A Reel Story. A fireside chat & international networking mixer

Friday, January 28th  7PM CET/10am PST / 1pm EST

RSVP: https://ffla012822.eventbrite.com   (#EWAmembers check your inbox for promo codes)

You are invited to a fireside chat followed by an international virtual networking mixer.

Join EWA Network, Film Fatales, Breaking Through The Lens,  and Wscripted on Friday January 28th 10am PT / 1pm ET / 7pm CET for a panel discussion and international virtual networking event.

Hosted by Akua Gyamfi of the British Blacklist, the event will begin with a 45-minute fireside chat with Moroccan-American documentary filmmaker Rita Baghdadi (Sirens) and two time Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Ondi Timoner (Last Flight Home) to talk about the art of telling underrepresented stories for the screen.

This event is open to the public and a video replay link of the fireside chat will be available for 48 hours after.

NETWORKING SESSION

Following the talk will be a curated networking session, where writers and directors will be invited to join genre-based breakout rooms to discuss storytelling for Film & TV, learn from each other and meet potential creative partners.

This event will offer meaningful insight into the process of telling underrepresented stories, while providing an opportunity for writers and directors of all marginalized genders to connect with fellow storytellers from across North America & Europe.

We invite all participants to fill out this Skill Share Form in advance to build deeper connections. Responses will be shared during the event.

The networking session will not be recorded to create a safer space for active participation. See you soon!

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THE SPEAKERS

Moderator: Akua Gyamfi  is a journalist and creator of The British Blacklist, a highly respected media highlighting the work of BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) entertainment professionals. She is a sought-after commentator on diversity in the arts and awards season, is on the board of The New Black Film Collective, and regularly collaborates with We Are Parable

Ondi Timoner: is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker whose work focuses on “impossible visionaries” (and LAST FLIGHT HOME is no different). She has the rare distinction of winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance twice, for DIG! and WE LIVE IN PUBLIC. Both films were acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City for its permanent collection. [Audio Description]

Rita Baghdadi: is a Moroccan American director focused on character-driven stories with an intimate lens. Her first documentary, My Country No More, won Best Feature at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Her second, City Rising, won the Emmy Award for Best Social Issue Film. Acting as director, producer, and cinematographer, Rita’’s documentary feature Sirens premiered in competition at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. [Audio Description]

ORGANIZERS

Breaking Through the Lens is a grassroots movement focused on measurable actions to overcome the greatest barrier to women and non-binary directors – access to finance. This year-long initiative aims to be a practical resource for underserved filmmakers, one that is multicultural, intersectional and results-driven.

EWA Network is a non profit born in 2013 which has grown as a strong and supportive community for women audiovisual professionals across Europe, organising activities for members which boost their careers and put them into a new spotlight, being present at important industry events and advocating for more gender equality measures in the European film industry. EWA’s pan-European study on female directors in 2016 revealed that although 44% of film school graduates in Europe are women, only 16% of public funding go to films directed by women.

Film Fatales is a non-profit arts organization and talent discovery platform that supports a membership community of over a thousand feature film and television directors of all marginalized genders. We recommend underrepresented creators for jobs, funding and distribution opportunities through our Parity Pipeline initiative and amplify marginalized voices through our Pulling Focus speaker series about craft, the creative process, and the push towards parity on screen and off. We support emerging and mid-career filmmakers and cultivate audiences for their work.

Wscripted is the first online marketplace for sourcing and curating excellent work written by women and non-binary writers for Film, TV, and Publishing. Wscripted aims to revolutionize the discovery of literary talent by expanding the talent pool and increasing opportunities for women writers worldwide. Wscripted most recently published with Variety its Inaugural Cannes Screenplay List, highlighting 25 vetted, female-written screenplays during the 2021 Cannes Film Market.