The Davis Feminist Film Festival is returning to town next week in what will mark its seventh annual showing.
Not to be confused with the UC Davis Film Festival – also on the horizon – the Feminist Film Festival fashions itself as a venue with thematic purpose. That is, if the name didn’t key you in already, the Feminist Film Fest operates with a design for social justice.
As explained by 2012 festival director Andrew Ventimiglia, the festival works to provide a space to show the films of underrepresented artists (particularly women and people of color) addressing important issues of gender, race, class, sexuality and other dimensions of social inequality.
On Thursday of next week, there will be a preview screening of UC Davis Professor Julie Wyman’s “STRONG!” which chronicles the quest of Olympic athlete Cheryl Haworth to be the strongest woman in the world.
Accompanying it will be a slew of short films from all over, all presumably under the umbrella of the festival’s thematic orientation.
“I think this year’s lineup is excellent,” Ventimiglia said. “But I am most looking forward to seeing ‘Ovejas Azules,’ a magical realist film from Spain about a filmmaker dealing with the death of his grandmother, and ‘On my Way to Villa,’ a really beautiful, almost meditative film from Iran.”
Ventimiglia went on to note that many of the films selected for the festival were chosen, alongside members of the advisory board, by students here at UC Davis, meaning much of the work in the festival comes with a student stamp of approval.
“Anyone can submit to the festival as long as their film meets two of the aforementioned criteria,” Ventimiglia said, referring to the festival’s general aim to adhere to its thematic guidelines. “We charge no entry fee in order to encourage as many filmmakers from all ranges of professional and technical experience to submit their films.”
The Davis Feminist Film Festival is April 12 and April 13 at the Veterans Memorial Theatre in Davis.
Tickets are available at the UCD Women’s Resources and Research Center, the UCD LGBTRC and the Davis Farmers Market for $5 to $15 per night, sliding scale, pay according to financial means. Tickets are also available at Armadillo Records in Davis at $7 for students, $10 for general admission per night. Tickets will be available at the door at $10 for students, $15 for general admission per night.
Anyone is welcome to attend and participate in the Audience Choice award for the favorite festival film of 2012.
JAMES O’HARA can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
