awfj eda awards – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

MIDNIGHT AT THE PARADISE (WFF2022) – Review by Rachel West

December 12, 2022December 15, 2022 Rachel West awfj eda awards, Emma Ferreria, Kate Trotter, Liane Balaban, Midnight At The Paradise, Vanessa Matsui, Whistler Film Festival

Midnight At The Paradise is an assured drama from first-time feature director Vanessa Matsui who shows real talent in storytelling. With a script written by Bill Robertson, it is no surprise the film has drawn comparisons to Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy for its relationship conversations and to Sarah Polley’s quiet Toronto marriage drama Take This Waltz. Opening up questions of what makes a good marriage and the consequences of impulsive decisions is at the core of the story.

Festivals Reviews

POLARIS (WFF2022) – Review by Rachel West

December 12, 2022December 15, 2022 Rachel West awfj eda awards, KC Carthew, Polaris, Viva Lee, Whistler Film Festival

Set in a snowy 2144 following what can only be assumed to be a global eco-disaster, viewers are introduced to 10-year-old Sumi (Viva Lee). In a world seemingly without men or technology, Sumi has been raised by a polar bear “mother” and shares a kinetic and deep bond with nature, guided by Polaris, the North Star. Surviving off the land, Sumi’s brutal but contented existence is interrupted when she is violently kidnapped and locked in a cage by a band of female hunters. It is here that her grisly adventure begins in earnest. One of the most inventive and visionary Canadian films in recent years, Polaris is a must-watch.

EDA Awards Festivals News

Whistler Film Festival 2020 EDA Award Winners – Jennifer Merin reports

December 20, 2020December 20, 2020 Jennifer Merin Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, ashley eakin, awfj eda awards, goddess of the fireflies, jazz tangcay, liz braun, lois alter mark, marina antunes, niav conty, Shauna Hardy Mishaw, single, small time, susan sloszczyna, whistler film festival 2020

For the eighth consecutive year, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists has had the honor to partner with Whistler Film Festival to recognize women filmmakers with presentation of EDA Awards for Best Female-Directed Feature Film and Best Female-Directed Short at the 2020 festival, held online December 1 to 20, 2020.

EDA Awards Festivals Interviews

Whistler Film Festival 2019: Cate Smierciak on MUDPOTS

December 7, 2019December 7, 2019 Jennifer Merin 0 Comments awfj eda awards, Cate Smierciak, mudpots, whistler film festival 2019

Cate Smierxiak’s Mudpots is about two inseparable friends who are, due to forces beyond their control, about to be separated. The film is a coming of age tale about being a teenager who is old enough to be aware of changes in life but not able to control or even influence the most impactful events that form the future. Mudpots is among the short films nominated for an AWFJ EDA Award at Whistler Film Festival 2019. Here’s what Cate Smierciak has to say about the making and meaning of the film..

EDA Awards Festivals Interviews

Whistler Film Festival 2019: Katharine O’Brien on LOST TRANSMISSIONS

December 5, 2019December 6, 2019 Jennifer Merin 0 Comments awfj eda awards, juno temple, lost transmissions, Simon Pegg, Whistler Film Festival

Lost Transmissions is about mental illness. It’s also about the mental wavelengths we’re on, trying to connect to with one another, and missing. On one hand the film is grounded in realism. It shows someone trying to help their friend with psychiatric care. On the other hand, the film looks at how bizarre the real world is if we take a moment to consider it in depth. Lost Transmissions is the opening film at Whistler Film Festival 2019, where it is among the films nominated for an AWFJ EDA Award. Here’s what directior Katharine O’Briien has to say about making the film.

EDA Awards Festivals Interviews

Whistler Film Festival 2019: Lydia Dean Pilcher on LIBERTÉ: A CALL TO SPY – Jennifer Merin interviews

November 28, 2019December 1, 2019 Jennifer Merin 0 Comments awfj eda awards, liberte a call to spy, lydia dean pilcher, Sarah Megan Thomas, whisteler film festival

Financed and shot independently, filmmaker Lydia Dean Pilcher’s thrilling truth-based narrative is about female spies of the Allied resistance during WWII. Forced to consider new avenues for espionage after the Nazis invade France, Sir Winston Churchill created a covert brigade of female spies lead by American expatriate Virginia Hall and Muslim pacifist Noor Inayat Khan who formed a sisterhood while entangled in dangerous missions to help stop Hitler.

EDA Awards Festivals Interviews

Whistler Film Festival 2019: Katia Shannon on STANDSTILL – Jennifer Merin interviews

November 28, 2019November 29, 2019 Jennifer Merin 0 Comments awfj eda awards, katia shannon, standstill, whilstler film festival 2019

Katia Shannon’s Standstill is about a young woman who arrives at an intersection in her life. On the way to starting a new life with her boyfriend, Amanda gets stuck in traffic. Her fight to get through the gridlock turns into a fight for survival as her body comes to a standstill. With panic mounting, Amanda must face her deepest vulnerabilities in order to survive. Standstill has been nominated for an EDA Award at Whistler Film Festival 2019. Here’s what Shannon has to say about her deeply personal short film.

Festivals News

Whistler Film Festival Wraps Another Successful Year – Marina Antunes reports

December 5, 2018December 6, 2018 Marina Antunes 0 Comments ashleigh powell.elizabeth chomko, awfj eda awards, Shauna Hardy Mishaw, sofia alvarez, The Naturally Wanton Pleasure of Skin, Whistler Film Festival

Whistler Film Festival wrapped another successful year and 2018, their 18th installment, proved to be as successful as previous years. WFF has long been a hub for female creatives and 2018 was no different. In addition to the films in this years’ EDA Awards competitions, and films featuring strong female leads, the festival was once again host to Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch series which included no less than five female screenwriters.

Spotlight

SPOTLIGHT October 2017: Agnès Varda, Filmmaker, Honorary Oscar Recipient, Director of FACES PLACES

October 1, 2017March 29, 2019 Marilyn Ferdinand (Archived Contributor) 0 Comments agnes varda, awfj eda awards, beaches of agnes, cleo nine to five, facesplaces, oscars

Agnès Varda’s creative process reflects her storied career. In 63 years of filmmaking the sole female Nouvelle Vague director has created a vast body of work. Now, at age 89, Varda has a new film and honor to add to her long list of achievements and awards.. Viva Varda!