Editor

A Rise of Women Filmmakers Hits the Theaters of Park City

This year a record number of women filmmakers are making their mark in this prestigious American Festival. With many first time women feature filmmakers as well as student short females, Sundance has leveled the fields of equality to all that are accepted. Sundance Film Festival now it’s 23rd year in the past has not had such a balance of ratio’s, of course there are just more men making films than women too.

Hopefully the trend will enable more women to be encouraged to tap into their dreams and become filmmakers. The support is certainly out there with groups such as Power Up. Power Up is an organization based in Los Angeles whose mission is to support and sponsor various women filmmakers. Their influence is well represented at Sundance this year at the Queer Lounge. So far it’s been called the place to be for emerging filmmakers both lesbian and straight.

Some of the women filmmakers who’s films have been getting the buzz are Jessica Shazer with SPEAK. Jessica went to NYU where she made her mark with a half a dozen shorts one of them was the award-winning WORMHOLE. With the recognition receive from that she was able to move into feature films. SPEAK is her first feature and now a début at Sundance. Shazer co- wore this along with the original write of the book Annie Young Frisbie. SPEAK tells a story of a young girl who is ridiculed for speaking up on a sophomoric incident, this causes her to not speak until a timely incident changes her perception.

The documentary that is catching many peoples ear is IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL directed by Jessica Yu. Jessica delved into the story of the artist Henry Darger who lived a reclusive life and died alone in a Catholic mission in 1973. For 60 years he wrote and painted the existence of an imaginary plant. By chance Yu was able to visit his room still left intact after his passing and shares an incredible story about an artist life lost and now found. Yu has had much success in the past as a filmmaker and her contribution to filmmaking is sure leave a positive mark for the other women filmmakers.

Other women made films to screen are:D.E.B.S. Angela Robinson, DOWN TO THE BONE, Debra Granik, EVERGREEN, Enid Zentelis, EASY, Jane Weinstock, IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL, Jessica Yu, KOUNANDI, Apolline Traore, GARDEN, Ruthie Shatz. The short films had a positive representation form women as well with THE DOC, Nina Martinek, THE PACT, Heidi Maria Faisst, EXIT 8A, Margaret Harris, and a big hit with lots of buzz is FOO FOO DUST by Gina Levy.

This year with so many of the best films being directed by women the possibilities for next year and more women on the rise is a reality. The Sundance Film Festival is the premiere showcase for American and international independent film. Highlighted by the Independent Feature Film Competition, which screens films in both Dramatic and Documentary categories, the annual Film Festival screens more than 120 feature-length films and 70 short films.

Keiko Beatie