St. John's International Women's Film Festival rolls from Oct. 17-21
There's something for everyone in a curated program with a 'genre-spanning array of narratives'
CBC Communications · Posted: Oct 10, 2023 4:06 PM NDT | Last Updated: October 11, 2023
The 34th annual St. John's International Women's Film Festival is happening at the Majestic Theatre in downtown St. John's from Oct. 17-21. The CBC asked executive director Jenn Brown to weigh in on this year's festival.
Q: What challenges, if any, are you facing in Year 34, and what are you looking forward to most?
A: The word "challenge" is often considered negative, but it's the opposite for me. Challenge means opportunity. The last time we were fully back on the ground was in 2019. We will meet our audience again and see which familiar faces are back and which new folks we have reached.
We are creating a new downtown cinema at the Majestic, which we hope to be our long-term festival home. I am most excited about creating opportunities for our community to connect and learn more about what they want, what they love and what we can learn to make the festival even better next year.
We are starting fresh in many ways but with over three decades of lived experience and knowledge behind us. It's a special place to be, and I am eager to see what happens and build on our foundation.
Party Pirate is the opening night film at the 34th St. John's International Women's Film Festival on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre. The comedy is directed by Newfoundland's Ruth Lawrence. (St. John's International Women's Film Festival)
Q: Is there one film that has that wow factor or is creating a buzz already, even before the festival opens?
A: To no one's surprise, opening the festival with a local feature made right here, and a comedy at that, is a gift. Party Pirate sold out instantly, which we were expecting and thrilled about. Ruth Lawrence has set a new record of being the only person to hold our coveted opening night slot twice — that's a huge deal.
The Queen of My Dreams also has massive buzz — it's also almost sold out and has screened to packed houses worldwide since it premiered at TIFF last month. The same applies to Coven, Days of Happiness, Backspot, Black Barbie and Before the Sun. But the shorts program is just as buzz-worthy.
There are a lot of local shorts peppered throughout our shorts programs, and they are always super-popular for a good reason: our local talent is world-class. Shorts are a great way to sample excellent content from our province and worldwide.
Q: What films are going to stick with audiences long after the festival is over?
A: We have curated a genre-spanning array of narratives to offer something for everyone. All of our films will challenge and surprise audiences in different ways. At its core, these films will strengthen our understanding of ourselves and others. By welcoming folks to experience these discoveries together in the cinema, we forge connections with each other and our filmmakers, which is why we exist and why film festivals are so important in many ways. I hope that is the lasting impression we leave with our audiences."
Q: What is the one stand-out thing — could be event, panel, gala, filmmaker — about this year's festival?
A: I am not exaggerating when I say that this year's film industry forum is one of the most stacked industry lineups from any festival across the country. When we say we are bringing in top industry creatives and decision-makers, we aren't exaggerating. Some of the most innovative and groundbreaking artists and huge studios are eager to join us and connect with our industry."
Local and visiting filmmakers can attend panels and one-on-one meetings with Amazon Studios, Paramount+ Canada, Warner Brothers Discovery and many more. We provide incredible access in an inclusive, welcoming setting, which allows sincere relationships to form and plants the seeds of the next big films to come out of Newfoundland and Labrador. I can't wait to see what those will be.
Q: What's new at this year's event?
A: We are very value-driven and try our best to make our events inclusive and accessible for everyone. There's no point in having a festival if people can't come out and attend it. We hope folks avail of our low-cost and discounted ticket fees and screening passes and welcome guests to snag free tickets through the N.L. Public Libraries' Connect Pass program.