The UK’s only international film festival dedicated to celebrating women over 50 returns for its 6th year
BY SOPHIE GRIFFITHS
This September, the Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF) will move online to screen 58 international short films by and about older women. Running from 26 – 30 September, WOFFF is packed with stunning, independent short films, filmmaker Q&As, a lecture and an awards ceremony. You absolutely won’t want to miss it.
The festival aims to defy industry stereotypes and spotlight the experiences, voices and talents of women over 50. It’s now in its 6th year, and for the first time, is moving online due to COVID-19. This year the programme will feature 58 short films, from 37 countries, including submissions for the first time from filmmakers in Georgia, Serbia and Trinidad and Tobago. You can check out the full programme for WOFFF 2020 here.
As well as enjoying short films from around the world, audiences will also be able to join various filmmaker Q&A sessions. The WOFFF annual lecture is delivered by Dr. Francesca Sobande of Cardiff University on the on-screen careers of older women of colour, featuring screen legends Viola Davis, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Pam Grier and Grace Jones.
WOFFF films are as varied as the filmmakers who make them. This year’s programme boasts tales of love, work, family and COVID, as well as films about the menopause, a tree that falls in love with a man, FGM and a champion sardine packer. The festival line-up includes multi-awarding winning festival picks from experienced filmmakers, as well as films from first-time and student filmmakers.
Included in the programme this year is Wings – a World War II love story starring BAFTA-winning actor Miriam Margolyes which audiences can view with their Online Festival Pass now available to buy on the WOFFF website. The programme will also feature SWING, a short film about abusive relationships from director and producer, Natacha Horn.
Director and founder of WOFFF, Nuala O’Sullivan said,: “Although this year is not quite as expected, I’m extremely excited by the quality of the submissions we’ve received from all over the world and the programme we’ve put together. This year has seen our largest number of submissions to date – which emboldens me even further!
“I believe that older women must be seen and heard, regardless of their age – even because of it. WOFFF moving online actually allows many more people to see these fantastic films with older women on both sides of the camera at their core. I’m looking forward to the public’s reaction and to seeing which films capture hearts and minds in our ever-popular Emerald Life Audience Choice Award, which everyone can vote for online this year.”
DIVA’s top LGBTQI picks screening at WOFFF20:
Wings by Jamie Weston
A love story between two Land Army girls during WWII that spans over six decades. Starring Miriam Margolyes.
The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen by Jennifer Abod
A portrait of Angela Bowen, from inner cities streets of Boston, to founder of Connecticut’s beloved Bowen-Peters School of Dance, to Black lesbian feminist activist, to distinguished writer and professor.
SWING by Natacha Horn
An abstract, stylized dark comedy about abuse in familiar situations, highlighting how accustomed many of us have become as both the victims and perpetrators.
Grab your tickets to some of the incredible films included in this year’s WOFFF line-up here.
