FILMA. FEMINIST FILM FESTIVAL

In the 1920s, a «motion picture» was called both «film» and «filma» (in Ukrainian, the noun «film» is masculine while the ending «a» makes it feminine). There were even public debates about which form of the word was more correct. Gradually, the feminine «filma» dwindled out of use. One hundred years later, we have decided to name our festival Filma in an attempt to show that for us the question of what cinema is and what it can be remains open.

We call ourselves Filma because cinema can be a co-creative process, with equal opportunities for all participants, instead of the strict top-down favored by privileged directors. We call ourselves Filma because cinema can be less pro-government and more politically aware, less predatory, and more sensitive to humans and non-humans. We call ourselves Filma because cinema can be less red carpet/celebrity culture-oriented, and more inclusive and socially responsible. We call ourselves Filma because it is important for us to think about the possibilities and responsibilities of cinema in the long run, together.

The festival was created by a feminist collective as a collaborative platform for films that meet the principles of intersectional feminism, anti-racism, anti-colonialism, inclusion, and a culture of consent. Conversations with the authors and protagonists of the films, as well as researchers and activists, are an integral part of the program.

Non-hierarchical approach. The festival is non-competitive and open to films of all formats, runtimes, and genres: features, documentaries, animated and experimental films can be shown in thematic programs. All films, from debuts and experimental work to «classics», we consider as equal. We try to pay more attention to feminist themes, and methods of creating feminist cinema, and to develop mutual support among like-minded people, regardless of the forms we work with.

Accessibility. The festival will be a 100% online event. Access to films is available from the territory of Ukraine and is free of charge. The discussions are available worldwide. The films are shown in the original language with Ukrainian subtitles (SDH). Audio descriptions will be available for some films. The working languages of the discussions are English and Ukrainian, with two-way translation and a translation into Ukrainian sign language.

Safety. We aim to create a space free of misogyny, transphobia, racism, heterosexism, ableism, and other forms of oppression. A space where it is possible to find points of intersection between the needs of all vulnerable groups, mutual understanding, and support.

Filma collective: geo, Yulia Serdyukova, Svitlana Shymko, Ira Tantsiura
Financial manager: Iryna Berezneva

Curators of the Origins and Echoes program: Syaivo, geo
Curators of the Possible Utopias program: Mariam Agamyan, Augustina Vasile

Logo: EtchingRoom1
Visuals: Double Cherry
Website design: Nastya Teor
Website programming: Svitlana Shymko
Festival trailers editing: Maria Stoianova

Translation: Yuri Botvinkin, geo, Olha Lyubarska, Armen Martirosyan, Olga Shevchenko, Svitlana Panova, Zhenia Perutska, Sashko Protyah, Burshtyna Tereshchenko, Anna Topilna, Teta Tsybulnyk, Nelia Vakhovska, Sofiya Volkovetska, Iryna Zabiiaka
SDH subtitles: Svitlana Panova, Zhenia Perutska, Olga Shevchenko, Teta Tsybulnyk, Iryna Zabiiaka; editor: Zhenia Perutska
Proofreading (UKR): Sashko Podolyak
Proofreading (ENG, curators statements and festival concept): Anna Bowles
Queer borscht and seasoning texts: Sashko Protyah

Interpretation during the discussions:Olesya Kamyshnykova, Hanna Manoilenko, Olena Vladyka
Interpretation during the discussions into Ukrainian sign language: Natalia Moskalenko, Natalia Moskovets, Lada Sokoliuk

Audio description for the films “Decision”, “Indianara” and “Jožka”: Accessible Cinema agency (NGO Fight For Rights)
Audio description authors: Lesya Chaban, Maria Luchuk, Iryna Sheremet
Voiced by: Volodymyr Bieglov, Alyona Mikhaiska
Sound directors: Andriy Demchuk, Olena Zakharova, Vasyl-Taras Luchka, Volodymyr Kushniruk
Characters voiced by: Mariam Agamyan, Double Cherry, Sofi Beridze
Voice over director: Kateryna Herasymchuk

Audio description for the film “The Wonderful Years”:
Sound director: Yaroslav Bosyi
Voiced by: Yaroslav Khudyk
Consultant: Oksana Potymko

Consultation on the website accessibility: Denys Ivanchenko

Special thanks to: Daria Badior, Anna Bowles, nadiya chushak, Andrea Kuhn, Brigid O’Shea, Sashko Protyah, Nelia Vakhovska and all our close ones and friends who support us on the way

We also thank: Kateryna Babych, Maryna Dubyna, Friedrich Chernyshov, Karina Lebedyeva, Vika Leshchenko, Jitka Kotrlová, René Kubášek, Dasha Podoltseva, Vira Protskyh, Lisa Severina, Dmytro Stupnik, Timur, Maryna Usmanova

In collaboration with Freefilmers
With financial support from: Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung in Ukraine, Movies That Matter, České centrum Kyjev