Filmmakers Take Center Stage
Baltimore Festival Showcases the Work of Women
October 7, 2008
By Christine Welch
One highlight of the Baltimore Women’s Film Festival schedule is the Maryland premiere of “Vanaja,” created in India and ranked by critic Roger Ebert as one of the five best foreign films of 2007.
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The historic Patterson Theater, home of The Creative Alliance in Highlandtown, is virtually empty for the time being. In 30 minutes, a crowd of filmgoers will be filing in to watch short documentaries created by – or for – women.
Waiting eagerly is Deanna Shapiro, who has made her way down the theater ramp, past a tempting collection of mimosas assembled in the concession area, and through double doors into the dimly lit screening area. Shapiro, co-founder of the Baltimore Women’s Film Festival, is savoring the excitement of this “Crafty Docs & Swap” event, a mid-September prelude to the larger film festival coming in late October.
Speaking of the festival, Shapiro says it is intended to “expand people’s horizons.”
“I think there is always room for fresh perspective,” she explains, “especially since media is a male-dominated industry.”
This year’s “fresh perspective” comes from filmmakers like Mary Dalton, a Wake Forest University film professor whose work, Knitting Lessons, was one of the documentaries presented during the “Crafty Docs” event. Dalton’s film focuses on the “Yarn Queen,” Mary Stowe, who is a shop owner, pattern designer and accomplished “speed knitter.”
“I make films about people I know,” says Dalton, whose work consistently carries “community” as a theme. “Communities are about people coming together, and I like to show the unexpected or unfamiliar about these communities – to change people’s perceptions.”
Changing perceptions is also a goal of the Baltimore Women’s Film Festival, which takes place October 23-26 at Landmark’s Harbor East Theatre.
“Festivals like the Baltimore Women’s Film Festival, showcasing women, are important because there isn’t much space for women commercially,” Dalton explains. “Smaller movies created by women are becoming more market receptive, and these festivals support that.”
Festival co-founder Marisa Cohen adds, “We are hoping to raise a dialogue about the lack of female filmmakers in the film and TV industry, and to encourage more women to pursue their goals and dreams in filmmaking.”
The festival schedule is crammed with more than 100 films, all of which owe their creation to women who directed, produced or filled other key roles. In addition, more than 30 filmmakers will be in attendance to discuss their work.
Last year’s inaugural festival in Baltimore drew better than 1,000 attendees. That number is expected to “at least double or triple” this year, says Cohen. Not only is there a larger lineup of films, but two of the movies to be screened on the festival’s final day are free to the public as part of the “Free Fall Baltimore” promotion being embraced by many local cultural outlets and event organizers.
Of the festival’s diverse cinematic offerings, Cohen says, “We had so many amazing films submitted from women all over the world, … I truly believe that all those who attend will be impressed with the overall richness and quality.”
Cohen and Shapiro are two Baltimore-area natives who met as classmates at the Baltimore School for the Arts. They came up with the idea for the festival because they wanted to do something in their hometown for the benefit of women.
The timing of the festival is no coincidence – October is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” and half of the ticket-sale proceeds go to support research and outreach through the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center.
As for September’s “Crafty Docs & Swap” event, the goals were two-fold: to promote the film festival and to stage a craft-supplies swap. Along with seeing four craft-oriented films, attendees got to network with the Charm City Craft Mafia, exchange leftover craft supplies and pick up new materials to use in projects.
“Crafty Docs” was a big success, according to Jennifer Strunge, a Charm City Craft Mafia member and maker of hand-sewn Cotton Monsters. The event “was a neat way to see films you wouldn’t normally see in a movie theater,” Strunge says. “Plus, the craft swap was a great incentive for people to come out and get inspired.”
Strunge didn’t attend the first Baltimore Women’s Film Festival, but says, “I probably will now.”
For full schedule of films, visit http://baltimorewomens.bside.com/2008/schedule
NARRATIVE FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
- The World Premiere of the psychological drama Victoriana (Czech Republic/USA), written, directed and produced by Katka Konecna (to be in attendance) - The Maryland Premiere of Ready? OK!, produced by and starring Carrie Preston (”Transamerica,” “Desperate Housewives”)
- The Maryland Premiere of The Pack, directed, co-written and produced by Alyssa Rallo Bennett (to be in attendance,) and starring Lucie Arnaz.
- The U.S. Premiere of Ulysses Road (UK), produced by Anna Colber and Emily Shawyer.
- The Maryland Premiere of Vanaja (India), produced by Latha R, Domalapalli. Roger Ebert ranked this coming-of-age story one of the “5 Best Foreign Films of 2007.”
The short dramatic film "Morning Due" will be screened Oct. 23.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Maryland Premiere of Beyond Breast Cancer: Stories Of Survivors, directed by Vivian Umino and produced by Saskia Subramanian (to be in attendance).
- The Maryland Premiere of Orgasmic Birth, directed by Debra Pascali-Bonaro.
- The Maryland Premiere of Two Angry Moms, written, directed and produced by Amy Kalafka (to be in attendance). Two Angry Moms has unique Baltimore ties, as Tony Geraci, a chef profiled in the film, was recently hired to revamp the Baltimore City School’s lunch programs.
- Who Does She Think She Is?, directed and produced by Pamela Tanner Boll (to be in attendance). Boll was also the producer on the Academy Award Winning documentary Born into Brothels.
- Katrina’s Children, directed by Laura Belsey.
- Women Behind the Camera, written and directed by Alexis Krasilovsky (to be in attendance). Part of the Free Fall Baltimore program. Also free is a family-friendly collection of short documentaries entitled Women and Sports.
The 2008 Baltimore Women’s Film Festival takes place at Landmark’s Harbor East Theatre, located at 645 S. President Street. Tickets to all regular screening sessions are $10.
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