The Power of Film, And Women! A Discussion Among Filmmakers From Five Continents

A dynamic and stimulating workshop sponsored by the International Women's Association in Radio and Television took place during the March 2023, 67th UN Committee on the Status of Women. The recording of “Visual Visionaries: Power of Film and Feminism, Teaching and Technology” is finally online. ( https://youtu.be/NY0bduxK6ig )

Upper left to right: Moderator, Aradhana Kohli; Ariel Dougherty; Aseye Tamakloe; Middle row: Paromita Vohra; Susana Díaz Berríos;

& Translator, Ana Valdés; Bottom row: Sheila Dallas-Katzman.

The session brought together feminist filmmakers from across the globe to report on cinematic progress for women and outline areas of deficiency that still remain. The widely different presentations were so complimentary in providing short histories about women filmmakers in their countries and underscoring the central universal problem--the lack of access to funds. Chilean filmmaker Susana Díaz Berríos explained her struggle in terms of DIY (Do It Yourself) as:

“super far from my classmates and even more from the audiovisual production systems.”

Slide from the presentation of Susana Díaz Berríos

Two of the women, Paromita Vohra from India and Ariel Dougherty from the USA – both who have worked in community teaching settings with girls and women – showed short films ( GROWN UP GIRLS REIMAGINE WORK https://agentsofishq.com/post/watch-these-grownupgirls-re-define-adulthood and SHY GIRL- https://vimeo.com/212807167 ). Each rich with animation, highly imaginative and fantastical, brought the hopes and dreams of girls into the mix of the discussion. The works heightened the central point of the session, that the visual nature of film has a powerful impact. Dougherty explained:

" if women and girls cinematic stories are not part of our daily viewing – then it is like we do not exist. We can not make progress.”

Slide from presentation of Paromita Vohra

Slide in the presentation by Ariel Dougherty

The formation of collectives, feminist support and teaching environments, distribution channels, and film festivals were all central components brought up by the five presenters. The Ghana based film festival NDIVA was founded by Aseye Tamakloe, a filmmaker and session presenter from Africa. She directed the acclaimed documentary WHEN WOMEN SPEAK https://whenwomenspeakfilm.com/, about the prominent roles women had in the formation of Ghana. Her work exemplifies how women filmmakers wear many hats to present and preserve film works by, for and about women.

Slide in the presentation by Aseye Tamakloe

Edel Brosnan, from Ireland, was then the director of strategy for the European Women's Audiovisual Network. ( https://www.ewawomen.com/ ) Much of her work has centered on working with women to achieve funding, bringing full circle the discussion. All of these series of networks are necessary for women to make their feminist films that reflect feminist visions of the world and how we build and strengthen community and enlarge viewership.

The session was moderated by Aradhana Kohli, a Managing Trustee of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT). Short comments by Dr. Michelle Ferrier, President of IWART ( https://iawrt.org/ ) and Sheila Dallas-Katzman, President, USA Chapter (https://iawrtusa.org/ ) introduced the program.