Ep 182: Romcoms & feminism, from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes to Rye Lane + highlights of Venice 2024

In this special episode from the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, Anna Smith hosts a panel discussion on women in leadership within the film industry. In the third iteration of this panel, Anna is joined by three international industry leaders: Kirsty Bell, CEO of the Oscar-winning production company Goldfinch, international film publicity strategist Mia Farrell and Oscar-nominated producer Rebecca Pruzan. Together, they explore the pathways to landing leadership roles, the skills needed to thrive once there, and the shifting dynamics of gender and race in the film industry. Kirsty Bell shares her experiences starting Goldfinch as a family business and reflects on directing A Bird Flew In—the first film shot during the pandemic, which pioneered COVID protocols on set. She also highlights the importance of supportive men in her life, and how they’ve played a role in her career. Mia Farrell offers insights from her career as a publicist, discussing her passion for elevating films through strategic PR, as well as her advocacy for greater diversity in the industry. She tells the audience about the genesis of her impactful Screen Daily article, "Why are so few Black people in positions of power in the arthouse film PR sector?'”. Mia also shares her experiences working on The Dads, a heartfelt documentary on fatherhood and trans youth, directed by Luschina Fisher, and available on Netflix. Rebecca Pruzan discusses her transition from a career in IT and consultancy to becoming an Oscar-nominated producer. She reflects on the identity politics at play in producing her short film IVALU, highlighting the challenges of navigating cultural sensitivities in storytelling and discussing the reaction to the film on its festival journey. This episode is in partnership with Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival. You can find out more about the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival here: https://www.evolutionfilmfestival.com/tickets A reminder that you can read a transcript of our episodes on Apple Podcasts by clicking the ‘transcript’ option in settings in the episode description. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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.x.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.x/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: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

In this festival special, Anna Smith island hops across some of the most unique film festivals of the season, taking listeners from Sea Change festival in Scotland’s Tiree to the London Film Festival before ending in Mallorca to hear about the upcoming Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival 2024. First, Anna reports from this year’s Sea Change Film Festival in the Inner Hebrides. She speaks with filmmaker Jeanie Finlay (Your Fat Friend, Seahorse) and festival-goers like Reclaim The Frame’s Melanie Iredale about their time at Scotland’s only annual festival dedicated to powering women in film. Next, she heads to the BFI London Film Festival to meet actor Deba Hekmat and writer Helen Simmons, whose film Last Swim has its premiere at this year’s festival. This coming of age drama tells the story of Ziba, a young woman who celebrates her A-Level results with friends while grappling with a personal secret. With Anna, Deba discusses the authenticity of the film’s dialogue, how it captured Gen Z sensibilities almost perfectly, and how she resonated with the character of Ziba. Helen reflects on working with a translator to capture an authentic Farsi that is spoken by Ziba and her mother in Last Swim, as well as speaking about the lack of representation of driven and intelligent young women in film. Anna also catches up with some friends of the podcast when she is out and about at LFF. Finally, it’s off to Spain for a preview of the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival. Anna sits down with festival director Sandra Lipski to discuss some of her feminist festival highlights. Sandra gives us an insight into the 2024 lineup, including the festival’s plan to welcome five time Academy Award-nominee Annette Bening to Mallorca's sunny shores. Films Mentioned: Last Swim (2024) Black Box Diaries (2024) Anora (2024) Conclave (2024) All We Imagine As Light (2024) Twiggy (2024) The Extraordinary Miss Flower (2024) Las chicas de la estación (2024) The Grifters (1990) The Outrun (2024) Endurance (2024) Emilia Perez (2024) Your Fat Friend (2023) Widow Clicquot (2024) Hoard (2024) Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer Our partners for this episode: Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival You can buy tickets for Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival from the 17th October 2024 via this link: https://www.evolutionfilmfestival.com/tickets Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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.x.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.x/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: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

Anna Smith speaks to Lily Ahree Siegel, director of Equal Play, a new short documentary that discusses the importance of equal access to school sports for disabled children. Anna is also joined by Lindsey Dryden, director, writer, producer, executive producer, as well as co-founder of FWD-DOC, and Clare Baines, the BFI’s Inclusion Partner, to talk about equal access within the film industry and the bigger issues touched on in Equal Play. First, Clare discusses her personal connection to the documentary, revealing to Anna how losing her eyesight at 15 affected her ability to participate in school sports. Clare also advocates the importance of educating kids about their bodies. As a disabled woman in the film industry, Lindsey highlights the inaccessibility of disabled people entering the world of entertainment. She questions the disparity between disabled stories in documentaries vs narratives and encourages more joyous cinematic portrayals of the disabled experience. Lindsey and Clare share their favourite film depictions that capture the disabled experience. They also call for a disability revolution including more on-screen celebrations about disabilities. Next up, Lily Ahree Siegel discusses her background within the arts and what inspired her to become a documentary filmmaker. Lily highlights access to PE and sports as an issue affecting kids worldwide, discusses the importance of inclusion passports, and shares her favourite moment on set. Equal Play is available to watch on Channel 4 - https://www.channel4.com/programmes/equal-play A reminder that you can read a transcript of our episodes on Apple Podcasts by clicking the ‘transcript’ option in settings in the episode description. This episode is brought to you by Harder Than You Think. Films/TV Shows/Books mentioned: The Gleaners and I (Agnes Varda) We Might Regret This (created by Kyla Harris) - available on BBC The Callers (Lindsey Dryden) Lost In Sound (Lindsey Dryden) Coda (Sian Heder) Trans In America (produced by Lindsey Dryden and Shaleece Haas) Unrest (Jennifer Brea) Patrice: The Movie (Ted Passon) - available on Hulu and showing at LFF 2024 Crip Camp (James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham) - available on Netflix I Didn’t See You There (Reid Davenport) - available to rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Google Play Is Anybody Out There (Ella Bee Glendining) - available on ITVX and Netflix The Tube Thieves (Alison O’Daniel) - available on PBS Feminist, Queer, Crip by Alison Kafer Websites mentioned: TV Access - https://www.channel4.com/4producers/creative-equity/tv-access-project Sins Invalid - https://www.sinsinvalid.org/blog/10-principles-of-disability-justice FWD-DOC - https://www.fwd-doc.org/ TripleC - https://triplec.org.uk/ DANC - https://triplec.org.uk/danc/ Deaf and Disabled People in TV - https://www.ddptv.org/ Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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 Assistant Producer: Jade Evans Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Benjamin Cook band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

In this episode, Anna Smith welcomes film critic Corrina Antrobus back to Girls On Film to discuss her brand new book, I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist: A Manifesto in 100 Romcoms. Anna is also joined by film critic Jo-Ann Titmarsh who shares her highlights direct from the Venice International Film Festival. First up, Corrina begins by discussing two Girls On Film romcom favourites - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and She’s Gotta Have It, which both feature in our pod’s intro jingle. She highlights the romcoms that have often been overlooked in the genre, as well as the underlying feminism of the popular, mainstream romcoms which are often dismissed as anti-feminist. Corrina also notes the importance of diverse representation and some of the challenges of finding examples of trans romances in the romcom genre, but that by pushing for change, she has hope that things will change. **Note that there are mild spoilers for classic romcoms in this segment.** Next up, Jo-Ann shares the exciting buzz of this year’s Venice International Film Festival and discusses her festival favourites. She notes how this year’s fest consists of all-out glamour and fabulous women rocking the red carpet and discusses her film highlights, including her top performances by women including Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton and Angelina Jolie. She notes the films to look out for, and ends by discussing the long-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice. You can buy Corrina Antrobus’s book I Love Romcoms and I am a Feminist: A Manifesto in 100 Romcoms at most book retailers including Waterstones, Blackwells, WH Smith and Amazon. Films mentioned in this episode: Wolfs (Jon Watts) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Howard Hawks) - Rent on Google Play, Apple TV, Prime Video She’s Gotta Have It (Spike Lee) - Netflix Rye Lane (Raine Allen Miller) - DisneyPlus Palm Springs (Max Barbakow) - Prime Video While You Were Sleeping (Jon Turteltaub) - DisneyPlus Pretty Woman (Garry Marshall) - DisneyPlus Magic Mike XXL (Gregory Jacobs) - Prime Video, Apple TV Kissing Jessica Stein (Charles Herman-Wurmfeld) - Rent on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play But I’m a Cheerleader (Jamie Babbit) - Prime Video Happiest Season (Clea DuVall) - Rent on YouTube, Prime Video A Room Next Door (Pedro Almodovar) - Releases 25 October 2024 Babygirl (Halina Reijn). Releases 10 January 2025 Maria (Pablo Larraín) I’m Still Here (Walter Salles) Familiar Touch (Sarah Friedland) Queer (Luca Guadagnino) The Wire (created by David Simon) - Sky, NowTV The Office (US version developed by Greg Daniels) - Netflix, Sky, NowTV, Prime Video Birdman (Alejandro González Iñárritu) - DisneyPlus Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Tim Burton) - In cinemas Beetlejuice (Tim Burton) - Netflix, Prime Video Firebrand (Karim Aïnouz) - In cinemas His Three Daughters (Azazel Jacobs) - In cinemas Lee (Ellen Kuras) - In cinemas The Queen of My Dreams (Fawzia Mirza) - Releases 13 September 2024 Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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 Assistant Producer: Jade Evans Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Elliana Jay Hamer House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

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 [email protected] 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

For our 180th episode, Girls On Film gets the festival buzz at Latitude in front of a live audience! First up we hear from host Anna Smith as she boogies to the song ‘Girls On Film’ sung by one of the Latitude headliners, Duran Duran! Plus, Anna had the chance to meet some band members after the show. Also in this episode, Anna is joined by Rachel Ramsay, the co-director of Copa 71, to discuss her brilliant documentary on the scandalously overlooked Women’s World Cup which took place in Mexico City in April 1971. With Anna, Rachel discusses the process of uncovering this compelling forgotten story and reaching out to the women from Argentina, Mexico, Denmark, France, England and Italy who played in the tournament to participate in the doc. Rachel shares some of the triumphs and challenges of creating a multilingual documentary that positions older women as subjects. She also talks about the ‘archaeologist’s mission’ of scouring the archives to bring Copa 71 to the big screen. Copa 71 can be seen in an abridged version on BBC iPlayer. Listeners in the UK can stream it in full on iTunes, Sky, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, BFI Player, Virgin and Dogwoof on demand. Other films mentioned: Calendar Girls Bend It Like Beckham Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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: House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

Anna Smith speaks to director Susan Seidelman about her highly anticipated new memoir, Desperately Seeking Something, as well as Rosanna Arquette, who starred in Seidelman's 1985 cult classic, Desperately Seeking Susan. Anna begins by speaking to Susan Seidelman about her memoir and her recollections of working with Madonna and Rosanna Arquette. Susan talks about the explosion of Madonna’s stardom during filming, sharing some of her cherished memories from that time. She reflects on the enduring cultural impact of Desperately Seeking Susan as well as more broadly on her career. Next, Anna speaks to Rosanna Arquette about her memories of starring in Desperately Seeking Susan. Rosanna talks about the celebrated female friendship between her and Madonna’s much-loved characters in the film, and how that translated into their off-screen friendship, sharing some of her hilarious highlights of working with Madonna. Rosanna also talks about the Time’s Up movement, discussing her powerful allyship with the other women who were amongst the first to speak out against Harvey Weinstein, and sharing insights into the monumental impact that it had on her life. Susan Seidelman’s memoir Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir about Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls is published by Macmillan Publishers and is available online and in bookstores in the US, and through Amazon and Blackwells in the UK. UK Blackwells: https://tinyurl.com/4xfnn8ud UK Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/2z6uakkt US Macmillan: https://tinyurl.com/3z8hnp9c US Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/26ub6sas Trigger warning: The interview with Rosanna Arquette in this episode contains potentially upsetting conversations relating to Harvey Weinstein. This episode also contains very strong language. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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 Other films mentioned: Desperately Seeking Susan Smithereens After Hours Basic Instinct Thelma and Louise Midnight Cowboy The Graduate Sex and the City The Sopranos She Devil Baby It’s You The Linguini Incident Searching for Debra Winger

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. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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 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

In this episode of Girls On Film, Anna Smith highlights some feminist favourites from Sundance London Film Festival. She catches up with director Shuchi Talati, whose debut feature Girls Will Be Girls follows headgirl Mira (Preeti Panigrahi) as she strives to get As in the classroom and the bedroom, and struggles with a third-wheeling mother (Kani Kusruti). Anna is joined by Shuchi as well as lead actress Preeti Panigrahi as they reflect on women’s filmmaking in India, reveal how they tackled intimacy on set together, and share Shuchi’s initiative Undercurrent, a scheme to train women to work in the lighting department on film sets in India. Next up, Anna hears from the singer turned actress Maisy Stella, who stars opposite Aubrey Plaza in Megan Park’s My Old Ass. The pair chat about what attracted Maisy to the role of 18 year old Elliott, who meets her 39 year old self while tripping on magic mushrooms and has to deal with the consequences of knowing how her teenage decisions will impact her later life. Maisy recalls the refreshing nature of Park’s script, which portrays a queer lead without feeling tokenistic or trite. Finally, Anna chats to Vicky Krieps about starring in Viggo Mortensen’s new feminist western, The Dead Don’t Hurt. She talks with Anna about ‘becoming your own department’ when your co-star is also the director, and Viggo speaks about the inspiration behind the character of Vivienne. Vicky also dispels some of the myths of progress in the film industry, while acknowledging the importance of portraying women like Vivienne in The Dead Don’t Hurt in order to move towards a more feminist cinema, but also a more feminist film set. The Dead Don’t Hurt is in UK and Irish cinemas now. Girls Will Be Girls will be in UK and Irish cinemas on 20 September 2024. Follow Girls On Film on social media to see release updates for My Old Ass. Other films mentioned: Flowervale Street (David Robert Mitchell) The Fallout (Megan Park) Corsage (Marie Kreutzer) Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson) The Lord of the Rings (Peter Jackson) Eastern Promises (David Cronenberg) Falling (Viggo Mortensen) Find out more about Undercurrent below: https://www.undercurrentfilmlab.com/ Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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: Jack Howard House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

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 Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email [email protected] 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: Nic Wassell House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency