Ep 225: Sally Phillips, Ebada Hassan & Jeanie Finlay talk docs, women and activism at Latitude 2026

Girls On Film returns to Latitude for a fourth year, celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary with a fabulous panel of women from film and TV, chaired by host Anna Smith. First up, Anna welcomes actor, comedian, producer and director Sally Phillips, who talks about recent television and film roles (VIRGINIA WOOLF’S NIGHT & DAY, THE HAIRDRESSER MYSTERIES) as well as a current project working with people with learning difficulties. Next Anna is joined by Girls On Film award-winner, Ebada Hassan, star of BRIDES and PROPER LADIES who talks about claiming space for women of colour and Muslim creative talent. Finally, documentary filmmaker Jeanie Finlay joins the panel to talk about her work, including latest feature ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA, a wryly humorous account of the plight of Teesside fishers who forge a pathway through grief and loss to finding power in community. All three guests discuss the last 20 years in comedy, drama and documentary, reflecting on the progress made by women in the industry, in particular the legacy of industry trailblazer Jess Search, co-founder of Doc Society, Good Pitch and Shooting People. Sally also opens up about her challenging experience making the BBC documentary A WORLD WITHOUT DOWN'S SYNDROME?. This episode was recorded at The Listening Post at Latitude Festival on Saturday 25th July 2026. Special thanks to Latitude for having us, and to our principal sponsors Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith. VIRGINIA WOOLF’S NIGHT & DAY is currently screening at select UK cinemas. You can watch THE HAIRDRESSER MYSTERIES on BBC iPlayer. PROPER LADIES is available on BBC iPlayer. BRIDES is available on BFI Player and Amazon Prime Video. ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA will screen in cinemas nationwide from October 23rd 2026. More information about the film here: https://www.glimmerama.com/allriversspill Other films and television series mentioned in this episode: BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY (2025) AUSTIN (2024) GREEN WING (2004-7) FRENCH & SAUNDERS (2005) SMACK THE PONY (1999-2003) I’M ALAN PARTRIDGE (1997-2002) OBSESSION (2026) BACKROOMS (2026) CHEWING GUM (2015-17) YOUR FAT FRIEND (2023) SEAHORSE (2019) THE GREAT HIP HOP HOAX (2013) SOUND IT OUT (2011) A WORLD WITHOUT DOWN’S SYNDROME? (2016) AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (2006) WHILE WE WATCHED (2022) VIRUNGA (2014) GRAND THEFT HAMLET (2024) You can also listen to Sally Phillips in ep 100, ep 148 and most recently ep 216 at the Girls On Film Awards. You can hear from Jeanie Finlay in ep 184 and her film SEAHORSE is reviewed in ep 20. You can hear more about BRIDES in ep 202. Photo credits: Sally Phillips by Pip Jeanie Phillips by Jo Irvine #girlsonfilmpodcast #annasmith #womeninfilm #latitudefestival #sallysmack #ebadahassan #jeaniefinlay #hairdressermysteries #NightAndDayFilm #VirginiaWoolfsNightandDay #smackthepony #bridesfilm #allriversspilltheirstoriestothesea #thedocsociety #goodpitch #shootingpeople 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 Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA Agency production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producers: Nicki Glossop and Charlotte Matheson Audio Editor: Heather Dempsey Social Media Producers: Dr Jade Evans and Ruby Rose Bradshaw Intern: Lucy Johnson Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer © HLA Agency