..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

February 8, 2003

Press Request

The 2002 Oscar contenders demonstrate that women's stories are being told and quite well...

But have you wondered why only one film festival (the WinFemme Film Festival) is the only film festival in the states that exclusively selects films with female protagonists?

As Jane Campion , director of THE PIANO, HOLY SMOKE, etc. (WIN Award recpient 2000) said in her acceptance speech:

"I am a filmmaker and a woman. The voice of my inspiration is feminine. When I became adolescent, the voice no longer spoke but began to sing. And its song was full of wonder, shrouded in mystery, in allure, light as lace and sodden with obscure sadness. It was a voice of terrible longing, of earthiness, wisdom and hilarious absurdity.

Of all the things I have wished for, perfect love, more babies, less suffering in the world, long slim legs, straight hair, to be Lauren Bacall, have fine weather, I have never, ever, wished to be a man!

If I were a man, I would not have the song. If I were a man, I’d make adventure movies, war movies, gangster movies, horror movies and I’d go out with movie stars and I would not have the song.

When journalists ask me “why do you make films about women”? I am so amazed. It’s like asking me “why do you speak English?” to know what it’s like to be a woman, as unjust, as undervalued, as maligned as it so obviously is, none of this, though it’s wrong, can alter the extraordinary wonder of being female where despite the disempowerment, the hurt, the losses, there is so much love, so much creativity. We are women, we are only half the world, but we gave birth to the whole world. No one on this planet came here without coming through us. No one on this planet should be ignorant of our views and our voices."

Will you please consider supporting us spreading the word about our 5th Annual film festival by writing an article about WIN?

Since 1993 Women's Image Network has worked to encourage filmmakers to dispell female stereotypes in the media by hosting panel discussions, by giving WIN awards, by raising media awareness and by producing projects such as the ABC primetime special FIFTY YEARS OF FUNNY FEMALES, and the annual WinFemme Film Festival, dedicated to selecting films that TELL WOMEN'S STORIES WELL. Both men and women make these films, WinFemme simply encourages the telling of stories about women, because to the extent that women's voices go unheard, we are all robbed of their contribution. As evidenced by the spate of excellent films vying for an Academy Award, those with female protagonists such as THE HOURS, CHICAGO, FAR FROM HEAVEN, maybe we can stop spreading the myth that women cannot open movies or that "women's stories are too soft".

For more information, visit our website; www.winfemme.com

Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,

Joy Tuttle