In LA next week and want to support films by and about women? Rather than checking out a single film at a multiplex, consider attending a female-led film fest. The 13th annual Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival opens on Thursday, March 23 with a Gala and benefit screening of Bette Gordon’s “The Drowning,” a drama about a psychiatrist who is enlisted to treat a young man recently released from prison.
Produced by Diana Means, the Director of Programming at Alliance of Women Filmmakers, the fest will continue through Sunday, March 26 with “features, documentaries, shorts, as well as panels and case studies that educate audiences about content development and distribution,” a press release details.
This year’s centerpiece film is “About Scout,” directed by Laurie Waltz. India Ennenga (“The Returned”) stars as a rebellious Goth teen who embarks on a road trip to reunite with her younger sister, who is in their father’s custody.
Every year the fest teams up with an organization devoted to serving women “to help generate awareness and raise money in support of women’s causes,” the press release explains. This year, the fest is partnering up with WriteGirl, an LA-based organization that offers creative writing and mentoring opportunities for girls.
Check out the schedule for the 2017 Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival below, courtesy of the fest. Head over to the fest’s website for more details and to purchase tickets. Screenings are taking place at the Regal Cinemas at LA Live in downtown LA.
2017 Festival Schedule
THURSDAY, MARCH 23
OPENING NIGHT
8:00pm — The Drowning, directed by Bette Gordon
FRIDAY, MARCH 24
12:00pm — Shorts Program One
2:00pm — Shorts Program Two
4:15pm — Shorts Program Three
6:30pm — Shorts Program Four
9:00pm — Shorts Program Five
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
IN THEATER 14
Morning Panel Series
10:00am — Digital Platforms, Panelists TBA
12:00pm — Film Financing, Panelists TBA
2:00pm — Documentary Distribution, Panelists TBA
Screenings
4:00pm — Raising Ms. President, directed by Kiley Lane Parker
7:00pm — Jackson, directed by Maisie Crow
9:00pm — Same Difference, directed by Nneka Onuorah
IN THEATER 3
10:00am — The Valley, directed by Saila Kariat
12:15pm — The Tribe, directed by Roxy Shih
2:30pm — After Auschwitz, directed by Jon Kean
4:30pm — Women Like Us, directed by Sally Colon-Petree
6:30pm — Reflections Unheard: Black Women in Civil Rights, directed by Nevline Nnaji
8:30pm — About Scout, directed by Laurie Weltz
SUNDAY, MARCH 26
IN THEATER 3
10:00am — Boundaries of the Heart, directed by Zhang Feng
12:15pm — 10 Days in a Madhouse, directed by Timothy Hines
3:00pm — It’s Criminal, directed by Signe Taylor
5:30pm — Saanja, directed by Ajay Saklani
8:00pm — Endless Night, directed by Isabel Coixet
