FILMA. FEMINIST FILM FESTIVAL

In the 1920s, a «motion picture» was called both «film» and «filma» (in Ukrainian, the noun «film» is masculine while the ending «a» makes it feminine). There were even public debates about which form of the word was more correct. Gradually, the feminine «filma» dwindled out of use. One hundred years later, we have decided to name our festival Filma in an attempt to show that for us the question of what cinema is and what it can be remains open.

We call ourselves Filma because cinema can be a co-creative process, with equal opportunities for all participants, instead of the strict top-down favored by privileged directors. We call ourselves Filma because cinema can be less pro-government and more politically aware, less predatory, and more sensitive to humans and non-humans. We call ourselves Filma because cinema can be less red carpet/celebrity culture-oriented, and more inclusive and socially responsible. We call ourselves Filma because it is important for us to think about the possibilities and responsibilities of cinema in the long run, together.

The festival was created by a feminist collective as a collaborative platform for films that meet the principles of intersectional feminism, anti-racism, anti-colonialism, inclusion, and a culture of consent. Conversations with the authors and protagonists of the films, as well as researchers and activists, are an integral part of the program.

Non-hierarchical approach. The festival is non-competitive and open to films of all formats, runtimes, and genres: features, documentaries, animated and experimental films can be shown in thematic programs. All films, from debuts and experimental work to «classics», we consider as equal. We try to pay more attention to feminist themes, and methods of creating feminist cinema, and to develop mutual support among like-minded people, regardless of the forms we work with.

Accessibility. The festival will be a 100% online event. Access to films is available from the territory of Ukraine and is free of charge. The discussions are available worldwide. The films are shown in the original language with Ukrainian subtitles (SDH). Audio descriptions will be available for some films. The working languages of the discussions are English and Ukrainian, with two-way translation and a translation into Ukrainian sign language.

Safety. We aim to create a space free of misogyny, transphobia, racism, heterosexism, ableism, and other forms of oppression. A space where it is possible to find points of intersection between the needs of all vulnerable groups, mutual understanding, and support.

Filma collective: geo, Yulia Serdyukova, Svitlana Shymko, Ira Tantsiura
Coordinator of translation: Zhenia Perutska
SMM-manager: Lisa Severina
Financial manager: Iryna Berezneva

Co-curator of the When Trees Bloom at Home Again program: Sashko Protyah

Visual for this year’s program: Valentina Petrova

We also thank: Kateryna Babych, Oleksiy Yehorov, Vira Protskyh, Dmytro Stupnik

In collaboration with Freefilmers 

With financial support from: Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung в Україні, Movies That Matter, House of Europe