Live from the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), Anna Smith is joined on stage by an international panel of inspiring industry figures. Prolific power-house Christine Vachon chats about how it feels to have produced over 100 films, and the job of using “disruption for opportunity”. She also has valuable advice for would-be producers. Friend of Girls On Film Dutch film critic Dana Linssen co-curated the Critics’ Choice selection at IFFR for the ninth year running. She joins Anna to speak about her love for this year’s female-directed films in the strand, Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun and Nafiss Nia’s That Afternoon (or Die middag). In That Afternoon, which received its world premiere this year at the festival, director Nafiss Nia takes us with refugee Roya, played by Hoda Niku, as her life intersects with Nassim, played by Alin Wishka, one afternoon. Nafiss Nia joins Anna and Dana on-stage to give insight into her film, and the importance in her filmmaking of language in her “father tongue” Dutch, as a poet and native Persian speaker. 
Anna is also joined by Superposition director Karoline Lyngbye and one of the film’s stars, Marie Bach Hansen, who plays Stine. Superposition follows writer Stine and her partner, podcaster Teit (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) as they retreat off-grid for a year with their son Nemo to save their relationship, until … well, that’s all we can say without spoilers! Karoline and Marie speak about their experience of working in Denmark in film, television and theatre and the discussions they had about gender while making the film.

2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam is taking place from the 25th January 2023 to the 5th February 2023. For all information go to: 
https://iffr.com/en 
Hear Vanja Kaludjercic, director of IFFR, talk more about the festival and programme on episode 137 of Girls On Film: https://pod.fo/e/15b92a 

Films mentioned in this episode include: 
The Woman King, Gina Prince-Bythewood, 2022
The Wonder, Sebastián Lelio, 2022
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Sophie Hyde, 2022
Aftersun, Charlotte Wells, 2022
That Afternoon (aka Die middag), Nafiss Nia, 2023
Past Lives, Celine Song, 2023
Zola, Janicza Bravo, 2020
Far From Heaven, Todd Haynes, 2022
The Notorious Bettie Page, Mary Harron, 2005
She Came to Me, Rebecca Miller, 2023 (Starring Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei, Peter Dinklage, Joanna Kulig, Brian d'Arcy James)
The Blair Witch Project, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, 1999
Superposition, Karoline Lyngbye, 2023
The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers, 2019

Television mentioned in this episode include: 
Dansegarderoben, 2023

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith. 
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio Producer: Emma Butt
Intern: Eleanor Hardy

House band: MX Tyrants

Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer.
This episode is in partnership with International Film Festival Rotterdam

Credit: Sony Pictures for Zola clip.

Ep 140: Christine Vachon, Dana Linssen and more, live from International Film Festival Rotterdam

Sara Dosa, the director and co-writer of documentary Fire of Love joins Anna Smith in London for a live Q&A following a screening of her film. The extraordinary documentary, from National Geographic Documentary Films, mines the extensive film and image archive of intrepid French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft. The fascinating couple died as explosively as they lived, whilst doing what they loved best: exploring their greatest passion, volcanoes, whilst simultaneously capturing the most spectacular volcano imagery ever recorded.

Fire of Love has been nominated for a 2023 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, a 2023 BAFTA for Best Documentary, and a Girls On Film Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film won many awards in 2022, including a Black Film Critics Circle Awards.

You can watch Fire of Love now on Disney+

Other films mentioned in this episode include: 
Me and You and Everyone We Know, Miranda July, 2005
The Seer and the Unseen, Sara Dosa, 2019

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Sound Recordist and Audio Producer: Cam Griffiths
Intern: Eleanor Hardy

House band: MX Tyrants

This episode is in partnership with National Geographic Documentary Films

Ep 142: Fire of Love’s Sara Dosa on her Oscar & BAFTA nominated documentary

This episode celebrates the achievements of two women who have had decades of experience in the industry, as well as one who is breaking new ground. BAFTA and Oscar-winning Costume designer Sandy Powell OBE, Prop Buyer Judy Ducker, and film critic and author Hanna Flint join Anna Smith to talk about their work in the film industry. 

First, Sandy Powell OBE, who has worked on films including The Favourite, The Irishman, Carol and most recently Living, talks about her career, and what it means to receive the BAFTA Fellowship award, which will be presented to her at the BAFTA Awards on 19 February 2023, airing on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm-9pm. She speaks about the pressure to make actresses look stereotypically ‘sexy’ and how she’s railed against this throughout her career.

Next, Anna welcomes Judy Ducker, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th British Film Designers Guild Production Design Award this Saturday 18 February 2023. Judy talks about her fascinating career working in the art department, giving a rare insight into production design, prop buying, and working with Emma Thompson and Colin Farrell.

Finally, film critic Hanna Flint joins Anna to talk about her new book, Strong Female Character, and why she decided to take an autobiographical approach to writing about film. Anna and Hanna also discuss whether the nomination for Florence Pugh for Don’t Worry Darling, which is up for an award in the Girls On Film Awards for Best Female Orgasm sponsored by Intimacy On Set, is contentious. A spoiler-filled debate ensues!

Sandy Powell's work here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694309/

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production. 
Host: Anna Smith. 
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Audio Producer: Cam Griff
Intern: Eleanor Hardy
House band: MX Tyrants
This episode is in partnership with Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer.

Ep 144: Sandy Powell on Costume Design, Judy Ducker on Prop Buying + author Hanna Flint

The Girls On Film Awards are back for a second year, and you are warmly invited to join the audience! This second in a three-part episode was recorded at The Garden Cinema in London on 23 February 2023, with an intimate audience of nominees, film critics and industry supporters. Hosts Anna Smith and Hedda Archbold reveal the winners of the following categories: 


Best Cinematographer - for which our media partner is British Cinematographer magazine
Best Ensemble Acting sponsored by Netflix 
The Girls On Film Ally Award sponsored by IMDb
Best Feature Film sponsored by EON Productions
 
We hear from stars including Sheila Atim (The Woman King) and presenters including Afi Okaidja (Rocks), Kerry Fox, Tricia Tuttle and Col Needham.

Other films mentioned in this episode, and where to watch them:

Aftersun - streaming on MUBI now
Ali & Ava  - Netflix and on demand
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Disney+ and on demand
Causeway  - Apple TV+
Corsage - streaming on MUBI and on demand
Elvis - digital on demand
Everything Everywhere All At Once - Prime Video and on demand
Gangubai Kathiawadi  - Netflix
Grandkids - coming soon
Mother and Son - currently unavailable
Nanny - Prime Video
Nezouh  - currently unavailable
Nope - on demand
The Power of the Dog - Netflix
The Quiet Girl - BFI Player and on demand
She Said - on demand
Till - on demand including Amazon, Sky Store and Apple TV
Triangle of Sadness - on demand
The Woman King - on demand
Women Talking - still in cinemas
The Wonder - Netflix 
 


Listen out for the next part of the awards ceremony coming soon!
Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here:
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Follow us on socials:
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production.
Host: Anna Smith.
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Audio Producer: Michelle Tofi
Intern: Eleanor Hardy
House band: MX Tyrants
This episode is in partnership with Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer.
With special thanks to The Garden Cinema for hosting the awards, to our category sponsors EON Productions, IMDb, Intimacy on Set, and Netflix, to our reception sponsor Head Gear Films, and to our media partners, British Cinematographer magazine, Deadline, Scala and Time Out.

Ep 146: Girls On Film Awards Ceremony 2023 (2 of 3)

Leadershipdesoi, Luv Is Rage, Marxistleninist, Modéré, Perù, Insprational,, If I Ruled The World Freestyle, Humu, Kulturzentrum, Llnm, Jayandsilentbobreboot,, Kinkysound, Klavijature, Jor'del Downz, Mopmop, Magic Garden, Olamide,, Inpirational Background, Kennis, Macbookpro, Jnmrg, Kojack, Indian Call Girls Rak, Joey Baby, Jambi, Iniciativapública, Kelemahan, Hunter Game, Indian Summer,  Jose Gonzales, Jac Dalton, Ksel, Last Track, Leroyakalbee, Indie-Pop,, Johnhopkins   , Inspirational,, Lady Leshur

Bajoelectrico studio background +FREE DOWNLOAD+

Bonjour from Cannes! This week Anna Smith gives us a taste of the French Riviera live from the Festival de Cannes, catching some friends of Girls On Film out and about at the festival. 

Anna is joined by fellow critics Wendy Mitchell and Karen Krizanovich who give you their hot tips for films coming out of this year's Cannes, from international indies to big blockbusters. They chat about Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s ground-breaking character in the newest instalment of Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. They also discuss the welcome increase in female-led films in the festival this year. Malaysian director Amanda Nell Eu’s Tiger Stripes is also delved into, alongside other international films from Turkey, Argentina, Belgium, Finland, Mongolia, Italy…

Anna also speaks with journalist and critic Valerie Complex, a year after her controversial Deadline article ‘Valerie Complex On Being Black At Cannes: How Microaggressions Marred My Festival Experience’. You can read the article here:
https://deadline.com/2022/06/black-at-cannes-deadline-critic-valerie-complex-microaggressions-marred-her-festival-experience-1235037273/ 

Finally, Anna caught up with See-Saw films’ Head of TV and Film for Australia, Liz Watts, for a chat about the business of Cannes, and how it informs the year ahead for the film industry. 

Films mentioned in this episode include: 
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, James Mangold, 2023
In Flames, Zarrar Kahn, 2023
The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed, Joanna Arnow, 2023
It’s Raining in the House, Paloma Sermon-Dai, 2022
If Only I Could Hibernate (Baavgai Bolohson), Zoljargal Purevdash, 2023
Tiger Stripes, Amanda Nell Eu, 2023
The Return or Homecoming (Le retour), Catherine Corsini, 2023
The Delinquents (Los delincuentes), Rodrigo Moreno, 2023
Nine Queens, Fabián Bielinsky, 2000
The Aura (El aura), Fabián Bielinsky, 2005
How to Have Sex, Molly Manning Walker, 2023
About Dry Grasses, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2023
The Old Oak, Ken Loach, 2023
La Chimera, Alice Rohrwacher, 2023
The Piano, Jane Campion, 1993
Titane, Julia Ducournau, 2021
Rosalie, Stéphanie Di Giusto, 2023
Fallen Leaves (Kuolleet Lehdet), Aki Kaurismäki, 2023
The Royal Hotel, Kitty Green, 2023
The New Boy, Warwick Thornton, 2023
Club Zero, Jessica Hausner, 2023

Television mentioned in this episode include:
Succession, 2018–2023

Also mentioned in this episode:
BFI partners with Diversity in Cannes to celebrate Black women filmmakers during the Cannes Film Festival: https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/bfi-diversity-cannes-black-women-filmmakers 
The Palm Dog Awards: https://www.palmdog.com/ 

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast  

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/  
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z 

Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio Producer: Benjamin Cook
Assistant Producer: Eleanor Hardy
Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer

House band: MX Tyrants

Thank you also to our Patreon Supporters and to Campari Lounge.

Ep 152: Live from Cannes! From the red carpet to the film market, behind the scenes at the festival

Today Anna Smith talks to Director Tina Satter about her gripping debut feature, Reality. The story was originally a play directed by Satter in 2019, Is This a Room, and in this episode Anna talks to the director about the progression to cinema, both of the story and of her as a director, and what compelled her to make this her debut. Reality is based on the incredible true story of a young woman called Reality Winner, played by Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus, Sharp Objects), who stirred up a media storm when she leaked a classified report about Russian interference in U.S. elections. The film uses transcripts of the real conversations Reality Winner had with government agents as its dialogue, creating a sense of both absolute honesty in the storytelling, as well as gripping tension.

Fellow film critic Linda Marric also joins Anna to give her insight into the film, and what makes it her “favourite film of 2023”. Anna and Linda discuss how Tina Satter's directorial choices inform the audience's experience of a true story on screen, and their thoughts on Sydney Sweeney’s central performance. 

Reality - In UK & Irish cinemas 2nd June

Other films mentioned in this episode include: 
The Arbor, Clio Barnard, 2010
The Assistant, Kitty Green, 2019

Television mentioned in this episode include::
Sharp Objects, Jean-Marc Vallée, 2018
Euphoria, 2019

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio Producer: Emma Butt
Assistant Producer: Eleanor Hardy

House band: MX Tyrants

This episode is in partnership with Vertigo Releasing.

Ep 153: Tina Satter on her debut Reality + Linda Marric on why it's her favourite film of 2023

Is the film industry still a man’s world, or are women now leading the way? How will AI affect films? These are just some of the questions addressed by a panel of four leading women working in film, who joined Anna Smith at this year’s Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival (EMIFF). They also talked about the creative and business side of the industry, and their work-life balance.


The 12th edition of EMIFF was produced with her usual flair and creativity by festival director Sandra Seeling, who invited Girls On Film back for another panel featuring four high profile panellists, to join Anna Smith on stage at the Sala Rivoli in Palma on 21 October 2023. 

In this recording of that event, listen to our guests talk about how they got started in the industry, the importance of mentorship, and how to lead well. 

Anna is joined, first off, by Nurhan Sekerci-Porst, Germany-based producer of films including In The Fade and Rheingold. From the USA, she welcomes Nicol Paone, the writer, director and producer whose film The Kill Room, which stars Uma Thurman and Samuel L Jackson, played at the festival. She is joined by her fiancé Nicole Weis, Head Of Theatrical Distribution at IFC Films. And finally she is joined by Rosie Fellner, actress, producer and owner of Rosebud Productions.

This international panel gave some riveting insight into working in the industry. The conversation takes some surprising turns and is inspiring and funny. 


Films mentioned in this episode: 
In The Fade, dir Fatih Akin, prod Nurhan Şekerci Porst
Rheingold, Fatih Akin, prod Nurhan Şekerci Porst
Friendsgiving, dir Nicol Paone
The Kill Room, dir Nicol Paone
Everything Everywhere All At Once, dir Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
The Disappearance of Shere Hite, dir Nicole Newnham
The Uninvited, Dir Nadia Conners 
F For Fake, dir Orson Welles
Ladybird, dir Greta 
Barbie, dir Greta Gerwig
Past Lives, dir Celine Song

TV series mentioned in this episode:
Funny Or Die

Plays mentioned in this episode:
Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Find out more about Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival here: https://www.evolutionfilmfestival.com/

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Audio Editing: Nic Wassell
Intern: Charlotte Matheson

This episode is in partnership with Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival.

Ep 158: Women And Leadership At Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival 2023

Today Anna Smith talks to Oscar-nominated director Maite Alberdi about her new documentary The Eternal Memory, which follows a Chilean couple as they navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease together. She then talks to Ella Glendining about her BIFA-nominated documentary, Is There Anybody Out There? which charts her search for individuals with the same rare disability as herself.

Journalist Augusto Góngora and actor Paulina Urrutia are the subject of The Eternal Memory, a touching testimony of the couple’s bond in the face of Augusto’s worsening dementia. ‘La Pauli,’ as Augosto referred to his partner, took care of him after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 62. Maite recalls how the couple had a unique approach to the disease where they saw ‘Alzeimher’s as a challenge, not a tragedy’. The film uses a mix of archive footage from Augusto’s broadcast days and new material as the couple go about their daily lives, noticing the sensory experience of the everyday and how it interacts with Augosto’s condition. The Eternal Memory offers a unique and refreshing perspective on dementia, ageing and coupledom. 

Next, Anna Smith talks to Ella Glendining about the making of and motivation behind her documentary Is There Anybody Out There?. The film is personal, one woman’s search to find someone else born with no hip joints and short femurs, but it is also deeply political, laying bare the ethics of  medical intervention, exploring the impacts of ableism and documenting disabled joy. Ella talks about the inspiration behind the film, the challenges and surprises she faced while making it, and she reveals the projects she is most looking forward to seeing next!

You can watch The Eternal Memory in select cinemas from the 10th November 2023. Visit www.theeternalmemory.film to find out more and book tickets

Is There Anybody Out There? is in cinemas and on demand 17th November 2023. Screenings and information at conic.film/anybody
 
Other films mentioned in this episode include: 
The Mole Agent, Maite Alberdi, 2020
Dick Johnson Is Dead, Kirsten Johnson 2020
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Original title: Savvusanna sõsarad), Anna Hints, 2023

Television mentioned in this episode include: 
We Might Regret This, Kyla Harris

Reviews mentioned in this episode: 
https://www.timeout.com/movies/smoke-sauna-sisterhood-2023 

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio editor: Emma Butt
Intern: Charlotte Matheson

House band: MX Tyrants

This episode is in partnership with Dogwoof and Conic Films.

© HLA Agency

Ep 161: Docs and disability with the directors of The Eternal Memory & Is There Anybody Out There?

In this episode of Girls On Film, Anna Smith talks to Director Paul Sng and Producer Jen Corcoran about their new feature documentary Tish, which tells the story of working-class photographer Patricia ‘Tish’ Murtha who worked to document life in Northeast England in the 1970s and 1980s. Anna then talks to Production Designer Sarah Greenwood and Set Decorator Katie Spencer, who worked together to create the distinctive world of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. 

Tish was the Opening Night Film of Sheffield Doc Fest 2023 and it is a celebration of a life devoted to exposing social inequality through art. The feature documentary is told from the perspective of Ella Murtha, both as daughter and custodian of the Tish Murtha archive. She retraces her mother’s relationship with the photographic medium, from finding her first camera in a local skip, to earning a reputation as the ‘demon snapper’ and beyond. Anna talks to Paul and Jen about the inspiration behind the project, the power of having working-class stories told from the inside, and asks about their favourite photographs in the Tish archive. 

Next on Girls On Film, Anna has a lively conversation with Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer, whose long time collaboration has resulted in multiple Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, and, most recently, the weird, wonderful and instantly recognisable world of Barbie. Sarah and Katie talk about working with Greta Gerwig in the early design stages of the project, following visual prompts like ‘think Gaudí in a blender’ when creating Weird Barbie’s house, and the film’s many and varied visual inspirations. 

Tish by Paul Sng is being released by Modern Films in UK and Irish cinemas on 17 November 2023. On demand information: Virtual cinema 22 Dec, TVOD 5 Feb (iTunes, Amazon, Google Play). 

Barbie is available on 4K, Blu-Ray™, DVD & Digital Download now

Other films mentioned in this episode include: 
Singin’ in the Rain, Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen, 1952
Grease, Randal Kleiser, 1978
Playtime, Jacques Tati, 1967
The Wizard of Oz, Victor Fleming, 1939
Psycho, Alfred Hitchock, 1960
Jaws, Steven Spielberg, 1975

Books mentioned; 
To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee, 1960

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 
www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod 
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio editor: Elliana Jay Hamer
Intern: Charlotte Matheson

House band: MX Tyrants

This episode is in partnership with Margaret London and Women in Film and TV (UK) with huge thanks to our principal partners Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith. 

With thanks to Sophia Hammond and Kate Riddell.

© HLA Agency

Ep 162: From the streets of Newcastle to the set of Barbie Land: the craft behind Tish & Barbie

Today on Girls On Film Anna Smith has a fascinating discussion about Todd Haynes’ May December with its screenwriter, Samy Burch. Samy talks to Anna about the journey she went on with this screenplay from writing it as a spec script to hopefully gain representation, to it catching the attention of one of the film’s stars Natalie Portman as a producer, and so meeting the legendary director Todd Haynes (Carol, Far from Heaven). Samy talks about the real-life story that inspired the screenplay, the layers of ‘power and manipulation’ in both Moore and Portman’s performances, and the role that gender plays in media coverage of these kinds of stories. 

May December tells the story of Gracie, played by Julianne Moore, and Joe, played by Riverdale’s Charles Melton, as they live family life in the shadow of their infamous first encounter: the couple’s 20-year relationship began when Gracie was 36 and Joe was just 13-years-old. Now, two decades later, Natalie Portman plays actress Elizabeth who travels to Georgia to study the couple for a role in an upcoming film. Gracie and Joe are forced to revisit their past from new perspectives, as they question the love story they've told themselves and the world. 

You can watch May December now in cinemas in the UK, and on Sky Cinema on the 8 December 2023.

Other films mentioned in this episode include: 
Persona, Ingmar Bergman, 1966
3 Women, Robert Altman, 1977
Coyote vs. Acme, Dave Green

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio editor: Nic Wassell
Intern: Charlotte Matheson

House band: MX Tyrants

This episode is in partnership with Sky Cinema.

With thanks to AmyLouise Godby.

© HLA Agency

Ep 163: May December’s Samy Burch on screenwriting & working with Natalie Portman & Julianne Moore

This week, Anna Smith welcomes Nicole Newnham back to Girls On Film to discuss her documentary The Disappearance of Shere Hite. The film sheds light on the groundbreaking sexologist and former Playboy model Shere Hite, who in 1976 published The Hite Report, dubbed ‘a sexual revolution in 600 pages’. Taking the intimate experiences of thousands of women across the world as its basis, Hite and a small team of grassroots feminists exposed some of the harmful ideas around female sexuality that were prevalent at the time.

In this episode, Nicole describes how she first got involved in the project, about the contemporary relevance of Shere Hite, and how Dakota Johnson became the voice of Shere Hite. With Anna, Nicole discusses some of the tragedy as well as triumph in the story of Shere Hite and the desire to explore what she calls the ‘the architecture of silence’ that attempted to remove Hite from the history books.

Other films mentioned in this episode:
Crip Camp, Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht, 2020

You can watch The Disappearance of Shere Hite from the 12th January in UK cinemas.

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 
www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod 
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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production. 

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Charlotte Matheson
Audio editor: Alex Jones
House band: MX Tyrants

This episode is in partnership with Dogwoof and NBC Universal 

© HLA Agency

Ep 166: Director Nicole Newnham talks about sexologist Shere Hite & her doc featuring Dakota Johnson

Ep 176: Cannes Film Festival 2024, we review Bird, Megalopolis, The Girl With the Needle, and more

This episode of Girls On Film comes from Cannes, where Anna Smith speaks to Jane Crowther and Wendy Mitchell about their Film Festival highlights. Anna hosts the very first Girls On Film party at The Members Club, and speaks to some of the guests about their work at the festival and which films they’ve enjoyed.
 
First up, Anna takes us through the soundscape of Cannes and walks the red carpet for Emilia Perez. Anna joins the Women in Film and TV yacht party, to hear CEO Katie Bailiff’s speech, before heading to MUBI’s beach party. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.
Then Anna invites film journalists Jane Crowther and Wendy Mitchell to discuss the films they’ve seen in Cannes so far, which include Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Megalopolis, The Girl With the Needle and On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, as well as Andrea Arnold’s Bird, Wild Diamond, and feminist comedy horror The Balconettes. 
Jane talks about her new role as editor-in-chief of Hollywood Authentic, a new luxury, glossy magazine, and Wendy discusses her portfolio of projects including the upcoming Sundance London, and San Sebastian Film Festivals.
Wendy and Anna are both on the Palm Dog judging panel for Best Canine on screen, so naturally the conversation turns to the various dogs in films at Cannes. They also discuss the impact of #MeToo and Time’s Up, and recent changes at the Cannes Film Festival, including the arrival of signs stating that harassment won’t be tolerated.
Finally, we join Anna at The Members Club for Girls On Film’s own Cannes party. We hear from a few of the guests, who include Akua Gyamfi of The British Blacklist and Dame Heather Rabbats of Time’s Up, who talk about the launch of their new initiative around appropriate hair and makeup for diverse requirements on set. Anna also speaks to Nicole Weis of IFC Films, producer and comedienne Ronni Ancona, director Rachel Ramsay, and The Girl With the Needle co-writer Line Langebek Knudsen, and our wonderful supporter, IMDb founder Col Needham. 




With special thanks to our sponsors for the party, Rebecca Hawkes at Elstree Studios, HLA Agency, Col Needham at IMDb, and JoJo Dye at JJD Consulting.

And with gratitude to our lovely partners for this episode, Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer, for their continuing support of the podcast. 


Films mentioned in this episode: 

Anatomy of a Fall
The Balconettes 
Bird, Andrea Arnold
Black Dog
Emilia Perez
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga 
The Girl With the Needle
Megalopolis 
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Saltburn
Santosh
The Second Act
The Surfer
When the Light Breaks
Wild Diamond



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www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production.

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Producer: Charlotte Matheson
Intern: Jade Evans
Audio editor: Nic Wassell
House band: MX Tyrants

© HLA Agency

Ep 176: Cannes Film Festival 2024, we review Bird, Megalopolis, The Girl With the Needle, and more

In this episode, Anna Smith speaks to the creators behind Prime Video’s new series, My Lady Jane, including creator/writer Gemma Burgess and writer Meredith Glynn, as well as the executive producer of My Lady Jane, the legendary Laurie MacDonald.

Anna begins by speaking to Gemma Burgess and Meredith Glynn about the creation of the series, including the inspiration they found in their shared love of films from the 80s and 90s, and how keen they were to bring the playful tone of those films into the series. They discuss their exciting revisionist approach to history and the importance of the representation of women both behind and in front of the camera.

Next, Anna speaks to Laurie MacDonald, who was the co-head of Amblin Entertainment and the co-president of DreamWorks, and together with her husband has produced the Men in Black series, Gladiator, Minority Report, and The Trial of Chicago 7, as well as American Beauty and Free Solo. They talk about what first attracted her to adapt the book, about the depiction of women through a female gaze, and the way that the production celebrates diversity. She speaks more broadly about how things have changed for women in both the industry and gender dynamics and offers advice to listeners who are looking to work in the film industry.

Thank you to our partners for this episode, Prime Video.

My Lady Jane will be available on Prime Video on 27 June 2024.

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Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Other films and television series mentioned: 
The Boys (Eric Kripke)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Joss Whedon)
Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson, Ben Elton, Richard Curtis)
The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner)
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (Kevin Reynolds)
Ladyhawke (Richard Donner)
A Knight’s Tale (Brian Helgeland)
Shakespeare in Love (John Madden)
Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrmann)
Lady Jane (Trevor Nunn)
Bridgerton (Chris Van Dusen)
Still Star-Crossed (Heather Mitchell)
Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis)
Clueless (Amy Heckerling)
Crocodile Dundee (Peter Faiman)
Broken Arrow (John Woo)
Young Guns II (Geoff Murphy)
Twilight (Catherine Hardwicke)
My So-Called Life (Winnie Holzman)
Men in Black series (Barry Sonnenfeld)
Gladiator (Ridley Scott)
Minority Report (Steven Spielberg)
Trial of the Chicago Seven (Aaron Sorkin)
American Beauty (Sam Mendes)
Free Solo (Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi)

Girls On Film is an HLA production.

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Intern: Jade Evans
Audio editor: Emma Butt
House band: MX Tyrants

© HLA Agency

Ep 178: My Lady Jane: retelling history from a female perspective, with the women running the show

Zoë Kravitz joins Anna Smith to discuss her directorial debut, Blink Twice, while Anna also reports from the 2024 Edinburgh International Film Festival, where she speaks with Daisy-May Hudson about her feature debut, Lollipop. 

First up, Anna welcomes actor turned writer, director and producer Zoë Kravitz, best known for her roles in ‘The Batman’ and in TV series ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘High Fidelity’, onto the podcast. With Anna, Zoë discusses the feminist messaging in her slick thriller ‘Blink Twice’. She talks about casting the wonderful Naomi Ackie as Frida, a cocktail waitress who catches the eye of tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) and is transported to his private island for sundrenched luxury, or so she thinks… 

Zoë also tells Anna about the writing process behind ‘Blink Twice’, originally titled ‘Pussy Island’, reveals her relief at turning up to set as the director without having to worry about what she looks like, and describes her approach to capturing women on camera to produce a disturbing and believable depiction of gender and power among the megarich. 

Next up, Anna reports from Edinburgh International Film Festival, where Girls On Film partners on the festival’s Closing Night sçreening of the powerful feminist music documentary, ‘Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands’.

Anna catches up with first-time feature director Daisy-May Hudson whose film ‘Lollipop’ is a heartbreaking but hopeful depiction of a mother (Posy Sterling) who battles to regain custody of her children after coming out of prison. Daisy-May speaks about the fierce maternal love of her protagonist Molly, what happens when children are required to parent, as well as the challenges faced by a first time director. Plus: karaoke as a symbol of working class joy!

Anna also hears from Karen Needham and Col Needham from the IMDb, plus director of the BFI’s filmmaking fund Mia Bays and costume designer Rachael Fleming about their highlights from the EIFF 2024. 

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of Girls On Film as we move into autumn and host Anna Smith heads to Sea Change Film Festival 2024. 

Find out about their festival, dedicated to women in film at https://screenargyll.co.uk/sea-change-2024/ 

Films mentioned in this episode: 

Timestalker - Alice Lowe
Xibalba Monster - Manuela Irene 
Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands - Blair Young, Carla J Easton
Blink Twice - Zoë Kravitz
Rosemary’s Baby - Roman Polanski 
To Kill A Wolf - Kesley Taylor 
Sunlight - Nina Conti
Lollipop - Daisy-May Hudson

Blink Twice was released in the UK by Warner Bros. Pictures on 23rd August, 2024

Lollipop had is world premiere at the 77th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival (on August 20th)

Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands will hit UK cinemas from 18th October and Glasgow girl band Sophisticated Boom Boom will reform for one night only at a special screening of the film in Glasgow on the night of the release.

For more information visit sinceyesterdayfilm.com

Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 
http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up.

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: 
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 

Follow us on socials: 

www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ 
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast 
www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod 
www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno

Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production.

Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Producer: Charlotte Matheson
Intern: Jade Evans
Audio editor: Benjamin Cook
House band: MX Tyrants

© HLA Agency

Ep 181: Zoë Kravitz on Blink Twice + Lollipop and more at the Edinburgh International Film Festival

Girls On Film is a film review podcast from a female perspective, hosted by film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and produced by co-founder Hedda Archbold at HLA Agency

New tracks tagged #FeministFilm