BFI Woman With A Movie Camera Summit returns in-person at BFI Southbank this Jan

The BFI’s annual Woman With A Movie Camera Summit returns to BFI Southbank on 14 January 2023, with guest speakers including award-winning writer-director Sally El Hosaini My Brother the Devil), multidisciplinary creative Lava La Rue and Academy-Award nominated screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917). In addition, a number of talks and panels will be made available internationally on the BFI YouTube channel, and Woman With A Movie Camera curated film collections will be accessible to UK-wide audiences on BFI Player – including a subscription collection of works by acclaimed documentarian Molly Dineen.

Following sold out events in 2018 and 2019, and a successful online programme in July 2021, the Woman with a Movie Camera Summit is back in person at BFI Southbank for 2023. This year’s programme will focus on creativity and exploration, tackling an eclectic range of topics including directing, screenwriting, music videos, nepotism, the rise of ASMR and more. A Summit Pass will grant access to a full-day packed with talks, Q&As and panel discussions with filmmakers, curators and creatives, as well as workshops and drop-ins. Tickets are on sale now to BFI Champions, Patrons and Members, and to the general public from 16:30. The full programme line-up is available here.

Special guests will include award-winning writer-director Sally El Hosaini in conversation, who will discuss her latest feature film THE SWIMMERS (2022), based on the true-life story of Syrian refugees and competitive swimmers Yusra and Sara Mardini; multidisciplinary creative Lava La Rue, who will discuss their experience of, and role in, exploring the breadth of screen culture and the intersection of music and moving image; and Krysty Wilson-Cairns, the Academy-Award nominated screenwriter behind 1917 (2019) and LAST NIGHT IN SOHO (2021), who will discuss her journey into screenwriting and her most recent work on true crime thriller THE GOOD NURSE (2022).

Other sessions will include Poor Little Waif Girl, a discussion of the socially awkward yet somehow extraordinary heroine who has enjoyed a spectacular rise in film and television; Nepotism, Baby!, a conversation about privilege, talent, the court of public opinion and those figures whose early success can perhaps be attributed to parents who have opened doors; Reality Television and Women, which will examine some of the portrayals of women in the genre and the impact of reality television on wider culture; Conversations with the Archive, a panel discussion reflecting on women film archivists and researchers; Spotlight on Trailer Editors, which will ask a trio of professionals how they got into their careers; Growing Up in the Girl Gang: How Young Female Friendship is Presented On Screen; the soaring popularity of ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) and the dominance of female ASMR creators; Disrupting Distribution, which will focus on the successes and challenges of the film distribution, and whether we should think about it differently; a discussion of the rise in female self-directed music videos; and Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook may now be household names in the West, but what about Kim Bora or Hong Sung-eun? The South Korean New Wave and female directors will look to redress the balance, exploring the wider cultural context of the Korean feminist movement which has grown exponentially in recent years.  The summit will wrap up with The Big Woman With A Movie Camera Quiz, celebrating women in film and television – with prizes!

The Woman With A Movie Camera Summit is followed by a special preview of ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED (Laura Poitras, 2022) [18:10, NFT1 – ticketed separately]. Laura Poitras examines the life and career of legendary photographer and activist Nan Goldin, and her efforts to hold Purdue Pharma, owned by the Sackler family, accountable for the opioid crisis. It is a powerful and intimate portrait, weaving together Goldin’s art and personal archives with interviews and protest footage. An inspiring call to arms, the Venice Golden Lion winner is one of the best documentaries of the year.

BFI Woman with a Movie Camera Summit will take place at BFI Southbank on 14 January 2023. A full day pass is available for £15, £10 for concessions (Non-Members pay £2 more), and £5 for ages 25 & Under. Tickets are on sale now to BFI Champions, Patrons and Members, and to the general public from 16:30 today. Purchasing a summit pass will give you access to the day of talks, Q&As and panel discussions, as well as drop-in workshops. Please note the ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED preview (18:10, NFT1) is ticketed separately.