This March, celebrate the stories of strong women who have left a lasting legacy on society. This is a time to honour the vital role of women in history and celebrate their diverse achievements. These inspiring and illuminating films explore the triumphs and challenges of the female experience in the past, as well as contemporary takes on compelling female characters navigating modern life.
Miss Representation
In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message we receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality, and not in her capacity as a leader. While women have made great strides in leadership over the past few decades, the United States is still 33rd out of the 49 highest income countries when it comes to women in the national legislature. And it’s not better outside of government. Women make up only 4.6% of S&P 500 CEOs and 17% of directors, executive producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors working on the top 250 domestic grossing films.
Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe
A celebration of the remarkable spirits of four African women survivors of sexual abuse, and the triumph of their improbable theatre troupe. Four women fled from different parts of Africa to Australia in order to escape violence and abuse. They find a safe haven in Australia, but still they hold their pain silently within them - until they decide to join a theatre group and speak out. Under the nurturing guidance of theatre director Ros Horin, they collaborate to let their life stories be transformed into an extraordinary and joyously uplifting theatrical experience. This film charts their personal journeys from trauma to healing and public triumphs, as the Troupe’s show moves from a stage in western Sydney out to the world.
Citizen Jane: Battle For the City
A timely tale of what can happen when engaged citizens fight the power for the sake of a better world. Arguably no one did more to shape our understanding of the modern American city than Jane Jacobs, the visionary activist and writer who fought to preserve urban communities in the face of destructive development projects. Director Matt Tyranuer (Valentino: The Last Emperor) vividly brings to life Jacobs' 1960s showdown with ruthless construction kingpin Robert Moses over his plan to raze lower Manhattan to make way for a highway, a dramatic struggle over the very soul of the neighbourhood.
Bhutto
An epic story about the first woman in history to lead a Muslim nation - Pakistan. TIME Magazine called Pakistan "the most dangerous place in the world" with good reason: the 6th largest country on the planet (population: 180 million), Pakistan is bordered by Iran, Afghanistan and long-time rival India, with whom it has engaged in a decades-long and smoldering conflict. Pakistan is ravaged by often violent internal dissent between various tribes and political factions. And Pakistan remains the world's only nuclear-armed Muslim nation. Benazir Bhutto was born into a wealthy family that has become Pakistan's dominant political dynasty. Often referred to as the "Kennedys of Pakistan," the Bhutto's share a painful history of triumph and tragedy, played out on an international stage. With her assassination, she transcended politics, but left behind a legacy of simmering controversy and undeniable courage that will be debated for years.
Black Panther Woman
Marlene Cummins breaks a forty year silence to tell the story of her abuse in the Australian Black protest movement, to overcome her demons of today. In 1972 Marlene Cummins fell in love with the leader of the Australian Black Panther Party. With the break up of that relationship, she spiraled into a cycle of addiction that left her on the streets and vulnerable. Forty years later Marlene travels to a gathering of international Black Panthers in New York. The journey takes her back in time. Still struggling with addiction, she reveals the secrets she has held onto, to face her demons today.
RBG
Hero. Icon. Dissenter.
The exceptional life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon.
The Leadership
The world is crying out for a new model of leadership, but what is it? One woman thinks she has the answer. Australian CEO and ‘dreamer' Fabian Dattner, leads an international group of 76 female scientists on an Antarctic voyage designed to transform them "into the sort of leaders they want to be." Her hope is that once these women are primed to lead in science, they will be able to make meaningful change around the world. But on board Dattner's own leadership style and philosophy are both severely tested, as the women's deeply personal stories of workplace harassment and more are revealed. Set against the planet’s last untouched wilderness, The Leadership delivers an altogether unexpected and original reflection on what it takes to be a good leader, while unearthing the profoundly troubling systemic obstacles to women’s advancement in science and beyond.
Advocate
The life and work of Jewish-Israeli lawyer Lea Tsemel who has represented political prisoners for nearly 50 years. Israeli human-rights lawyer Lea Tsemel is a force that won’t be deterred. Having defended Palestinians against a host of criminal charges in Israeli courts for nearly five decades, she is a staunch supporter of compassion within the court system. Frequently subjected to harsh criticism in the press and in the public view, Tsemel remains optimistically steadfast in her belief that justice can be served. Delicately animated sequences conceal defendants’ identities as Tsemel frankly addresses their best possible chances for acquittal, while interviews with Tsemel’s adult children reveal her unique ability to see the humanity of those accused. Advocate is an original, provocative film that both exposes the human fallout of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and provides hope for a peaceful resolution.
Iris
True style is ageless. IRIS pairs legendary documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old New York style icon and muse. More than just a fashion film, it is a story about creativity, design and how her soaring free spirit continues to inspire. IRIS portrays a woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people are life's sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment.
Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist
With exclusive, unprecedented access, WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST the first film about the grande dame of punk and enfant terrible of British fashion, Vivienne Westwood. The film explores her uphill struggle to success, looking closely at her artistry, activism and cultural significance. Blending iconic archive and new footage, this intimate story is told in Vivienne’s own words, and through touching interviews with her inner circle. WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST is the remarkable story of one of the true icons of our time, as she fights to maintain her brand’s integrity, her principles – and her legacy.
