The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF) is one of the longest running women’s film festivals in the world. Established in 1989 to support and promote women filmmakers, SJIWFF produces several screenings, workshops and other events throughout the year, culminating in a five day film festival held in October in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. This dynamic event attracts close to 4,000 participants. Every year we receive about 500 film submissions and from those, we present a powerful program of international documentaries, short films and feature works. The 24th Annual Festival runs October 22-26, 2012.
Festival week also features an International Film Forum of keynote addresses, seminars, workshops and face-to-face meetings for filmmakers and producers. Last year’s Forum included master classes with transmedia guru Anita Ondine, pitch coaching with Ruth Atkinson and Peter Wetherell, and a microbudgeting workshop with Ingrid Veninger. The Forum focusses on the business of filmmaking while the Festival celebrates international works by women.
Throughout the year, SJIWFF organizes a provincial screening tour called Films On The Go, and a series of youth workshops (FRAMED FILM CAMP, FRAMED DOC, 2D in 2 Days and the 24 Hour Film Challenge). SJIWFF is proud to sponsor the RBC Michelle Jackson Emerging Filmmaker Award, an annual peer-juried award for the production of a six-minute film by a promising female director. This award was established in memory of friend, filmmaker, and youth mentor, Michelle Jackson (1972-2008).
For more information on any SJIWFF initiatives, please email info@womensfilmfestival.com or call 709-754-3141.