women in film – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

Women in Film @ Cannes 2026 – Diane Carson reports

May 14, 2026 Diane Carson Andira Wilson Mirza, Campari, Cannes 2026, CC (Cecelia) W'emedi, Dr. Inya Lawal, Global South Cinema, Guneet Monga Kapoor, reframe, WIF Los Angeles, women in film

The Women in Film: Global South Cinema Campari luncheon on Wednesday, May 13, at the 2026 International Cannes Film Festival proves what women united can achieve. As described in their information distributed for the gathering, “Over the past two years, WIF Los Angeles has partnered with filmmakers, festivals, funders and organizations across the Global South to build connections, map industries, and launch 10+ new chapters worldwide to support women in the industry. They activate these networks through regional partnerships and leadership collaborations including those with WIFT Africa, WIF India, and women entertainment leaders from around the globe.” This year’s Cannes event celebrated the great strides made by women in Africa and India, the results of impressive and sustained efforts.

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT September 2025: Anu Valia, Filmmaker, WE STRANGERS

August 31, 2025September 1, 2025 Leslie Combemale Anu Valia, CollegeHumor, immigrant parents, Kirby Howell-Batiste, leslie combemale, New York Film Academy, NYU, reframe, ReFrame Rise, sundance institute, tisch school of the arts, We Strangers, women in film

A recent Movie of the Week for AWFJ, We Strangers, bowled over the entire MOTW team. Though it is writer/director Anu Valia’s feature film debut, it shows a remarkable agility with storytelling and a clear commitment and trust with her collaborators both above and below the line. Valia is no stranger to creating art onscreen, having helmed and penned the Sundance Film Festival darling Lucia, Before and After, which won the Short Film July Award at the fest in 2017. She’s also been directing for the small screen for years. Shortly before the release of We Strangers, it was announced she was selected as one of the filmmakers in the WIF (formerly Women in Film) and ReFrame’s new class of ReFrame Rise for 2025 and 2026.

News

Women Rocking Hollywood at WonderCon – Leslie Combemale reports

April 2, 2025 Leslie Combemale #metoo, Aeysha Carr, Carla Ching, Chandra Jackson, Dara Resnik, reFrame stamp, rosemary rodriguez, women in film, women rocking hollywood, wondercon

AWFJ had the opportunity to amplify female filmmakers at the latest WonderCon convention, which took place in Anaheim, California the last weekend in March with the 11th annual Women Rocking Hollywood panel. This year’s focus was on surviving and thriving in a changing landscape, and featured executive producers, writers, a director and an advocate for parity in the screen industries. As always, the panel was on Saturday, the most attended day of the convention, and for the first time, it was presented in the largest venue at the Anaheim Convention Center, with over a thousands seats.

Festivals

WonderCon: Women Rocking Hollywood Panel – Jennifer Merin reports

April 4, 2024August 6, 2024 Jennifer Merin Amy Greene, Andria Wilson Mirza, Anna Biller, Anna Halberg, Apple TV+, Erica Tremblay, Famale film makers, leslie combemale, netflix, reframe, women in film, women rocking hollywood, wondercon, WonderCon2024

AWFJ member and senior contributor Leslie Combemale recently brought her 10th Women Rocking Hollywood panel to WonderCon in Los Angeles, on Saturday, March 30th, just in time to celebrate Women’s History Month. Hundreds of convention attendees who are fans of cinema and women in film were present to hear this year’s cohort of female filmmakers discuss their careers and latest projects. The panel included Anna Halberg, Amy Greene, Anna Biller, Erica Tremblay, and Andria Wilson Mirza, with Leslie Combemale moderating. Leslie is premiering the video from the panel here on AWFJ.org. Read on to learn more about each panelist and their contributions to the conversation. There is a link to the video of the panel at the end of this overview.

News

WEEK IN WOMEN: Women in Film/Netflix ReFrame Rise boosts women helmers & shooters – Brandy McDonnell reports

August 17, 2022August 20, 2022 Brandy McDonnell netflix, ReFrame Rise, twiw, week in women, women in film

Women in Film is expanding its offerings to help elevate women directors and cinematographers at multiple stages of their careers through a newly expanded ReFrame Rise accelerator and an upcoming Women in Film Directors and Cinematographers Fellowship. These programs are made possible by support from the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, an initiative to build new opportunities for underrepresented communities within entertainment, according to a news release.

Commentaries Movie of the Week News Reviews