien Minton Gallery, 583 Elizabeth St, Redfern, $32.15

 

International Women’s Day Conference

Organised by Young Professional Women Australia, this conference is designed to inspire confidence, resilience and clarity in the workforce for women.

Mar 7, Ivy Ballroom, 1/330 George St, Sydney, $199

 

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