I Saw These People Today

Storytelling for change

The Athena Film Festival is a wonderful film festival which showcases movies made by women, and is part of Barnard College in upper Manhattan. I have attended for many years, originally as a film lover and feminist, and for a number of years, I would live draw the events for the festival to help raise awareness. Now, I go primarily as a filmmaker myself, and I went with my Women Laughing documentary team today. We attended what they call a “pitch session” where the creative teams of five films took a half hour to pitch their idea to the room. Many in the room were people who fund films, so it was a way for the filmmakers to try to get financial support for their projects. The drawing above it of some of the people in the room. The pitches we heard ranged from films about immigration, sexual assault and abortion clinic escorts. Powerful ideas and compelling stories—I hope they find the funding to get their movies made. It’s a tough time for documentaries, and sadly, who even knows under the Trump administration if the outlets that often broadcast these kinds of films (PBS, for example) will be in existance in the near future. Scary thought.

If you live in or near the city, I encourage you to come to the Athena Film Festival. I love being around passionate people who want change! Tomorrow and Sunday they are showing some great movies; I plan to see as many as I can. This evening, I saw a powerful one called Black Box Diaries. Here is the trailer:

But it’s late! I need to hit the hay. Thanks for being here, I will see you tomorrow.