April is shaping up to be an absolute cracker for Sydney peeps. The For Film’s Sake Festival (formerly WOW) runs from April 26 – 30 and the program has just been announced.
“This is a Festival unlike any other. Through partnerships with community organisations and corporate partners, FFS is shifting the film experience from beyond the cinema screen and the lounge room. We have married the best of film to experiences that challenge audiences to engage with female generated content in new ways, and to understand the need for equality as an audience generated concept. I want audiences to come to FFS and watch, dance, listen, fight and believe that we can all do our part to achieving true diversity in screen.” FFS Festival Director, Sophie Mathisen commented.
Mathisen pointed out that some of the highlights of FFS include a keynote speech from Anna Serner, the CEO of the Swedish Film Institute and arguably the rock star of gender equality in film. Anna has made Sweden the first country to achieve 50/50 production funding between male and female directors. A Screening at the Australian Museum, of Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model is a ‘pop-umentary’ about one family’s quest to take on the tween media machine. Matisen also said on the festival’s closing night FFS in partnership with Corporate Fighter will host the first all-female Fight Night alongside a screening of ground breaking documentary Burqa Boxers, recently screened at Mumbai International Film Festival, and Girl Fight, the breakthrough debut from Karyn Kusama featuring the first leading role from Michele Rodriguez.