We Speak Filmmakers
Celebrating Female Filmmakers On International Women’s Day With SheDoesFilmz
Official film history often forgets about female directors, says Julie Des, the founder of SheDoesFilmz, a subscription service featuring solely female-directed films. She’s hoping to remedy that, and during the week of 4-11 March, new subscribers will get a 50% discount on annual membership, to mark International Women’s Day. Julie says: “For the price of two coffees a month, you can receive a regular, curated collection of female films selected by the best global festivals.”
The online platform, which features award-winning films from around the world, was set up in 2018 to highlight brilliant women in film. Julie says:
“SheDoesFilmz aims to build a community of film lovers who will help progress the search for past and current talent and bring these talented works to the world.”
According to a study in Slate magazine, women-directed films suffer from 67% lower distribution than other movies. Julie said: “This means women are making all these movies that are amazing and get to festivals, but then don’t get distributed. Part of our analysis is that some institutions go for easy picks, wanting to avoid topics that are too bold or female-focused. We are more interested in those – the movies that are a bit shocking, different.
“Many of our movies are about topics which you wouldn’t expect or you don’t usually see. As a society we have to actively work towards representation in all fields, but particularly in the arts and film. It’s work we’re proud to be leading!”
SheDoesFilmz shows a rotating collection of festival films directed by women, which can be hard to see elsewhere. Past gems include Nelly Kaplan’s iconic ‘nouvelle vague’ films. SheDoesFilmz selects movies from across all genres and Julie says she’s inspired by the “pure cinephile joy” of watching wonderful films:
“What a shame to ever have missed them! This is the real passion behind the platform – discovering and sharing incredible films.”
When asked to recommend a couple of films that are currently on the site, Julie mentions the Sundance Film Festival-winning documentary ‘Half The Picture’, which is, appropriately enough, about the gender gap in Hollywood. The movie features interviews with successful female directors, including Ava DuVernay, Lena Dunham, Jill Soloway, Rosanna Arquette and Gina Prince-Bythewood, asking them about their career paths, challenges and aims for the future.
Another must-watch is ‘Microhabitat’, by South Korean director Jeon Go-woon. Julie says: “It’s a super-fun, quirky film about a thirty-something woman in Seoul who’s in love with whisky and cigarettes! It was a huge festival favourite, winning over 10 awards.” And Julie says that she’s looking forward to adding to new festival acclaimed Ecuadorian film about a prostitute seeking revenge, ‘La Mala Noche’ and Chinese festival favourite ‘Girls Always Happy’ about the symbiotic relationship between a mother and her daughter in Beijing.
To find out more about SheDoesFilmz and subscribe, visit: www.shedoesfilmz.com
Featured photo credit: AvaDuVernay, ‘Half The Picture’ documentary. Photo by Soraya Selene
We Speak Filmmakers
Filmmaker Shashwat Brahmbhatt Releases New Short Film “Act Three,” A Story of Reinvention, Resilience and Rediscovering an Artist’s Voice
Los Angeles-based filmmaker and production designer Shashwat Brahmbhatt presents a powerful drama about a former film star who finds a second act on the theatre stage
Filmmaker and production designer Shashwat Brahmbhatt releases his new short film “Act Three,” an emotional story about rediscovering one’s identity, rebuilding confidence and finding artistic purpose when the spotlight begins to fade.
The film follows Celia, a hugely successful actress who rose to fame two decades earlier. Now in her 50s, Celia finds herself struggling to secure major film roles as the industry increasingly overlooks actresses her age. Once celebrated for her talent, she has gradually lost confidence not only in herself as an actress, but also in who she is outside of her former success.
Looking for a way back to the artist she once was, Celia returns to her roots in theatre. She auditions for a play and unexpectedly lands the lead role. But she soon discovers that her famous name played a major part in her casting. Her audition was not as strong as she had hoped, and she realizes that earning back the respect she once commanded will require more than her reputation.
With an opportunity to prove herself once again, Celia commits to rediscovering her craft. Along the way, she must navigate a difficult and initially arrogant director who does not see her as the accomplished actress she believes herself to be. Their relationship gradually evolves as the director begins to coach and challenge Celia, helping her reconnect with her abilities and push herself further as a performer.
As opening night approaches, Celia discovers that her journey is not simply about proving something to the world. It is about remembering who she is as an artist.
The culmination of the film sees Celia stepping onto the stage and delivering the performance she has been working toward, finally receiving the love, recognition and appreciation she has been yearning for.
At its heart, “Act Three” explores the idea that an artist’s story does not end when their biggest years of fame are behind them. Instead, another chapter can begin when they are willing to return to their craft, confront their doubts and give themselves permission to grow.
An Award-Winning Festival Run
“Act Three” has already received recognition from film festivals and independent film organizations, including:
Thilsri International Film Festival — Best International Short Film, Winner
Golden Lion International Film Festival — Best International Film, Winner
Athvikvaruni International Film Festival — Best International Film, Winner
Kodaikanal International Film Festival — Winner
Heart of Europe International Season Film Festival — Winner
Iconic Indie Awards — Best Short Film, Nomination
Critics Society Film Festival — Narrative Short, Finalist
Anatolia International Film Festival — Best American Film, Finalist
Filmmaker Sessions Volume 8 — Nomination
Peshawar International Film Festival — Nomination
WinterSun International Film Festival — Nomination
New York International Film Awards — Finalist
Indie Film LA — Nomination
17th Underground Cinema International Film Festival — Nomination
Mei International Film Festival — Finalist
With “Act Three,” Brahmbhatt brings together his experience as a director, filmmaker and production designer to tell a character-driven story about an artist confronting self-doubt and discovering that it is never too late to reclaim your voice.
About Shashwat Brahmbhatt
Shashwat Brahmbhatt is a filmmaker and production designer from India, currently based in Los Angeles. After beginning his filmmaking journey with the short film “Radha” in 2021, he transitioned from Civil Engineering into the film industry, working as an Assistant Director, Art AD and Production Designer in India before pursuing an MFA in Filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. Today, he works professionally in Los Angeles as a production designer while continuing to develop his work as a filmmaker and director.
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