San Francisco Makes History for Women's Film

    
Women's Film Institute is hosting a Networking Mixer this Thursday, January 14th form 7pm to 9pm for film fans, filmmakers and artists at Ninth Street Independent Film Center in San Francisco. This exciting event brings together everyone from writers to producers to visual artists to musicians and more in a creative space to explore and connect. And this isn't for women only. It is meant for the entire community.

This is all leading up to the Sixth Annual San Francisco International Women's Film Festival, presented by Women's Film Institute. Scarlett Shepard, founder of the festival, is a filmmaker and community educator at heart. The Networking Mixer provides a fun forum to educate the public about the upcoming festival as well as allows participants to promote their own work. This is part of a larger strategy to get more women in film.

Shepard started the SFWFF in 2004 while she was a student at San Francisco State University because, not only was there lack of women filmmakers, the history and contributions of women in film were being overlooked. "I felt that the lack of women in film was really detrimental to our stories and our voices. It wasn't just that we were invisible. It is like there is violence there when we aren't heard and omitted."

Shepard responded to the lack of women's presence behind the camera by creating the SFWFF. "I have been an activist since I was little," said Shepard. "I come from a line of strong women." It was this upbringing that made her uniquely prepared to tackle this challenge. "It isn't easy," she said, "being flexible is key."

Over the years, Shepard has also learned the simple rule that "starting early is key". This event is part of that plan by getting people connected to each other and to the Women's Film Institute. Thus, when the 80 short films and 3-5 longer features are announced at the end of January or beginning of February 2010 there is a community willing to help promote the festival. "Volunteers,donations or funding support from film lovers and the arts community, and word of mouth are the lifeblood of our festival," said Shepard.

The goal of the SFWFF is not just producing a high quality film festival. Shepard acknowledges that the lack of women behind the camera is not the only issue. There is a lack of curriculum available for colleges and universities to teach about women in film. Shepard said, "I believe professors and staff  need to create a curriculum that is more inclusive to women by celebrating their achievements in cinema just as they do with our great grandfather's of cinema."

The production of a film festival and it subsequent awards in filmmaking elevate the women filmmakers and make it easier for them to garner funding for future projects. And it helps create a richer history of women in film; a history that demands to be taught within colleges and universities.

The San Francisco International Women's Film Festival runs April 5 -11, 2010 in venues across the Bay Area including The Roxie Theater. Over 800 films have been submitted from around the world.

Ninth Street Independent Film Center is located 145 9th Street in San Francisco, CA.

For more history on women in film, check out Reel Women: Pioneers of the Cinema 1896 to the Present by Ally Acker and Shooting Women, a documentary by Alexis Krasilovsky.

Share |

Old Articles for Youth Worker: Collective (formerly YDPN)

 

These are all articles I wrote for the Youth Worker: Collective (formerly YDPN). Click through the title to read the full article.

***
The Red Carpet Festival Announces Films - The Red Carpet Festival announces a lineup of thought-provoking, emotionally-compelling, and entertaining films from across the Bay Area focusing on the field of youth serives and youth work. These films highlight stories of inclusion, police brutatlity, arts education, sustainable gardening, and diversity from youth and the professionals who work with them. They shine a light on youth voice and celebrate the collective accomplishments of the youth services field.

A Reflection Inspired by Mitt Romney -  It is amazing to see when and where inspiration will strike. This morning I opened up The SF Examiner to get my daily dose of gossip. As I was making my way to "Scoop" on page 20, I saw the article "Romney scoffs at presidential 'tour of apology'", complete with a picture of the always-coiffed Romney with pursed lips.

The Navigators and YDPN - I am on the plane back from Indiana listening to Damien Rice and reflecting on my experiences over the last week, specifically over the last 36 hours. It has been a whirlwind of activity: Youth Worker Brown Bags, Financial Literacy 101 for Youth Workers presented by Y-TEP, Community Conversations, We Are Youth Workers Steering Committee meeting, and the fantastic time spent with The Navigators, a group of youth worker fellows in Indiana. Tomorrow I spend the day with Steering Committee members doing arts-based practice to help think really big about the YDPN, and I am on the verge of tears. I am amazed by youth workers. I am amazed by their resiliency, candor, passion, critical thought and lives. I am overwhelmed by how much they do given everything that surrounds them and all of the roadblocks, both internally and externally, that lay on their path.

AFATAC and YDPN: Two Models of Collaborative Professionalization -
On February 12th and 13th, I presented at Foundation Inc.'s Beyond School Hours Conference. The presentation was on Collaborative Professionalization Models: Learnings from the After School for All Technical Assistance Collaborative and the Youth Development Peer Network. These two models are quite unique and different. One, AFATAC, seeks to build collaboration among technical assistance and professional development providers to improve the quality of programming in the out-of-school arena. The second, YDPN, seeks to professionalize youth workers from the ground up.

Youth Worker Brown Bag: Peace -  The YDPN in collaboration with youth workers Aaron Gilbert, Dana Mandolesi, Teresa Nauer, and Bill Vanark hosted the first Youth Worker Brown Bag on Monday, October 27th at Sports Basement in San Francisco. This Brown Bag focused on peace and drew over 15 youth workers from across a variety of sectors and positions.

Announcing the 2008-2009 AFATAC Mentors and Mentees - On Thursday, October 30th AFA TAC ushered in the 2008-09 cohort of Mentors and Mentees at the annual Mentor/Mentee retreat. The retreat brought together 12 experienced site coordinator/director-level youth workers and paired them with 14 emerging leaders. The day was chalk full of activities, teambuilders, and business.

A Report on the Community Conversations with the Blood Centers of the Pacific - Community Conversations is a program of the Youth Development Peer Network (YDPN) that seeks to bring youth workers, the community and organizations together to brainstorm ideas and create action plans around a specific guiding question utilizing existing resources. The YDPN’s role is to partner with an organization looking for support and input from the community around a specific issue. YDPN seeks and connects with intentional partners to meet the partnering organizations goals. 

A Small Peace of Revolution in The Mission - On Saturday, August 23rd the 16th Street BART Station was transformed into a public space of peace. The Youth Development Peer Network and the Mission Community Council gathered youth workers, professionals who work with or on behalf of youth, from across the Bay Area to ask people “What is your path to peace?” This question took different formats at the BART Station including informational tables from Mission Graduates, the San Francisco Buddhist Center, GirlVentures, and Public Allies of Silicon Valley; performances from Danza Azteca and Alphabet Rockers; a community peace altar; and a community art project where passers-by completed the statement “My path to peace is…”.

Share |