Women's Voices Now Film Festival
An online film festival showcasing documentary and fiction films by women directors that address human rights, social justice, and women's issues globally.
Overview
Women's Voices Now is a nonprofit organization and online film festival dedicated to women directors whose films address human rights, social justice, and issues directly affecting women and girls around the world. The festival operates primarily as an online platform, making it accessible to audiences globally and to filmmakers whose work addresses international subjects without a natural home on the traditional festival circuit.
The organization operates from a conviction that film is one of the most powerful instruments for advancing human rights and that women directors making films about women's lives and struggles deserve a dedicated platform that amplifies rather than marginalizes their work. By focusing on both the identity of the director and the subject matter of the film, Women's Voices Now creates a community of filmmakers and audiences united by a shared commitment to social change through cinema.
What It Offers
Selected Women's Voices Now Film Festival films receive:
- Screening through the Women's Voices Now online platform, reaching a global audience of activists, educators, and engaged viewers
- Cash prizes for winning films across competition categories
- Promotion through Women's Voices Now's organizational channels, including social media, partner organizations, and advocacy networks
- Eligibility for community screening programs that distribute winning and selected films to educational institutions, NGOs, and advocacy organizations worldwide
- A professional credential that is particularly relevant for filmmakers whose work is oriented toward impact and advocacy audiences rather than traditional festival circuits
Eligibility
Films must be directed by a woman. Projects should address human rights, social justice, or issues significantly affecting women and girls. Both documentary and narrative fiction forms are eligible. Short and feature-length films are accepted.
The festival is explicitly international in scope -- submissions are welcomed from filmmakers globally, and the online platform means the festival's reach is not geographically limited.
Entry fees apply. Filmmakers should review current submission guidelines for specific eligibility requirements and active submission windows.
Online Festival Strategy
Women's Voices Now's online model is worth considering strategically for filmmakers whose work addresses global human rights subjects. An online festival can generate more aggregate views than a physical festival screening, particularly for films addressing issues relevant to diaspora communities, international advocacy organizations, and global educational institutions. For films with an impact distribution strategy, online festival presence can be more valuable than theatrical premiere exposure.
Who Should Apply
Women directors whose documentary or fiction films address human rights, social justice, or women's issues and who are seeking exhibition on a platform specifically oriented toward impact audiences and international advocacy communities.
See Also
For impact distribution strategy for social justice films, see Distribution Deals: What Filmmakers Need to Know. For modeling the audience reach of online distribution platforms, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.
