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Festival to celebrate female filmmakers

17/ 6/2008

AFESTIVAL set up to promote women film-makers is coming to Manchester after a £175,000 lottery boost. The Bird's Eye View Film Festival will get the cash from the UK Film Council over the next three years to help it develop outside of its London base.

The event is backed by major film industry figures, including Joanna Lumley, Alison Steadman, Juliet Stevenson, and Zoe Wanamaker.

It started in London in 2005 showing features, documentaries and short films made by women from around the world.
Organisers say women only make up seven per cent of film directors and 12per cent of screenwriters - and they are keen to redress the balance.

This year's festival was launched in Glasgow in March and is set to come to Manchester in September.

Festival director Rachel Milward said: "We began by celebrating the work of women film-makers from all over the world, and each year we have developed with more outstanding films and innovative events.

"Now we are equipping the next generation of film-makers to break new ground through our own technical and creative training programmes.

"It is always incredibly difficult for art organisations to get funding, and this award from the Film Council will certainly make a big difference to us.

"We aim to establish key bases in a number of areas, and Manchester will certainly be one of them. Hopefully next year we will be able to expand on what we are able to do."

The Belfast-based Cinemagic World Screen Film and Television Festival also says it has plans to expand into Manchester and Liverpool after a £150,000 grant from the same round of lottery funding.