In 2009, only 7% of all directors, producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors working on the top 250 domestic grossing films were women. The numbers don’t reflect the amazing work made by women all over the world, so the Citizen Jane Film Festival — which grew out of a collaboration with Stephens College (a 175-year-old women’s college) — was created in 2008 to spotlight and celebrate films made by women. BUST Magazine is proud to sponsor the fourth annual Citizen Jane Film Festival, taking place from September 30th to October 2nd in Columbia, Missouri.
This year’s festival theme, Cirque du Cinema, is inspired by the early history of the circus. Around the turn of the century, when most women weren’t able to work outside the home, women in the circus had careers and lived in a much more egalitarian environment.
Highlights of this year’s festival include:
The circus-themed kick-off party on the Stephens campus which will include circus acts, acrobats, music, circus food, miniature ponies, and a real bearded lady. There will even be a three ring circus of films at Windor Auditorium, Charters Auditorium, and the new “Rustic Ring” at the Stephens Stables Arena.
The always sold-out CJFF Brunch, where audience members and filmmakers get to connect in person.
Tiny Circus, the collaborative stop motion animation troupe, will ride their airstream into town a week before the festival to help create film trailers with some of the students from Stephens. They will also host an animation workshop for some of the gifted Columbia Public Schools students.
Our Youth Media returns again this year with screenings of young women’s work from around the country as well as from the Citizen Jane Summer Film Academy held for the first time this year in Columbia at Stephens College.
After the popularity of her program last year (standing room only!), Academy Award nominee and founder of New Day Films, Julia Reichert, will be presenting two iconic feminist films from the 1970s, It Happens to Us and Taking Our Bodies Back.
For a full schedule of films and panels and more information about the festival, visit citizenjanefilm.org.
Tickets and passes are now on sale! Purchase the Insane Jane Pass for $100 to get into everything (parties, panels, films, special events) throughout the weekend and the Plain Jane Pass for $60 just to see the films. Tickets for individual films are $8. Buy your tickets now!
