As proven by Kathryn Bigelow’s Academy Award for Best Director on March 7th, women thrive in front of and behind the camera. The festival features a weekend of short films from 35 first time and veteran female filmmakers produced in countries such as New Zealand, Egypt, USA, Saudi Arabia and Canada. This stellar line-up of short documentaries, animation, drama, and a feature film also includes the presentation of two major filmmaker awards, pitching sessions, free filmmaker industry panels, and exhibitor showcase with networking lunch presentations from local industry companies.

The Women in Film Festival features strong female characters and stories, and films which are crafted by women in writing, producing, directing, lead acting, or editing roles. Excited to open and attend the 2010 festival is seasoned Vancouver director Penelope Buitenhuis, who will present her acclaimed feature film A Wake. This poignant mystery, acted entirely on improvisation, stars Nicholas Campbell (DaVinci’s Inquest), Sarain Boylan, who appeared in last year’s opening film The Baby Formula, and Kristopher Turner from Instant Star.

Both the Legacy Awards ($3,000 in cash awards, presented by Deboragh Gabler, CEO/Producer at Legacy Filmworks for outstanding achievement in film) and the WIDC Feature Film Award (a $100,000 in kind prize, administered by Creative Women Workshops Association, designed to encourage more feature films directed by women in BC) will be presented at the OPENING NIGHT of the festival on Saturday, April 17.

Film festival delegates will be able to PITCH their projects directly to Sean Cossey (Casting Director), Tyman Stewart (Characters Talent Agency), Murray Battle (Knowledge), John Dippong (Telefilm), Robert Hardy (CTV Western Production), and Stacey Landers and Liam Cripps (Papery Films) in 10-minute sessions on Saturday, April 17.  Also open to the public are two free FILMMAKER PANELS. On Saturday, “The Year of Women in Movies?” will be presented by WIFTV sister organization Women in View, which will invite top film professionals to reveal their recipe for making Canada's media culture more gender inclusive. On Sunday, “A Film and Television Industry Market Update; Facing the Hard Facts” will be moderated by award-winning WIDC producer Carol Whiteman, sponsored by CWWA through the support of the CTVglobemedia-CHUM Benefits.

Trade exhibits will be on show throughout the festival weekend at our EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE, which includes a networking lunch on Saturday, April 17 featuring presentations from leading companies in the media industry in Vancouver. Free to the general public!

The festival is open to the general public all weekend. It runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 and features the opening reception at 7 p.m. On Sunday, April 18 the festival runs from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.