Official Selections: 12th LA Women in Film Festival
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film
Another Saturday
Short
A young teenager decides to enjoy a day of fun with her crush only to return home to find her worst fears realized.
Director: J.A. DellaRipa
Producer: J.A. DellaRipa at TVO Productions
Writer: J.A. DellaRipa
Cast: Scarlett Abinante, Rachel Alig
Cinematographer: Joe Passarelli
Editor: Natasha Bedu
Website: https://anothersaturdayshortfilm.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.a.dellaripa/
Behind The Glass
WhateFeature
USA Premiere
Anna and her rebellious teenage daughter Lena live on the outskirts of Riga. Lena skips school and drifts into dangerous circles. When her best friend dies from an overdose and Lena narrowly survives, mother and daughter are forced to flee abroad to avoid the police.
They seek refuge with Anna’s cousin in Switzerland, hoping for a new beginning. But Lena’s resistance and growing anger threaten their fragile attempt to start over. When they reluctantly accept help from André, the situation takes a disastrous turn.
Director: Olga Dinnikova
Producer: Markus Fischer, Cyril Ziffermayer, Aija Bērziņa, Elina LosaWriter: Olga Dinnikova
Cast: Daria Egorkina, Aurelija Pronina, Marcus Signer
Cinematographer: Pascal Reinmann
Editor: Carmen Walker
Behind the Glass premiered at the 60th Solothurn Film Festival and was nominated for the `Prix du Public`. The film received the award for Best First Time Filmmaker at the Toronto Women Film Festival and continues its international festival run.
Website: https://www.olgadinnikova.com/behindtheglass
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/olgadinnikova/
Facebookver it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Breaking ICE
Documentary/Short
World Premiere
Real women. Real military missions. In real time. With unknown outcomes.
In the vast isolation above the Arctic Circle, women aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy carry out vital missions in national security, science and exploration. “Breaking Ice” captures the personal stories behind the uniforms, revealing the humanity, fortitude and camaraderie of those serving at the edge of the world.
“Breaking Ice” is a film production of Defending Democracy, a nonprofit multimedia initiative dedicated to honoring and recognizing the vital contributions women make to the defense of our country. America’s servicewomen volunteer to risk their lives in defense of our freedom, our democracy, and our Constitution. Yet aside from news coverage that focuses on incidents of Military Sexual Trauma, most Americans know very little about them.
While those reports reflect real and serious challenges, when presented in isolation they can unintentionally reinforce a narrative of victimhood and weakness—one that obscures the broader truth about women who serve.
Through film, we seek to change that narrative by placing audiences alongside women on real missions. These stories reveal the humanity, grit, competence, and resilience that define not only these service members, but women across America.
Director and Producer: Mary Ellen Scherl
Cast: Captain Kristen Serumgard and the Crew of the USCGC HEALY
Cinematographers: Daniel Oliveras, Mary Ellen Scherl
Editor: Sorin Pavelesco
Defending Democracy Website: usmilitarywomen.org
As Eleanor Roosevelt once said:
“In the final analysis, a democratic government represents the sum total of the courage and the integrity of its individuals.”
The women in this film embody that courage and integrity. They are leaders, professionals, and role models for the next generation. They represent America at its best. Their stories give us reason to be proud—and in a divided moment, they remind us of the values that bind us together.
It has been a profound honor to work with the United States Coast Guard, and a rare privilege to film aboard several of its cutters. I am deeply grateful to the command leadership who opened their decks and trusted us with their mission, and especially to the women who welcomed us into their world. They shared their work, their challenges, and their lives with remarkable generosity. Their trust made this film possible, and telling their stories has been one of the great experiences of my life.
NOTE: We are currently in post-production on the feature-length version of "Breaking Ice." Looking ahead, our goal is to expand this work into a series of films—each focused on women serving in a different branch of the U.S. military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.