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:
deadline.com/2022/06/black-at-c…rience-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.

You can listen to the episode here.

Some listeners may be activated by this episode, which contains some references to sexual assault.

This episode of Girls On Film is a special on the powerful documentary feature, Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power, by director Nina Menkes. This film taps into so many important subjects relating to film and feminism. It has the power to open eyes, and change the way we think and shoot films.

Anna Smith talked to Nina Menkes at a special preview screening held on 9 May 2023 by Girls On Film in association with BFI Distribution.

Nina talks about the way in which the all-pervasive male gaze in filmmaking. Most films depict the man as an active subject, and the woman as a passive, fragmented object. She describes how this works, and the effect it has on our wider culture and on the behaviours of women and men.

She also explains why queer cinema may be able to challenge this cinematic vocabulary more than others, and she talks about the responses she has had to the film, from audiences and film critics alike.

You can listen to the episode here.

Rachel Weisz joins Girls On Film to talk about playing twin sisters in the new Prime Video series Dead Ringers, along with writer Alice Birch. Both women executive produced the series and tell host Anna Smith about the collaboration that brought the show to the screen. 
Rachel tells how her love of the 1988 film inspired the idea of a gender flip of the central two characters, and explains the intricacies of playing twins. She and Alice discuss establishing the show’s unique tone, and share behind-the-scenes stories. The pair then take questions from the audience, who are members of Women in Film and TV (UK).

Find out more about Women in Film and TV (UK) here: www.wftv.org.uk/

You can listen to the episode here.

Actors Sally Phillips, Ronni Ancona and Sophia Myles join host Anna Smith on stage at Cinemagic’s On The Pulse short film festival, for an episode recorded with an audience of young filmmakers on 25 March 2023. From the Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast, Sophia Myles discusses entering the industry at the age of 15 and reuniting with her Mansfield Park co-star Lindsay Duncan. She also gives her advice to those hoping to make short films, shares her plans for a documentary and speaks frankly about her experiences in big budget films like Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Comedy performers and writers Sally Phillips and Ronni Ancona next join the conversation, to talk about their company Captain Dolly, their working relationship and how the comedy scene has changed for women. Sally speaks about Smack the Pony, representation on screen and their plans for a romcom with Down’s Syndrome stars. And of course, Ronni Ancona treats us to her famed Olivia Colman impression.

You can listen to the episode here.

Welcome to the climax of the Girls On Film Awards 2023! This third 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 Publicity Campaign
Diversity Badge of Honour 
Feminist Superhero
Best Female Orgasm sponsored by Intimacy on Set

We hear from writer-director of She Will, Charlotte Colbert; previous winner and director of the BFI Film Fund, Mia Bays, intimacy co-ordinator Ita O’Brien, and writer Katy Brand. We also hear from women including broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon and nominees Ashanti Omkar, Emma Butt and Akua Gyamfi, who share their thoughts on diversity in the wake of the BAFTA Film Awards.

You can listen to the episode here.

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.

You can listen to the episode here.

The Girls On Film Awards are back for a second year, and you are warmly invited to join the audience! This first 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 Female Friendship on Screen
Best Documentary Feature
Best Production Design
Best Composer

We hear from stars including Sheila Atim on behalf of The Woman King, Kathryn Ferguson, Hildur Guðnadóttir, and Kave Quinn, and presenters including directors Philippa Lowthorpe and Waad Al-Kateab, film critic Wendy Mitchell, and composer Nainita Desai.

You can listen to the episode here.

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!

You can listen to the episode here.

Emmett Till’s cousin Deborah Watts speaks candidly about the BAFTA-nominated film Till, which is in cinemas and also available on digital download. Anna Smith also speaks to writer Ellen E Jones about this powerful film directed by Chinonye Chukwu. It tells the true story of Mamie Till-Bradley, whose 14-year-old son Emmett was brutally murdered in 1955. The film follows her fight for justice and features an incredible performance from Danielle Deadwyler, who has been nominated for Leading Actress at the BAFTAs. We are also happy that Till has been nominated at the Girls On Film Awards, for Best Feature sponsored by EON Productions.

You can listen to the episode here.