Celluloid Ceiling

04/04/2025

For young adults thinking of STEM careers see our book ‘50 Women in Technology’

With fewer female STEM role models, your daughter’s future is at stake. How mentorship and representation can change the game.

04/04/2025

In the news this week...

🗞️ Film and TV industries consider the impact of new US tariffs
🗞️ BBC content spend to drop almost £150m in the next financial year
🗞️ C4’s Alex Mahon urges the government to stop AI companies from “scraping the value” out of the UK’s creative industries.
..and more, in this week's Directors Digest: https://ow.ly/O3U850VpW31

04/04/2025

https://m.facebook.com/100064847794993/posts/29004997395811803/?mibextid=wwXIfr

INSPIRING PASSIONS · REALISING AMBITIONS.

City Lit is the country’s ultimate destination for evening, weekend and daytime course, delivered both online and face-to-face.

Book now by visiting www.citylit.ac.uk

17/03/2025

“I believe there is an extraordinarily strong business case for the development and delivery of genuinely original storytelling of a much broader range, depth and scope of the human experience of disability — to be made and created by those who know it best.”

—John Maidens

From our archives — John Maidens on portraying deafness in Casualty: https://ow.ly/uxpg50VeV4J

17/03/2025

17/03/2025

3 Day Cinematography Workshop.
❗️Last few spaces
An intro into the art of cinematography: Lighting, lenses, staging, movement and working as a unit.

🎥 The opportunity to work with ARRI Alexa camera, Zeiss Prime lenses and Falcon 3 studio dolly with soft wheels. ARRI cameras are leading the way – at the 77th Festival de Cannes, more than 80 percent of festival films were captured with ARRI cameras, including recent Oscar winning film “Anora”

The cinematographer is one of the key creative individuals in the filmmaking process, and is certainly the craftsperson whose work audiences are most aware of. The cinematographer’s imprint is on every frame. They can elevate a film beyond its script and subject.

ℹ️ The workshop is suitable for people with some basic knowledge of camera who are considering moving into a camera department role, entering film school at the MA level, or industry camera technicians and trainees who want to learn more. It is designed for directors who want to improve their understanding of the camera’s function in visual storytelling and learn more about lighting and operating.

With teaching from Andrew Speller, an experienced cinematographer and camera operator with over 30 years in the film industry who can guide both the creative ambitions of cinematography with the technical know-how.

Learn with the support of not only an experienced tutor and film crew but professional actors on-hand to put theory to practice in camera exercises in studio at the heart of London.

📆Fri March 21-Sun March 23
£725 includes all equipment
📍LFS Shelton Street Studios

ℹ️ 🔗See link in comments below or our story for booking and info:
Limited Spaces:

17/03/2025

Dominique was the first, but certainly not the last. Simone may be the GOAT, but before she tumbled her way into our hearts, Dominique Dawes paved the way for Black female gymnasts in the Olympics. We’re celebrating by highlighting women who broke barriers and showed young girls around the world that If They Can See It, They Can Be It. 

17/03/2025

Helen Mirren, Emma Thompson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Nicole Kidman at the Toronto Film Festival 🎥 🎬

17/03/2025

This Women’s Herstory Month, join Film Fatales in our mission to advocate for gender equity in entertainment and support a community of thousands of mid-career filmmakers or all marginalized genders.

Explore our Online Auction featuring incredible opportunities from today’s top filmmakers. Bid to win set visits, meet and greets, private consultations, and pitch sessions with industry stars! The auction is live through March 21st.

Bid here: https://www.charitybuzz.com/support/filmfatales

17/03/2025

Launching Wednesday, March 19th 🎙️AWD’s NEW Podcast Series - 🎧 Icon-Versations 

🤩 All New Episodes Wednesdays 🤩

Alliance of Women Directors is proud to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast series — Icon-Versations — where AWD Icon Members, some of the most accomplished directors in the industry, engage in raw, honest, and often hilarious conversations about what it really takes to succeed in this field.

Unlike anything else out there, these deep dives happen without a host, offering a unique and intimate window into the lives and experiences of trailblazing directors who are fighting for parity and inclusion in entertainment.

🎙️ Launching Wednesday, March 19 — this limited 3-episode series features:

All will come delivered in transcript form and audio form.

* Ep 1: “Find Your Tribe” — Hanelle Culpepper & Morenike Joela Evans on creative instincts, mentorship, and finding your people.

* Ep 2: “This is the Content” — Mary Lou Belli & Anya Adams (co-governors of the TV Academy’s Directors Peer Group) in a hilarious, real convo about elevating diverse voices.

* Ep 3: “Your Story Will Save You” — Lesli Linka Glatter & Jen McGowan on storytelling as survival and embracing your needs in high-stakes spaces.

🎟️ How to Listen:
* AWD Directing and Ally Members listen FREE — check your email or the AWD website for access codes.

* Not a member yet? You can purchase episodes for $2 each (+fees) or grab all 3 for $5 (+fees) via Eventbrite.

➡️Follow AWD’s social media or sign up for our newsletter to be the first to get links to the episodes as soon as they come out!

💡 Want more? By joining AWD, you’ll get this series for free, plus exclusive workshops, mixers, and events to connect and grow with a powerful community of creatives and allies.

 👉

💖 Support Our Mission: This podcast is part of AWD’s ongoing work to raise underrepresented voices.

Help us keep these conversations going by donating via the Eventbrite podcast page when available or directly here:
 https://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/donate/

Together, we can shape a future of true inclusion.

Thank you for being part of this journey!

17/03/2025

& Monthly submission opportunities for women in theatre & film/video. 

17/03/2025

Menopause Awareness Programme for the Screen Sector | Session 2: Soft Skills for Menopause Management

Menopause affects countless professionals in the screen industry, yet it often remains an overlooked workplace conversation. This interactive workshop is designed to empower individuals with essential soft skills to navigate menopause with confidence—both personally and professionally.

- Learn about menopause from a healthcare professional
- Develop communication strategies to advocate for your needs
- Build resilience and practical coping mechanisms

📅 Sat, 5th April | 📍 Dublin | ⏳ Apply by 28th March, 2 PM

Apply now: https://www.nationaltalentacademies.ie/courses-activities-programmes/session-2-soft-skills-for-menopause-management

17/03/2025

OPEN CALL: The Writers Lab 2025 Int’l Submissions

Our friends at The Writers Lab are back for their 11th year—and they’re opening doors for bold, visionary women and nonbinary screenwriters 40+.

Discount code for AWD members, which will get them $20 off submission! (🤩Check your emails)

Supported by Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and now Natalie Portman, TWL is the only program in the world exclusively dedicated to developing the scripts and careers of writers like you.

International submissions open Feb 25. Features + Pilots (1-hour + ½-hour) in English are welcome. 12 projects will be selected for an in-person retreat in NYC this November—four days of deep script development, peer collaboration, and direct mentorship with powerhouse industry leaders.

And the impact? Game-changing. TWL alumni have gone on to secure management, make The Black List, and bring their screenplays to life.

Early deadline: Tonight! March 10th
Regular deadline: April 1st
Apply via the link in bio.

17/03/2025

“A gut punch of a thriller” - Vogue

Join us for special screenings and conversations with director Sandhya Suri in cities across the UK:

📍 17 Mar – Edinburgh, Cameo Picturehouse
📍20 Mar – Leeds, Hyde Park Picture House
📍22 Mar – Brighton, Dukes at Komedia Picturehouse

🔗Click the link in our bio to book tickets.

After the sudden loss of her husband, Santosh finds herself unexpectedly appointed as a police constable in the rugged heartlands of Northern India. When a young low-caste girl is found murdered, Santosh is drawn into a gripping investigation that tests her courage and convictions.

SANTOSH lands in UK cinemas from 21 March 2025.

17/03/2025

The power of GDI 💚 There is always room for more diversity in the characters we see on screen. A simple switch can be the difference in viewers feeling seen, celebrated, and appreciated. Thank you Poorna Jagannathan and Abdullah Saeed of Hulu’s , for showing the impact of our work!

📸:

17/03/2025

Important that democratic voices change the narrative in America and gain more followers.

17/03/2025

Nancy Cunard’s life was a testament to her unwavering commitment to social justice, artistic expression, and radical politics. Born into privilege as a member of the Cunard shipping family, she rejected the constraints of her aristocratic background to forge a path defined by her principles and passions. Her relationship with Henry Crowder, a Black jazz musician, was not only a personal defiance of the racial and social norms of her time but also a catalyst for her activism. This relationship led to her disinheritance, a consequence she accepted without hesitation, further solidifying her break from the conservative values of her family.

Cunard’s work as a publisher and advocate for Black writers was groundbreaking. Through her Hours Press, she championed the voices of African American and Caribbean authors, including Langston Hughes, whose work she prominently featured. Her anthology, Negro: An Anthology, published in 1934, was a monumental collection of essays, poems, and articles that celebrated Black culture and history while confronting the systemic racism and colonialism of the era. This work was a radical act of solidarity and a bold statement against the prevailing prejudices of the time.

Her anti-fascist activism was equally profound. Cunard was deeply affected by the rise of fascism in Europe and used her writing to expose its atrocities. She was particularly vocal about Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, producing articles that highlighted the brutality of the Italian occupation and the resilience of the Ethiopian people. Her journalism was not merely observational; it was a call to action, urging the world to confront the injustices of fascist aggression.

During the Spanish Civil War, Cunard’s commitment to the anti-fascist cause led her to support refugees fleeing the conflict. She worked tirelessly to provide aid and raise awareness about the plight of those displaced by the war. Her involvement extended to the French Resistance during World War II, where she served as a translator, using her linguistic skills to support the fight against **i occupation. This period of her life underscored her dedication to the global struggle against tyranny and oppression.

Cunard’s legacy is one of courage, creativity, and relentless advocacy for marginalized communities. Her life was marked by a refusal to conform to societal expectations, whether in her personal relationships, her artistic endeavors, or her political .