HLA Agency

UK talent agency representing broadcasters, writers and presenters

Girls On Film

Hosted by film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith, Girls On Film is the world’s leading podcast on women in film. A fun and feminist podcast, it was co-founded by exec producer Hedda Archbold and Anna Smith, it provides a platform for women and people of minority genders to talk about their work in the industry, and about their love of film. 

Girls On Film has grown into more than a podcast: it is a lively community of listeners and film lovers, and there is a loyal and engaged fan base of followers of this most entertaining of pods. 

Voted No. 1 Feminist Film Podcast by Stylist Magazine and nominated for Best Live Podcast at the British Podcast Awards, the shows combines film reviews, panel discussions with women film critics, and interviews with actors, directors, activists and industry professionals. 

Girls On Film is an HLA Agency production, executive produced by Hedda Archbold, along with production team members Charlotte Matheson, Jade Evans and Anna Swartz.

Listen on Spotify, SoundCloud and more – or subscribe here.

Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up.

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

Mark Kermode Live in 3D

Mark Kermode Live in 3D is a monthly stage show at the BFI Southbank in which Mark Kermode welcomes a couple of guests onto the stage to have conversations about what has been happening in the world of film, and to delve deeper into particular movies or topics.

Affectionately known as MK3D, the show is lively and interactive. Mark brings his trademark wit and passion to the stage and talks to film stars and character actors, high-profile established directors and young aspiring talent. Diverse and eclectic, always passionate, informed and fun, with Q&As and clips, it’s guaranteed to rekindle your love for cinema, put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. 

MK3D is an HLA Agency production.

Since lockdown, MK3D has found a home online. Find Mark Kermode Online in 3D on BFI Player here.

Listen to the spin-off Kermode On Film podcast here.

Mark Kermode on stage at Mark Kermode Live in 3D on Monday 24 June 2019 at BFI Southbank, London. Picture by Julie Edwards.
Mark Kermode on stage at Mark Kermode Live in 3D on Monday 24 June 2019 at BFI Southbank, London. Picture by Julie Edwards.

GIRLS ON FILM CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH AWARDS

THE GIRLS ON FILM PODCAST ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF THE GIRLS ON FILM AWARDS 

Girls On Film, the film review podcast from a female perspective, today announced the winners of the inaugural Girls On Film Awards held at The Garden Cinema, supported by La Gioiosa Prosecco, Belle & Co and Rémy Martin. The awards were presented by co-founders Anna Smith and Hedda Archbold, and guests included actors Kerry Fox, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Ruth Madeley. Ground-breaking awards ranged from Female Friendship on Screen to the Best Female Orgasm on Film. 

The Girls On Film Awards reward excellence in the field of feminism, inclusion and diversity, female representation and the female gaze. Girls On Film particularly wants to celebrate the representation of diversity and of complex female characters on screen. 

Girls On Film applaud and champion all female-led, female focused films but want to hand out their own awards for the films and individuals that they feel deserve particular plaudits.  

Because the awards are in part a celebration of Girls On Film’s third anniversary, films were eligible if they were released between the launch of the podcast on 2 October 2018, and 4 February 2022.   

The award winners are:

  1. Feminist Fiction Feature – Booksmart
  2. Documentary Feature – For Sama
  3. Female Friendship On screen – Booksmart
  4. Ensemble Acting – Rocks
  5. Girls On Film Ally Award – Bo Burnham for Kayla Day in Eighth Grade
  6. Female Composer – Nainita Desai
  7. Feminist Publicity Campaign – Pathé for Misbehaviour
  8. Diversity Badge of Honour – joint winners Michaela Coel and Ruth Madeley
  9. Feminist Superhero– Mia Bays
  10. Best Female Orgasm – I’m Your Man

The ceremony will be podcast on Girls On Film on 7 March 2022. Below are full details including citations. 

1. Feminist Fiction Feature – winner: BOOKSMART 

Citation: We are delighted with the international flavour of the nominees which include three UK-US collaborations, a Bosnian and a French film. The winning film combines a sharp script with spot-on performances from two of our earliest interviewees, back in episode 14 of Girls On Film: Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. The filmmakers couldn’t be with us but a regular contributor to Girls On Film, film critic and broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon said a few words about what makes the film so special and impactful. 

Nominees: 

  • Booksmart 
  • The Lost Daughter
  • Portrait of a Lady on Fire 
  • Promising Young Woman 
  • Quo Vadis, Aida?  

2.Documentary Feature – Winner: FOR SAMA 

Citation: There are some incredible women working in documentary filmmaking at the moment. We adored all these films but there was one that clearly moved our voters especially deeply, and which demonstrated how powerful film can be in fighting injustice.  

The award was collected by filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab and Afraa Hashem. 

Nominees: 

  • Cow 
  • Crip Camp 
  • For Sama 
  • Rebel Dykes 
  • Writing with Fire 

3.Female Friendship On Screen – winner: BOOKSMART 

Citation: Friendships between women are incredibly important – and it’s so important to see that reflected on screen. The winning film had at its heart a friendship through thick and thin that was inspiring and uplifting. 

Kaitlyn Deever and Beanie Feldstein could not be with us but a regular contributor to Girls On Film, film critic and broadcaster Ashanti Omkar said a few words about the impact of the film. 

Nominees: 

  • Booksmart 
  • Herself 
  • Hustlers 
  • Misbehaviour 
  • Rocks 

4.Ensemble Acting – winner: ROCKS 

Citation: Film is such a collaborative art form and when we lift each other up we all rise. We want to celebrate that with the ensemble acting category. 

Nominees: 

  • Babyteeth 
  • The Farewell 
  • Little Women 
  • Rocks 
  • Zola

5.Girls On Film Ally – awarded to a male screenwriter/director for creating a complex female screen character – winner: BO BURNHAM 

Citation: It is so important for women to be portrayed as they really are, on screen: in all their complexity. That’s why we want to highlight the male screenwriter-directors who have created a complex female character in their film. Our ally and one of the few male guests on Girls On Film, Sanjeev Bhaskar, came to present this award. All the nominated films were written by men who listened and learned from the women around them. The winner is a comedian who was inspired by the young women who responded to his routines about anxiety and social media. With their feedback, he wrote a 13-year old girl who we could all relate to. He was also Girls On Film’s first male guest! 

Nominees: 

  • Pedro Almodovar for Janis played by Penélope Cruz in Parallel Mothers (2022) 
  • J Blakeson for Marla Grayson played by Rosamund Pike in I Care A Lot (2020)
  • Bo Burnham for Kayla Day played by Elsie Fisher in Eighth Grade (2018) 
  • John Krasinski for Evelyn Abbott played by Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place Part II (2020) 
  • Jordan Peele for Adelaide Wilson played by Lupita Nyong’o in Us (2019)   

6.Composer – winner: NAINITA DESAI 

Citation: Film composing is still a male-dominated field, but we hope that this is gradually changing and we’ve been proud to feature some fantastic female composers on Girls On Film. The winner of this award has been on the podcast twice, to talk about her body of work including The Wall: Climb for Gold and For Sama. We were delighted that Nainita Desai came to collect her award in person. 

Nominees: 

  • Nainita Desai 
  • Anne Dudley 
  • Hildur Guðnadóttir 
  • Morgan Kibby 
  • Mica Levi 

7.Feminist Publicity Campaign – winner: MISBEHAVIOUR 

Citation: Films benefit tremendously from the creative work of publicists. We did a special about film publicity in episode #99 – if you haven’t heard it, do seek it out. 

All the publicists did a terrific job on the nominated films and we have enjoyed working with them. One particular film was coming out just as lockdown struck in 2020, and we were impressed with how the team adapted to the challenging circumstances and spread the film’s feminist message on social media and beyond. 

The Pathé with Premier PR team were unable to join us but we were delighted that the director of Misbehaviour, Philippa Lowthorpe was able to accept the award on their behalf.  

Nominees: 

  • Misbehaviour – supported by a campaign by Pathé with Premier PR
  • Mothers of the Revolution – supported by a campaign by Organic and Universal 
  • Rare Beasts – supported by a campaign by Dundas communications alongside Republic Films Distribution and Billie Piper  
  • Rocks – supported by a campaign by Christelle Randall, Amber Muotto and Mark Jones at Altitude.  
  • Saint Maud – supported by a campaign by Margy Pellegrino and Matt Dinsdale at StudioCanal 

8.Diversity Badge of Honour – winners: MICHAELA COEL & RUTH MADELEY 

Citation: Diversity and representation are a big part of the discussion on Girls On Film, and we are always humbled to be joined by women who are making a real difference in this area. We alighted on joint winners who have done so much for diversity on screen, from race to disability to sexuality. 

We were delighted that actor and activist Ruth Madeley was able to join us. 

Nominees: 

  • Michaela Coel 
  • Sarah Gavron 
  • Ruth Madeley 
  • Ashanti Omkar 

9.Feminist Superhero – winner: MIA BAYS 

Citation: This is not, as you might think, an award for an onscreen superhero – though we could easily have nominated Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel or Shuri. We decided to nominate real life women who are disrupters of inequality in the entertainment industry – who have changed the landscape of the film industry. 

We love all the nominated women so much and they – along with many others, some of whom are in this room – have inspired us and kept us going. This was a tough decision, but we’ve chosen to reward a woman who has worked tirelessly to bring female led films to bigger audiences.  

We were delighted that Mia Bays accepted her award in person. 

Nominees: 

  • Annenberg Inclusion Initiative – Stacy Smith runs the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the leading think tank studying diversity and inclusion in entertainment. 
  • Shaheen Baig  – is committed to ensuring that the films she works on are representative of the audience in terms of ethnicity, class and gender.  
  • Mia Bays – the Oscar winning producer who did an inspiring job as director-at-large at female-focused film charity Birds’ Eye View. She is now the director of the BFI Film Fund. 
  • Ava DuVernay – the writer, director, producer and film distributor is constantly breaking new ground and brings activism into her work, supporting upcoming talent while fighting for a better future. 
  • Michelle Obama – the co-founder of Higher Ground, the production company that explores issues of race and class, democracy and civil rights, and more. Their films include Becoming, which inspired a whole new generation of young women. 
  • Melissa Silverstein – the writer who was one of the first to start shouting about the gender inequalities in Hollywood. She is the founder and editor of Women and Hollywood, one of the most respected sites for issues related to women and film. 

10.Best Female Orgasm – winner: I’M YOUR MAN 

Citation: The Climax of the night was the award for the Best Female Orgasm – awarded for sensitive treatment of female pleasure on screen. This award often raises a laugh but it has a serious purpose. When female pleasure is depicted in mainstream films, it’s usually seen through the male gaze. Girls On Film has been keeping a keen eye on sex scenes in mainstream and arthouse movies, looking out for the most thoughtful, responsible and authentic depictions of the female orgasm. In the winning film, the climactic scene depicts the complexity of the experience for the woman. It shows her inner emotional truth and serves to develop the plot. The scene gains in erotic power because of it. This scene is especially interesting because the scene is between a woman – and a robot, played by Dan Stevens. Maren Eggert was not able to join us but sent us an acceptance message on video, and Dan Stevens shared his excitement on social media. 

Nominees: 

  • I’m Your Man – directed by Maria Schrader, starring Maren Eggert and Dan Stevens  
  • If Beale Street Could Talk – directed by Barry Jenkins, starring Kiki Layne and Stephan James 
  • The Miseducation of Cameron Post – directed by Desirée Akhavan, starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Sasha Lane 
  • Portrait of a Lady on Fire – directed by Céline Sciamma, starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel 
  • Queen & Slim – directed Melina Matsoukas, by starring Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya 

About the Awards:

The winners were chosen by Girls On Film and announced at a ceremony on Wednesday 2 March 2022 at The Garden Cinema in the heart of Covent Garden, attended by leading filmmakers including Sarah Gavron and Anu Henriques (Rocks), Philippa Lowthorpe (Misbehavour), Shannon Murphy (Babyteeth) and Waad Al-Kateab (For Sama). 

Girls On Film announced plans for the Girls On Film Awards in their 100th episode in December, when celebrating the third anniversary of the podcast. If you missed it, you can listen to the episode here: the awards announcement starts at 22 minutes 48 seconds in.

Because the awards are in part a celebration of Girls On Film’s third birthday, films are eligible if they were released between the launch of Girls On Film on 2 October 2018, and 4 February 2022. Here is a list of all the female-led films Girls On Film featured in their first 111 episodes.

Girls On Film would like to thank The Garden Cinema for their generous support of the Girls On Film Awards, and their principal partners Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer for their continued support. 

We also thank Rémy Martin, Belle & Co and La Gioiosa Prosecco who supported the event in kind. 

About Girls On Film:

The Girls On Film podcast was co-founded in 2018 by its host Anna Smith and exec producer Hedda Archbold. They decided to make a female-centric film programme after noticing that the default standard for film criticism is to pair two men talking to each other. Anna Smith: “We wanted to prove that women talking about film together can be enriching and enlightening, and to shine a light on all the amazing talent out there in criticism and filmmaking.” Hedda Archbold said: “When women talk about film, the conversation has a different quality to it. Our listeners find it immensely refreshing”.

In December 2021, just three years after the launch, Girls On Film reached its 100- episode milestone. The team have recorded studio and virtual episodes, as well as shows in front of live audiences, at cinemas, club venues such as Annabel’s and the Allbright, festivals including the London Podcast Festival and Latitude, and at international film festivals including Cannes, Rotterdam, Belfast and Glasgow. A number of lockdown video episodes were made for YouTube in conjunction with the BFI. Past esteemed guests on the podcast are:

Actors including Carey Mulligan, Linda Hamilton, Lashana Lynch, Karen Gillan, Brie Larson, Maxine Peake, Vanessa Kirby and Kerry Fox

Directors including Billie Piper, Shannon Murphy, Carol Morley, Lulu Wang, Gurinder Chadha, Tamara Jenkins, Desiree Akhavan, Rose Glass, Phillipa Lowthorpe, Amma Asante and Waad Al-Kateab

Industry experts including Eve Gabereau (Modern Films), Tricia Tuttle (BFI London Film Festival), Akua Gyamfi (The British Blacklist), Mia Bays (BFI), Allison Gardner (Glasgow Film Festival) and Melissa Silverstein (Women and Hollywood)

Female film critics and journalists including Corrina Antrobus, Jane Crowther, Rhianna Dhillon, Angie Errigo, Hanna Flint, Pamela Hutchinson, Wendy Ide, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Emma Jones, Tara Judah, Leila Latif, Clarisse Loughrey, Wendy Lloyd, Simran Hans, Wendy Mitchell, Kate Muir, Helen O’Hara, Ashanti Omkar and Francine Stock

The recent 100th episode features industry heavyweight Barbara Broccoli of EON productions and comedians and writers Sally Phillips and Ronni Ancona.

All episodes of the Girls On Film podcast can be found at: https://podfollow.com/1439182513/view

NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Follow Girls On Film at:
https://podfollow.com/1439182513/view
https://www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast/
https://twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod
https://www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/

Girls On Film is an HLA production.
Host: Anna Smith http://annasmithjourno.com/
Executive producer: Hedda Archbold, https://hlaagency.co.uk/ 
Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer
Assistant Producer: Shanaiya Pithiya
About HLA:
HLA produces audio podcasts, videos, films and live events, and provides bespoke, sole agency to its clients.

About the Garden Cinema:
The Garden Cinema is a truly independent cinema in the heart of London, screening arthouse films from around the world. The cinema will open to the public on 26 March 2022. https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/

Contact details:
Executive Producer at HLA Agency Hedda@HLAagency.co.uk, 07801074181
Assistant Producer Shanaiya@HLAagency.co.uk 07792 319346
Hedda Archbold, Anna Smith, Kerry Fox, Mia Bays
Salem Al-Atrash, Afraa Hashem, Waad Al-Kateab, Hamza Al-Kateab
Sarah Gavron, Anu Henriques, Hedda Archbold
Ruth Madeley, Nainita Desai
Ashanti Omkar, Hedda Archbold, Anna Smith, Shanaiya Pithiya, Sanjeev Bhaskar

Girls On Film x BFI

Following the success of the Girls On Film podcast and live shows, critic, broadcaster and host Anna Smith takes a female perspective on film to the BFI at Home YouTube channel. Find all shows here.

Winners Announced for the 2025 Girls On Film Awards

London, Sunday 26 January 2025 – The 2025 Girls On Film Awards have unveiled this year’s winners at a glittering ceremony held at Curzon Bloomsbury, celebrating exceptional achievements by women and people of marginalised genders in film. Hosted by Girls On Film co-founders Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold, the awards reward women-led filmmaking, with a particular focus on diversity, inclusion and representation. The Substance claimed Best Feature, with Coralie Fargeat in attendance to collect her award, while Black Box Diaries triumphed in Best Documentary and Activist Impact Award.

Co-founders of the Girls On Film podcast Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold said:

“In today’s challenging world, it is more important than ever for diverse women to support each other. This year’s nominations reflect the spirit of sisterhood and the power of film to inspire, inform, and create community. These awards honour the strength of storytelling in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

They added:

“We are proud that our nominees and winners showcase progress on screen and thrilled to celebrate with them at our fourth awards. As a member of our community said: ‘Girls On Film is more than a podcast: it’s a state of mind.’”

The ceremony was supported by Gold Sponsors CrewHQ and IMDb, Silver Sponsor Curzon, and Bronze Sponsors Netflix and Intimacy on Set, with media partnerships from Deadline, British Cinematographer magazine, DDA and sponsorship of the reception, Lilac Grove Entertainment. For those unable to attend, the full awards ceremony will soon be available as a special episode of the Girls On Film podcast sponsored by Elstree Studios.

Full List of Winners and Nominees:

BEST FEATURE FILM

The Substance
All We Imagine as Light
Blink Twice
Emilia Pérez
La Chimera

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Black Box Diaries
Copa 71
Dahomey
Four Daughters
Witches

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE

Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths)
Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
Demi Moore (The Substance)
Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
Mikey Madison (Anora)
Naomi Ackie (Blink Twice)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson)
Ariana Grande (Wicked)
Emily Watson (Small Things Like These)
Lesley Manville (Queer)
Michele Austin (Hard Truths)
Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

FEMALE FRIENDSHIP ON SCREEN

All We Imagine as Light
Chuck Chuck Baby
The Last Showgirl
My Old Ass
Wicked

ENSEMBLE CAST

Emilia Pérez
All We Imagine as Light
Girls Will Be Girls
Hoard
Wicked Little Letters

THE GIRLS ON FILM ALLY AWARD SPONSORED BY IMDb

Mike Leigh (Hard Truths)
Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
Jon M. Chu (Wicked)
Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door)
Sean Baker (Anora)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY SPONSORED BY CREWHQ

Hélène Louvart AFC (La Chimera)
Alice Brooks ASC (Wicked)
Maria von Hausswolff DFF (Janet Planet)
Polly Morgan ASC BSC (Back to Black)
Tasha Back (In Camera)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Judy Becker (The Brutalist)
Emmanuelle Duplay (Emilia Pérez)
Gemma Jackson (Lee)
Jagna Dobesz (The Girl with the Needle)
Suzie Davies (Conclave/Hard Truths)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Linda Muir (Nosferatu)
Emmanuelle Youchnovski (The Substance)
Jacqueline Durran (Blitz)
Jocelyn Pierce (Anora)
Rebecca Gore (Timestalker)

BEST COMPOSER

Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (Moana 2)
Andrea Datzman (Inside Out 2)
Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker: Folie à Deux)
Isobel Waller-Bridge (Wicked Little Letters)
Lucrecia Dalt (On Becoming a Guinea Fowl)

BEST PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN

Universal (Wicked)
Emilia Pérez – Netflix
Inside Out 2 – Disney
The Substance – MUBI
Timestalker – Vertigo

ACTIVIST IMPACT AWARD

Shiori Ito (Black Box Diaries)
LFF Critics Support Fund
MilkTea
TAPE Collective
Jeanie Finlay (Your Fat Friend)

FEMALE ORGASM ON SCREEN SPONSORED BY INTIMACY ON SET

Nicole Kidman (with Nicole Kidman, and later Harris Dickinson) (Babygirl)
Anne Hathaway (with Nicholas Galitzine) – The Idea of You
Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian – Love Lies Bleeding
Geraldine Viswanathan (with Margaret Qualley) – Drive-Away Dolls
Preeti Panigrahi (with Preeti Panigrahi and Kesav Binoy Kiron) – Girls Will Be Girls

For press inquiries, please contact:

DDA

Abbie Gainher – Abbie.Gainher@ddaglobal.com

Natasha Masich – Natasha.Masich@ddaglobal.com

HLA

Charlotte Matheson – charlottematheson@hlaagency.co.uk

Notes for Editors:

ABOUT THE GIRLS ON FILM AWARDS

The Girls On Film Awards reward excellence in women-led filmmaking with a particular focus on inclusion, diversity and the representation of women and people of marginalised genders. Girls On Film particularly want to celebrate the representation of diversity and of complex women characters on screen. Girls On Film applaud and champion all women-led, women-focused films and want to hand out their own awards to the films and individuals that they feel deserve particular plaudits, to encourage audiences to engage. The eligibility period is for films released between 17 February 2024 to 14 February 2025. Nominees are selected by leading film critics and the winners are selected by Girls On Film. Girls On Film would like to thank Gold Sponsors CrewHQ and IMDb, Silver Sponsor Curzon and Bronze Sponsors Netflix and Intimacy on Set. Media partners this year will be Deadline, British Cinematographer magazine, DDA and the sponsors of the reception will be Lilac Grove Entertainment. For those unable to attend, the full awards ceremony will soon be available as a special episode of the Girls On Film podcast sponsored by Elstree Studios. Girls On Film would also like to thank principal partners Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer for their continued support.

ABOUT GIRLS ON FILM

A fun, feminist film podcast, Girls On Film was launched six years ago to answer an urgent need to amplify women’s voices in film and has developed into a vibrant community. Co-founded by host Anna Smith and Exec Producer Hedda Lornie Archbold, it brings film critics together with actors, filmmakers and activists to give a fresh perspective on gender in the movies. The podcast has produced over 180 episodes and has been featured in Deadline, Time Out and The Guardian, and on Radio 4, Sky News, and BBC Breakfast. Named Best Feminist Film podcast by Stylist Magazine, and endorsed by Barbara Broccoli, it was picked out as one of the top four film podcasts in the world by iNews. It has won multiple nominations at the British Podcast Awards, the International Women’s Podcast Awards and the Independent Podcast Awards. Anna Smith is a leading film critic, broadcaster and former President of The Critics’ Circle. Hedda Lornie Archbold is an Exec Producer, Agent and the CEO of HLA Agency, which produces Girls On Film among other things.

Follow Girls On Film at

https://www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast

https://twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod

https://www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

About CrewHQ

In November 2023, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (WBSL) opened the doors to CrewHQ, a dedicated on-site training centre. CrewHQ is designed to support existing crew, create career routes for people of all backgrounds and foster the next generation of Film and TV production talent.

About IMDb

IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities. Hundreds of millions of customers all over the world rely on IMDb to discover and decide what to watch, advance their professional entertainment careers through IMDbPro, and grow their businesses using IMDb data and trending insights. Products and services to help fans discover and decide what to watch and where to watch it include: the IMDb website for desktop and mobile devices; apps for iOS and Android; and X-Ray on Prime Video. For entertainment industry professionals, IMDb provides IMDbPro and Box Office Mojo. IMDb licenses information from its vast and authoritative database to third-party businesses worldwide; learn more at developer.imdb.com. IMDb is an Amazon company. For more information, visit www.imdb.com/press and follow @IMDb.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with 283 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Intimacy on Set

Intimacy on Set provides services to TV, film, and live performance for the production and creation of scenes with intimacy, sexual content, and nudity. Founded in 2018 by the UK’s leading Intimacy Practitioner, Ita O’Brien, (and author of the Intimacy On Set Guidelines), the company has continued to expand both nationally and internationally and now has fully accredited Intimacy Practitioners all over the world. Intimacy on Set are leaders in the field, whose skills and rigorous training demonstrate best practice. Their goal is for their bespoke guidelines to be adopted by the industry worldwide advocating for safe, fair, and dignified work for everyone.

Intimacy on Set has worked on numerous high-profile productions across Theatre, TV and Film and has been widely covered in the national and international media as the leading spokesperson in this space. Most notable credits include  Normal People (BBC3/Hulu), Sex Education 1 & 2 (Netflix), I May Destroy You (BBC/HBO), and most recently The Agency (101 Studios/Paramount +) and We Live In Time (Studio Canal).

Intimacy on Set is delighted to be sponsors of the Girls On Film Award for Female Orgasm on Screen for the third year. This award is for authentic, realistic and responsible depiction of women’s pleasure on screen.

About Curzon

Curzon is a multifaceted film company covering exhibition, distribution, production, and on-demand streaming. The company currently operates 16 cinemas across the UK. The distribution business, encompassing Curzon Film and specialist label Artificial Eye, has over 40 years of experience in independent film, with a library of critically acclaimed films by some of the world’s greatest directors including Wim Wenders, Michael Haneke, Béla Tarr, Alice Rohrwacher, and Ruben Östlund. Streaming service Curzon Home Cinema is available to customers through TV, mobile apps, and over-the-top platforms, with a reach of 6.5 million homes. For more information please visit www.curzon.com.

Katy Black, Head of Private Hires at Curzon says “Curzon is delighted to be hosting the Girls on Film Awards for the first time at Curzon Bloomsbury this year. We are huge supporters of Girls on Film’s year-round work, so it is a pleasure to collaborate with them on this night of celebration.”

Awards Podcast Sponsor

Elstree Studios

Elstree Film Studios has been a cornerstone of British cinema for a century. Located in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, the studios has been the birthplace of countless iconic films and television series.

With over 90,000 square feet of studio space, a spacious backlot, workshops, ancillary and office spaces, EFS offers a number of facilities which cater to both large-scale productions and independent projects.

As we begin our centennial year, EFS remains committed to nurturing talent and creativity, supporting filmmakers and creating a pathway to inspire the next generation of industry professionals

ABOUT OUR MEDIA PARTNERS

Deadline

Deadline has long established itself as the most trusted and most valued news site within the entertainment industry. With coverage that reaches across film, television, music, politics and business, Deadline is read faithfully by industry decision makers who trust us with their exclusives and breaking news, all of which has made us first and factual in all our reporting. Deadline is regularly cited by top media outlets such as CNN, and Harpers Bazaar UK.

DDA

Deadline is the most trusted breaking news source in the entertainment industry. For all the latest in film and television in the US and Internationally, Deadline is your trusted entertainment news source. Faithfully read by industry decision makers, Deadline delivers box office coverage, casting news, festival and market reporting and all the latest exclusives. https://deadline.com/

British Cinematographer magazine

British Cinematographer magazine is a Europe-leading magazine dedicated to the art and craft of international cinematography. The flagship title, enjoyed by a global readership spanning 56 countries, is endorsed and distributed to leading industry partners including the British Society of Cinematographers. Each issue is packed with news and insight into the world of cinematography, from behind-the-scenes features from top film and TV productions to masterclasses from industry experts, and much more. It’s an essential read for anyone with an interest in filmmaking.

“It’s an honour for British Cinematographer to continue the collaboration with Girls on Film Awards as a media partner. We celebrate phenomenal work shot by female cinematographers in the magazine throughout the year and it is a joy to see the talent and creations of such impressive filmmakers recognised at this very important awards event,” says Zoe Mutter, Editor-in-Chief, British Cinematographer magazine.

ABOUT OUR RECEPTION SPONSOR

Lilac Grove Entertainment

At Lilac Grove, we believe in redefining storytelling for a new generation as an independent entertainment company, bringing fresh, original narratives to life – stories that inspire, engage and push the boundaries of imagination. Our focus is on delivering bold, innovative content that resonates with diverse audiences and introduces new perspectives to the world of fantasy and sci-fi.

@lilacgroveent. https://sgblaise.com/lilac-grove-entertainment/

IN-KIND PARTNERS

Papa Salt Coastal Gin

BBFC

Proper Corn

Canongate

Cano Water

Girls on Tops

——————

Girls On Film is an HLA production 

Executive producer: Hedda Archbold, https://hlaagency.co.uk/ 

Host: Anna Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/annasmithjourno/

Charlotte Matheson is a producer on the awards with HLA, with Anna Swartz and Oli Fyne.

Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer

About HLA

HLA produces audio podcasts, videos, films and live events, and provides bespoke, sole agency to its clients.

For more information visit https://hlaagency.co.uk/

Contact details Executive Producer at HLA Agency Hedda@girlsonfilmpodcast.com +447801074181

EMILIA PÉREZ AND WICKED LEAD THE PACK WITH MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS IN 2025 GIRLS ON FILM AWARDS

London, January 2025 – The world’s leading podcast about women in film, Girls On Film, announces the nominees for the Girls On Film Awards 2025. Emilia Pérez leads with seven nominations, closely followed by Wicked with six. The Substance and Hard Truths each have four nominations. Also in the running for multiple Girls On Film Awards are Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light, Sean Baker’s Anora, Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera and Zoë Kravitz’s Blink Twice. A full list of nominees is featured below. 

Winners will be announced at the Girls On Film Awards ceremony on Sunday 26 January 2025 at the Curzon Bloomsbury in London. The awards celebrate the incredible achievements of women and marginalised genders in film, with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and representation.

“We’re incredibly proud to spotlight the work of women and marginalised genders in film, and this year’s nominees demonstrate Girls On Film’s commitment to representation both on and off screen. From musicals to horrors, from documentaries to comedies, our voters have selected some of the most exciting films of awards season – and also highlighted those that have been overlooked elsewhere. Alongside our new acting categories, we are proud to continue rewarding women who work hard behind the scenes, as well as our male allies,” said Anna Smith, host and co-founder of Girls On Film.

Executive producer and co-founder Hedda Lornie Archbold added: ”Our mission is to achieve industry-wide equal representation, on screen and behind the camera, and while gradual progress is arguably being made, gender parity remains a challenge. The excellent films nominated this year however, show that diverse women filmmakers are lighting up our screens with exquisite brilliance, crafting stories that captivate and inspire. We are immensely grateful to our sponsors, whose support makes it possible for us to celebrate these films at our Awards and continue in our mission to create meaningful change.”

The event is supported by Gold Sponsors CrewHQ and IMDb, Silver Sponsor Curzon and Bronze Sponsors Netflix and Intimacy on Set. Media partners are Deadline, British Cinematographer magazine and DDA, ensuring major visibility and coverage.

The nominees were announced at Madera at Treehouse London, at a reception for industry guests.

Full list of 2025 Girls On Film Awards nominees:

BEST FEATURE FILM

  • All We Imagine As Light
  • Blink Twice 
  • La Chimera 
  • Emilia Pérez
  • The Substance 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

  • Black Box Diaries
  • Copa 71 
  • Dahomey
  • Four Daughters
  • Witches 

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE

  • Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
  • Demi Moore (The Substance)
  • Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
  • Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths)
  • Mikey Madison (Anora)
  • Naomi Ackie (Blink Twice)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

  • Ariana Grande (Wicked)
  • Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson)
  • Emily Watson (Small Things Like These)
  • Lesley Manville (Queer)
  • Michele Austin (Hard Truths)
  • Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

FEMALE FRIENDSHIP ON SCREEN

  • All We Imagine as Light
  • Chuck Chuck Baby
  • The Last Showgirl
  • My Old Ass
  • Wicked

ENSEMBLE CAST

  • All We Imagine as Light
  • Emilia Pérez
  • Girls Will Be Girls
  • Hoard
  • Wicked Little Letters

THE GIRLS ON FILM ALLY AWARD SPONSORED BY IMDb

  • Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
  • Jon M. Chu (Wicked)
  • Mike Leigh (Hard Truths)
  • Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door)
  • Sean Baker (Anora)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY SPONSORED BY CREWHQ

  • Alice Brooks ASC (Wicked)
  • Hélène Louvart AFC (La Chimera)
  • Maria von Hausswolff DFF (Janet Planet)
  • Polly Morgan ASC BSC (Back to Black)
  • Tasha Back (In Camera)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

  • Emmanuelle Duplay (Emilia Pérez)
  • Gemma Jackson (Lee)
  • Jagna Dobesz (The Girl with the Needle)
  • Judy Becker (The Brutalist)
  • Suzie Davies (Conclave/Hard Truths)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

  • Emmanuelle Youchnovski (The Substance)
  • Jacqueline Durran (Blitz)
  • Jocelyn Pierce (Anora)
  • Linda Muir (Nosferatu)
  • Rebecca Gore (Timestalker)

BEST COMPOSER

  • Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (Moana 2)
  • Andrea Datzman (Inside Out 2)
  • Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker: Folie à Deux)
  • Isobel Waller-Bridge (Wicked Little Letters)
  • Lucrecia Dalt (On Becoming a Guinea Fowl)

BEST PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN

  • Emilia Pérez – Netflix
  • Inside Out 2 – Disney
  • The Substance – MUBI
  • Timestalker – Vertigo
  • Wicked – Universal

ACTIVIST IMPACT AWARD

  • LFF Critics Support Fund
  • MilkTea
  • Shiori Ito (Black Box Diaries)
  • TAPE Collective
  • Jeanie Finlay (Your Fat Friend)

FEMALE ORGASM ON SCREEN SPONSORED BY INTIMACY ON SET

This award is for authentic, realistic and responsible depiction of women’s pleasure on screen.

  • Anne Hathaway (with Nicholas Galitzine) – The Idea of You (IC: Jessica Erin Bennett)
  • Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian – Love Lies Bleeding (IC: Christine McHugh)
  • Geraldine Viswanathan (with Margaret Qualley) – Drive-Away Dolls (IC: Chelsea Pace)
  • Nicole Kidman (with Nicole Kidman, and with Harris Dickinson) – Babygirl (IC: Lizzy Talbot)
  • Preeti Panigrahi (with Preeti Panigrahi and with Kesav Binoy Kiron) – Girls Will Be Girls (IC: none)

–

7 Nominations

  • Emilia Pérez

6 Nominations

  • Wicked

4 Nominations

  • Hard Truths
  • The Substance

3 Nominations

  • All We Imagine As Light
  • Anora

2 Nominations

  • Black Box Diaries
  • Blink Twice
  • La Chimera
  • Girls Will Be Girls
  • Inside Out 2
  • Timestalker
  • Wicked Little Letters

1 Nomination

  • Babygirl
  • Back to Black
  • Blitz
  • The Brutalist
  • Chuck Chuck Baby
  • Copa 71
  • Conclave
  • Dahomey
  • Drive-Away Dolls
  • Four Daughters
  • The Girl with the Needle
  • Hoard
  • The Idea of You
  • In Camera
  • Janet Planet
  • Joker: Folie à Deux
  • The Last Showgirl
  • Lee
  • LFF Critics Support Fund
  • Love Lies Bleeding
  • MilkTea
  • Moana 2
  • My Old Ass
  • Nosferatu
  • On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
  • The Piano Lesson
  • TAPE Collective
  • Witches
  • Your Fat Friend

For press inquiries, please contact:

DDA

Abbie Gainher – Abbie.Gainher@ddaglobal.com

Natasha Masich – Natasha.Masich@ddaglobal.com 

HLA

Charlotte Matheson – charlottematheson@hlaagency.co.uk 

—

Notes for Editors: 

ABOUT THE GIRLS ON FILM AWARDS 

The Girls On Film Awards reward excellence in the field of inclusion, diversity and the representation of women and people of marginalised genders. Girls On Film particularly want to celebrate the representation of diversity and of complex women characters on screen. Girls On Film applaud and champion all women-led, women-focused films and want to hand out their own awards to the films and individuals that they feel deserve particular plaudits, to encourage audiences to engage. The eligibility period is for films released between 17 February 2024 to 14 February 2025. Nominees are selected by leading film critics and the winners are selected by Girls On Film. Girls On Film would like to thank Gold Sponsors CrewHQ and IMDb, Silver Sponsor Curzon and Bronze Sponsors Netflix and Intimacy on Set. Media partners this year will be Deadline, British Cinematographer magazine and DDA. Girls On Film would also like to thank principal partners Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer for their continued support. 

ABOUT GIRLS ON FILM

A fun, feminist film podcast, Girls On Film was launched six years ago to answer an urgent need to amplify women’s voices in film and has developed into a vibrant community. Co-founded by host Anna Smith and Exec Producer Hedda Lornie Archbold, it brings film critics together with actors, filmmakers and activists to give a fresh perspective on gender in the movies. The podcast has produced over 180 episodes and has been featured in Deadline, Time Out and The Guardian, and on Radio 4, Sky News, and BBC Breakfast. Named Best Feminist Film podcast by Stylist Magazine, and endorsed by Barbara Broccoli, it was picked out as one of the top four film podcasts in the world by iNews. It has won multiple nominations at the British Podcast Awards, the International Women’s Podcast Awards and the Independent Podcast Awards. Anna Smith is a leading film critic, broadcaster and former President of The Critics’ Circle. Hedda Lornie Archbold is an Exec Producer, agent and the CEO of HLA Agency, which produces Girls On Film among other things. 

Follow Girls On Film at

https://www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
https://twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod
https://www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS 

About CrewHQ

In November 2023, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (WBSL) opened the doors to CrewHQ, a dedicated on-site training centre. CrewHQ is designed to support existing crew, create career routes for people of all backgrounds and foster the next generation of Film and TV production talent.

About IMDb 

IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities. Hundreds of millions of customers all over the world rely on IMDb to discover and decide what to watch, advance their professional entertainment careers through IMDbPro, and grow their businesses using IMDb data and trending insights. Products and services to help fans discover and decide what to watch and where to watch it include: the IMDb website for desktop and mobile devices; apps for iOS and Android; and X-Ray on Prime Video. For entertainment industry professionals, IMDb provides IMDbPro and Box Office Mojo. IMDb licenses information from its vast and authoritative database to third-party businesses worldwide; learn more at developer.imdb.com. IMDb is an Amazon company. For more information, visit www.imdb.com/press and follow @IMDb. 

Col Needham, Founder & CEO of IMDb, said: “IMDb and our IMDbPro service for entertainment professionals are committed to amplifying the voices, talents, and stories of women and marginalised genders through our ongoing support of programs including the Girls On Film Podcast and the Girls On Film Awards. We congratulate all the nominees and look forward to celebrating the extraordinary creativity and accomplishments of women filmmakers everywhere at the upcoming Girls On Film Awards.”

About Netflix 

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with 283 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Intimacy on Set 

Intimacy on Set provides services to TV, film, and live performance for the production and creation of scenes with intimacy, sexual content, and nudity. Founded in 2018 by the UK’s leading Intimacy Practitioner, Ita O’Brien, (and author of the Intimacy On Set Guidelines), the company has continued to expand both nationally and internationally and now has fully accredited Intimacy Practitioners all over the world. Intimacy on Set are leaders in the field, whose skills and rigorous training demonstrate best practice. Their goal is for their bespoke guidelines to be adopted by the industry worldwide advocating for safe, fair, and dignified work for everyone. 

Intimacy on Set has worked on numerous high-profile productions across Theatre, TV and Film and has been widely covered in the national and international media as the leading spokesperson in this space. Most notable credits include  Normal People (BBC3/Hulu), Sex Education 1 & 2 (Netflix), I May Destroy You (BBC/HBO), and most recently The Agency (101 Studios/Paramount +) and We Live In Time (Studio Canal).

Intimacy on Set is delighted to be sponsors of the Girls On Film Award for Female Orgasm on Screen for the third year. This award is for authentic, realistic and responsible depiction of women’s pleasure on screen.

About Curzon

Curzon is a multifaceted film company covering exhibition, distribution, production, and on-demand streaming. The company currently operates 16 cinemas across the UK. The distribution business, encompassing Curzon Film and specialist label Artificial Eye, has over 40 years of experience in independent film, with a library of critically acclaimed films by some of the world’s greatest directors including Wim Wenders, Michael Haneke, Béla Tarr, Alice Rohrwacher, and Ruben Östlund. Streaming service Curzon Home Cinema is available to customers through TV, mobile apps, and over-the-top platforms, with a reach of 6.5 million homes. For more information please visit www.curzon.com.

Katy Black, Head of Private Hires at Curzon says “Curzon is delighted to be hosting the Girls on Film Awards for the first time at Curzon Bloomsbury this year. We are huge supporters of Girls on Film’s year-round work, so it is a pleasure to collaborate with them on this night of celebration.”

ABOUT OUR MEDIA PARTNERS 

Deadline

Deadline has long established itself as the most trusted and most valued news site within the entertainment industry. With coverage that reaches across film, television, music, politics and business, Deadline is read faithfully by industry decision makers who trust us with their exclusives and breaking news, all of which has made us first and factual in all our reporting. Deadline is regularly cited by top media outlets such as CNN, and Harpers Bazaar UK.

DDA

Deadline is the most trusted breaking news source in the entertainment industry. For all the latest in film and television in the US and Internationally, Deadline is your trusted entertainment news source. Faithfully read by industry decisionmakers, Deadline delivers box office coverage, casting news, festival and market reporting and all the latest exclusives. https://deadline.com/

British Cinematographer magazine

British Cinematographer magazine is a Europe-leading magazine dedicated to the art and craft of international cinematography. The flagship title, enjoyed by a global readership spanning 56 countries, is endorsed and distributed to leading industry partners including the British Society of Cinematographers. Each issue is packed with news and insight into the world of cinematography, from behind-the-scenes features from top film and TV productions to masterclasses from industry experts, and much more. It’s an essential read for anyone with an interest in filmmaking. 

“It’s an honour for British Cinematographer to continue the collaboration with Girls on Film Awards as a media partner. We celebrate phenomenal work shot by female cinematographers in the magazine throughout the year and it is a joy to see the talent and creations of such impressive filmmakers recognised at this very important awards event,” says Zoe Mutter, Editor-in-Chief, British Cinematographer magazine.

ABOUT OUR RECEPTION SPONSOR 

Lilac Grove Entertainment

At Lilac Grove, we believe in redefining storytelling for a new generation as an independent entertainment company, bringing fresh, original narratives to life – stories that inspire, engage and push the boundaries of imagination. Our focus is on delivering bold, innovative content that resonates with diverse audiences and introduces new perspectives to the world of fantasy and sci-fi.

SG Blaise, CCO, said: “Lilac Grove Entertainment is delighted to sponsor this year’s Girls On Film Awards. As the lead character in our franchise The Last Lumenian is the strong and rebellious Lilla, we are very happy to support this event, which showcases the achievements of so many other incredibly talented women in film this year.

Girls On Film is an HLA production

Executive producer: Hedda Archbold, https://hlaagency.co.uk/  

Host: Anna Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/annasmithjourno/ 

Charlotte Matheson is a producer on the awards with HLA, with Anna Swartz and Oli Fyne.

Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer 

About HLA 

HLA produces audio podcasts, videos, films and live events, and provides bespoke, sole agency to its clients. 

For more information visit https://hlaagency.co.uk/ 

Contact details

Executive Producer at HLA Agency Hedda@girlsonfilmpodcast.com +447801074181

GIRLS ON FILM ANNOUNCE FOURTH ANNUAL GIRLS ON FILM AWARDS

London, December 2024 – The world’s leading podcast about women in film, Girls On Film, is delighted to announce its fourth annual Girls On Film Awards, set to take place on Sunday 26 January 2025 at the Curzon Bloomsbury in London. This year, two new categories have been added: for Best Performance in a Leading Role and in a Supporting Role.

Celebrating excellence in diversity, inclusion, and the representation of women and marginalised genders in front and behind the camera, this year’s Girls On Film Awards ceremony is scheduled to occur during the major awards voting window, ensuring a spotlight on groundbreaking work in the industry.

The event will feature top-tier industry professionals, A-list talent and press, and is supported by generous sponsorship from Gold Sponsors CrewHQ and IMDb, Silver Sponsor Curzon and Bronze Sponsors Netflix and Intimacy on Set. Media partners this year will be Deadline, British Cinematographer magazine and DDA. More sponsors to be announced soon.

Nominations will be unveiled on 8 January 2025. The eligibility period for consideration runs from 17 February 2024 to 14 February 2025. Nominees are selected by leading film critics in the UK, the majority of whom are women, with voting beginning today and running until 17 December. 

Details about attendance to follow. 

The 2025 Girls On Film Awards Categories are:

THE GIRLS ON FILM AWARD FOR:

BEST FEATURE FILM 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

FEMALE FRIENDSHIP ON SCREEN

ENSEMBLE CAST

THE GIRLS ON FILM ALLY, SPONSORED BY IMDb

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER, SPONSORED BY CREWHQ

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN 

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

BEST COMPOSER

BEST PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN

ACTIVIST IMPACT

FEMALE ORGASM ON SCREEN, SPONSORED BY INTIMACY ON SET 

—- 

Notes for Editors: 

ABOUT THE GIRLS ON FILM AWARDS 

The Girls On Film Awards reward excellence in the field of inclusion, diversity and the representation of women and people of marginalised genders. Girls On Film particularly want to celebrate the representation of diversity and of complex women characters on screen. Girls On Film applaud and champion all women-led, women-focused films and want to hand out their own awards to the films and individuals that they feel deserve particular plaudits, to encourage audiences to engage. The eligibility period is for films released between 17 February 2024 to 14 February 2025. Nominees are selected by leading film critics and the winners are selected by Girls On Film. Girls On Film would like to thank Gold Sponsors CrewHQ and IMDb, Silver Sponsor Curzon and Bronze Sponsors Netflix and Intimacy on Set. Media partners this year will be Deadline, British Cinematographer magazine and DDA. Girls On Film would also like to thank principal partners Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer for their continued support. 

ABOUT GIRLS ON FILM

A fun, feminist film podcast, Girls On Film was launched six years ago to answer an urgent need to amplify women’s voices in film and has developed into a vibrant community. Co-founded by host Anna Smith and Exec Producer Hedda Lornie Archbold, it brings film critics together with actors, filmmakers and activists to give a fresh perspective on gender in the movies. The podcast has produced over 180 episodes and has been featured in Deadline, Time Out and The Guardian, and on Radio 4, Sky News, and BBC Breakfast. Named Best Feminist Film podcast by Stylist Magazine, and endorsed by Barbara Broccoli, it was picked out as one of the top four film podcasts in the world by iNews. It has won multiple nominations at the British Podcast Awards, the International Women’s Podcast Awards and the Independent Podcast Awards. Anna Smith is a leading film critic, broadcaster and former President of The Critics’ Circle. Hedda Lornie Archbold is an Exec Producer, agent and the CEO of HLA Agency, which produces Girls On Film. 

Follow Girls On Film at

https://www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
https://twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod
https://www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS 

About CrewHQ

In November 2023, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (WBSL) opened the doors to CrewHQ, a dedicated on-site training centre. CrewHQ is designed to support existing crew, create career routes for people of all backgrounds and foster the next generation of Film and TV production talent.

About IMDb 

IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities. Products and services to help fans discover and decide what to watch and where to watch it include: the IMDb website for desktop and mobile devices; apps for iOS and Android; and X-Ray on Prime Video. For entertainment industry professionals, IMDb provides IMDbPro and Box Office Mojo. IMDb licenses information from its vast and authoritative database to third-party businesses worldwide; learn more at developer.imdb.com. IMDb is an Amazon company. For more information, visit www.imdb.com/press and follow @IMDb. 

About Netflix 

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with 283 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Intimacy on Set 

Intimacy on Set provides services to TV, film, and live performance for the production and creation of scenes with intimacy, sexual content, and nudity. Founded in 2018 by the UK’s leading Intimacy Practitioner, Ita O’Brien, (and author of the Intimacy On Set Guidelines), the company has continued to expand both nationally and internationally and now has fully accredited Intimacy Practitioners all over the world. Intimacy on Set are leaders in the field, whose skills and rigorous training demonstrate best practice. Their goal is for their bespoke guidelines to be adopted by the industry worldwide advocating for safe, fair, and dignified work for everyone. 

Intimacy on Set has worked on numerous high-profile productions across Theatre, TV and Film and has been widely covered in the national and international media as the leading spokesperson in this space. Most notable credits include  Normal People (BBC3/Hulu), Sex Education 1 & 2 (Netflix), I May Destroy You (BBC/HBO), and most recently The Agency (101 Studios/Paramount +) and We Live In Time (Studio Canal).

Intimacy on Set sponsors the Girls On Film Award for Female Orgasm on Screen. This award is for authentic, realistic and responsible depiction of women’s pleasure on screen.

About Curzon

Curzon is a multifaceted film company covering exhibition, distribution, production, and on-demand streaming. The company currently operates 16 cinemas across the UK. The distribution business, encompassing Curzon Film and specialist label Artificial Eye, has over 40 years of experience in independent film, with a library of critically acclaimed films by some of the world’s greatest directors including Wim Wenders, Michael Haneke, Béla Tarr, Alice Rohrwacher, and Ruben Östlund. Streaming service Curzon Home Cinema is available to customers through TV, mobile apps, and over-the-top platforms, with a reach of 6.5 million homes. For more information please visit www.curzon.com.

ABOUT OUR MEDIA PARTNERS 

Deadline

Deadline has long established itself as the most trusted and most valued news site within the entertainment industry. With coverage that reaches across film, television, music, politics and business, Deadline is read faithfully by industry decision makers who trust us with their exclusives and breaking news, all of which has made us first and factual in all our reporting. Deadline is regularly cited by top media outlets such as CNN, and Harpers Bazaar UK.

DDA

DDA is an industry leader in global film, television and entertainment communications. From offices in London and Los Angeles, and with affiliates throughout the world, DDA provides a personalised service, insightful strategies and turnkey campaign solutions for film, television, brands and content creators. DDA’s full portfolio of services for the Creative industries include media relations, corporate communications, event management, digital & social media, brand partnerships, creative design, strategic consultancy, personal representation and awards campaigns. 

British Cinematographer magazine

British Cinematographer magazine is a Europe-leading magazine dedicated to the art and craft of international cinematography. The flagship title, enjoyed by a global readership spanning 56 countries, is endorsed and distributed to leading industry partners including the British Society of Cinematographers. Each issue is packed with news and insight into the world of cinematography, from behind-the-scenes features from top film and TV productions to masterclasses from industry experts, and much more. It’s an essential read for anyone with an interest in filmmaking. 

Girls On Film is an HLA production  

Executive producer: Hedda Archbold, https://hlaagency.co.uk/  

Host: Anna Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/annasmithjourno/ 

Charlotte Matheson will be a producer on the awards with HLA, with Anna Swartz and Oli Fyne.

Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer 

About HLA 

HLA produces audio podcasts, videos, films and live events, and provides bespoke, sole agency to its clients. 

For more information visit https://hlaagency.co.uk/ 

Contact details

Executive Producer at HLA Agency Hedda@girlsonfilmpodcast.com +447801074181

Mark Kermode Live in 3D | Show 94 | 16 September 2024

The MK3D team were delighted to return home to the BFI Southbank after a few successful shows at the IMAX. Mark celebrated with a stellar guest lineup in the newly refurbished NFT1.

First up, LFF director Kristy Matheson joined Mark to share her highlights of next month’s LFF. She recommended the opening film, Steve McQueen’s Blitz, and the closing film Piece By Piece, studio feature Conclave, indie film Harvest, and this year’s unexpected gem, The Extraordinary Miss Flower. Tickets for the general public go on sale today.

Next, Mark welcomed iconic actress Juliet Stevenson to discuss her role in Reawakening. She also reminisced about her one-take capture of an iconic scene with Alan Rickman in Truly Madly Deeply, and the magic of working with director Anthony Minghella. Mark also asked her to share her (not so) guilty pleasure, the joyous Toy Story 1.

Writer-director James Watkins then discussed his new film Speak No Evil. He talked about capturing the anxiety of politeness, and the importance of the communal experience of watching films with an audience. Next, he shared the film that changed his life – Once Upon a Time in the West.

After that, Mark was joined by actor Ariyon Bakare to discuss his role in the upcoming BBC series Mr Loverman. Ariyon talked about being true to the queer story, and his hopes that the story will touch viewers, and about the incredibly supportive team on set. He spoke movingly about the influence of Sidney Poitier’s work on his own way of working, notably in a scene between father and son in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

The final guest on the show was the phenomenal Meera Syal, who came straight from rehearsals at the National Theatre for new Tanika Gupta play A Tupperware of Ashes, to talk to Mark about her prolific career as a writer, comedian and actress on stage, TV and film. Meera shared fond memories of working on Bhaji on the Beach, about meeting Donny Osmond on The Kumars at No. 42, and the impossible task of choosing between Donny Osmond and David Cassidy. Meera ended with her guilty pleasure – shark movies!

Another terrific HLA Agency production in partnership with the BFI, hosted by Mark Kermode, produced by Hedda Archbold, with Charlotte Matheson, Jade Evans and Anna Swartz, clips by Nick Jones and fabulous photographs by Julie Edwards Photography.

Girls On Film | Episode 182 | 11 September 2024

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.

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
The 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

You can listen to the podcast here.

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.

Girls On Film | Episode 181 | 23 August 2024

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 here.

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.

You can listen to the podcast here.

Girls On Film | Episode 180 | 2 August 2024

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:
Copa 71
Bend it Like Beckham
Calendar Girls

You can listen to the podcast here.

Mark Kermode Live in 3D | Show 93 | 15 July 2024

This month saw the 93rd MK3D, our 5th at the IMAX. Mark welcomed five fantastic guests to discuss their work and some exciting upcoming films.

Mark got the show off to a brilliant start by welcoming his first two guests, writer-director Janis Pugh and actress Louise Brealey, to talk about their new feature, Chuck Chuck Baby, released this Friday, 19th July. Describing the film as ‘Ken Loach meets La La Land’, and ‘a love story chicken factory musical’, they talk about the gritty, human love story that’s at the heart of the film, about working class women in the movies, never doing more than three takes of any scene, and securing that Neil Diamond song. Janis also talked about the film that influenced her, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, and Louise talked about her Guilty Pleasure, Flash Gordon.

Next, Mark welcomed the wonderful writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce to discuss Kensuke’s Kingdom, the animated feature based on the Michael Morpurgo classic, which is out on 2nd August. It unites two characters who are very different, but work to find common ground. He discussed the joys and challenges of adapting the book, and about opting for minimal dialogue in the film to produce a powerful story. He made an eloquent point about human nature being essentially good, a much-needed, important reminder. One of the films that influenced him to use visual narrative rather than dialogue was Hitchcock’s Notorious – a sequence involving a key is a classic example of economical storytelling.

Star Morfydd Clark joined Mark on stage to discuss upcoming folk horror film Starve Acre, releasing on 6th September. Morfydd shared some brilliant insights into the filming process, the atmosphere of the film set, and the hilarity of the torrential rainfall that accompanied each one of Matt Smith’s outdoor takes. She reflected on being cast in horror films, including in Saint Maud – and her early love as a three-year old of The Secret Garden, which influenced her to act. She also talked about playing Galadriel in The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power, and her onstage roles coming up at the Almeida theatre in Roots and Look Back in Anger.

Finally, Mark welcomed actor-director Chiwetel Ejiofor onto the show to talk about his second feature Rob Peace, due to release this autumn. Chiwetel talked about the real story of Rob Peace and the process of researching and creating a film about a real person. He also shared some amusing insights into the challenges that come with working as both an actor and director on the film – just when exactly do you say cut?

The thread that combined these films were their central themes: love, community, family, background, class, parenting, social care, social mobility – and humour. But mostly love of cinema, love of stories and love of humanity. Thanks to all our guests and to the great team that pulls the show together, at the BFI and with HLA.

Girls On Film | Episode 179 | 4 July 2024

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:
tinyurl.com/4xfnn8ud

UK Amazon:
tinyurl.com/2z6uakkt

US Macmillan:
tinyurl.com/3z8hnp9c

US Amazon:
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.

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

You can listen to the podcast here.

Contact HLA Agency

T: +44 (0)7801074181
E: hedda@HLAagency.co.uk

About HLA Agency

HLA Agency provides sole agency to its clients and produces live events and audio and video content.
Find out more