Focus on Film: International Women’s Day Screening Event
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our March 8 International Women’s Day event, “Her Voice Matters: Inspiring Global Change Through Women’s Stories.” More than 100 people joined us virtually—from Brazil, DR Congo, the Philippines, Romania, Sweden, and Zimbabwe , to name just a few.
Some highlights from the program:
We held ConnectHER’s first live PitchFest, where participants 13 to 30 years old competed for a chance to make a ConnectHER-commissioned film! Thanks to all the filmmakers who sent us so many great film ideas. We were so impressed with our three finalists—Meghan Montminy, Liwonga Mahlawe, and Halimah Tariq—who answered our judges’ questions about their pitches, just like in Hollywood! Congratulations to PitchFest 2021 winner Liwonga Mahlawe (see our Q&A with her here).
We showcased our filmmakers’ work in three new powerful montages of ConnectHER Film Festival prizewinning films. Thank you, film editor extraordinaire Eric Larner!
- The New Image Makers: In an image -obsessed world, girls reclaim their self-worth and true beauty.
- Girl Power: Meet women who are taking on tough challenges and working to achieve their dreams.
- The Changemakers: Women around the world are fighting for their basic rights—and advancing justice for other women in the process.
Can telling a woman’s story really change the world? Just ask our PitchFest judge and emcee Sara Hirsh Bordo, founder of Women Rising. She talked about how her first film, A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, screened at SXSW and changed the conversation around bullying. The film told the story of Lizzie, who was devastated when she saw hateful comments about herself online. “How in the world could I forgive the people who told me to kill myself?” she says in Hirsh Bordo’s film. “I decided to fight back in a different way.” Check out the trailer here.
Overheard at International Women’s Day 2021…
What is your wish for women in 2021?
“In addition to being smart, brave, talented, and strong, that we are also kind and compassionate. The world needs a lot more kindness, and a lot more compassion. And I hope that women can lead there as well."
–Jyarland Daniels, president and founder of Harriett Speaks
Who is your favorite female superhero?
“My real-life superhero is my grandmother because she always stands up for her morals, her values, and she always stands up for herself. She doesn’t expect anything less. And she teaches me to do the same.”
–filmmaker Bobbi Broome
A big thanks to Ley Line, who performed their new song “Senseless Way.” The song is about “tapping our own intuitive stories” at a time when “we’re flooded with other people’s thoughts, ideas, and influence.” Ley Line’s gorgeous rhythms and harmonies perfectly aligned our spirits with the event’s theme of telling authentic stories about women.
