Women's Film Festival Announces 20th Anniversary Lineup

With More Eclectic, Exciting Films than Ever Before

The Women’s Film Festival  (WFF) of Brattleboro, Vermont, the longest-running women’sfilm festival in New England and one of the oldest in the world devoted tofilms by and about women, announced its special 20th Anniversary  lineup, March 11 to 20, 2011, ofentertaining and illuminating films that raise awareness of the struggles,accomplishments and creativity of women around the corner and around the globe.A full list of film and blurbs and downloadable images can be found at the WFFwebsite at www.womensfilmfestival.org. 

This anniversary year the festival is bigger than ever withmore films, special events and collaborations with local institutions.  Over 10 days in March (Women’s HistoryMonth) 39 films will be screened at the historic Art Deco Latchis Theater andthe modern New England Youth Theatre in Downtown Brattleboro, a cultural magnettown voted one of the top 25 small cities for art in America by American Stylemagazine.

The festival opens on Friday, March 11 with “Women WithoutMen” a surreal and exquisite drama from Iranian-American filmmaker and artist ShirinNeshat and closes on Sunday, March 20th with the world premiere of Allan Holzman’s“My Marilyn,” a controversial exploration of Marilyn Monroe’s life.

An opening gala will be held during Brattleboro’s monthlyGallery Walk on Friday, March 4 where women’s digital art and a preview ofupcoming films will be spotlighted at the Latchis Theater’s Gallery Four. 

On Saturday, March 26, the festival will officially close atthe New England Youth Theatre with a special public “Listening Forum”cosponsored by the Vermont Commission on Women with elected officials and otherspecial guests at 3:00 pm followed by a reception and showing of the festival’s‘Best in Fest’ award winner for 2011 at 6:45 pm.

First-time screenings include: “Bhutto,” which will include apost-film discussion (Sunday March 13, 4:00 pm) with Vermont State Senator anddiplomat Peter Galbraith, a close friend of the slain Pakistani leader; “PosterGirl,” a 2011 Academy Award nominee for best short documentary about a highschool cheerleader turned gunner in Iraq; as well as films that deal withfamily issues, the environment, food, aging, art and many other topics.  Several films will be accompanied by Q&Aswith directors and experts following the screenings; details are on the website. 

To celebrate its 20th year and in response to populardemand, the 2011 WFF will also devote some screenings to the best films offestivals past, such as the acclaimed musical-drama “Joanna D’Arc of Mongolia”(featured on the festival poster), audience favorites “I, Doll, The Story ofBarbie,” “Heart of the Sea” and Agnes Varda’s acclaimed “The Gleaners and I.”

This year the festival is also stepping-up efforts to reachout to new audiences.  A new highschool video contest around the theme “Woman” will offer cash prizes to winnersof the best two minute videos and offer screenings at this year’s festival.

The festival is unique in that it is fully volunteer run and100% of proceeds benefit the Women’s Freedom Center (formerly Women’s CrisisCenter), a non-profit organization that helps women and children from southernVermont and surrounding areas protect themselves against domestic violencewhile educating the community about everyone’s role in stopping the cycle ofviolence all around us.

WFF chooses films over the winter through a committee processthat offers a final roster of cream-of-the-crop features and cutting-edge documentariesfrom festivals around the world; and a call-for-entries that yields surprisinggems. Over the years the festival has had area premiers for much-lauded filmssuch as "Born Into Brothels" and "Bend It Like Beckham";numerous films screened at the festival have gone on to receive Academy Award nominations.

In 2010 the WFF received a prestigious grant from theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to provide free access to membersof youth, elder and multi-cultural organizations, bringing greater diversity tofestival audiences.

Brattleboro itself is reason enough to come and celebrate WFF’s20th year. Nestled in the Green Mountains in the south-east corner of the stateonly two hours from Boston and three hours from New York City, this creativehub features its own art museum, fine restaurants, unique boutiques, five independentbookstores, and many other arts venues. One may enjoy the charm of the town whiletaking in top-notch film fare that may never make it to the local multiplex. Themanageable size of the festival makes it a stress-free experience that offers aroster of women’s films unsurpassed by larger festivals in big cities. .  Special festival packages with the Latchisand other hotels make it easy and affordable for visitors to attend (details onwebsite).

The festival should come with a warning: whether you are aman or woman -- you will not leave unmoved!  Tickets can be purchased ahead of time.  Full details, the film line-up and acontinually updated calendar of events related to the WFF can be found at theWomen’s Film Festival website at www.womensfilmfestival.org.