The Side Project is Celebrating Female Creativity in Film

People may be pressuring The Side Project to go from operating after-hours to full-time following its upcoming event: “Women Behind The Camera: Female Creativity In Film” on Thursday, October 6. The fourth instalment of the independent screening series will feature an exciting line-up of short films directed by women, followed by an industry panel discussion regarding the role of women working behind the camera, combined with revealing new research from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender In Media.

The illuminating night of women-directed films include pieces by experts and newcomers alike, including Danijela Stajnfeld, Georgia Tribuiani, Kim Jacobs, Mimi Cave, Mundo Sisters, Nicole Delaney, and Ramaa Mosley.  The screening will also feature the exclusive premiere of the new digital series “COLD,” directed by young talent Emily Diana Ruth and produced by The Side Project sponsor New Form Digital.

The Side Project has also assembled a group of esteemed panelists for a conversation following the screening:

- Elizabeth Kilpatrick, VP of Development for the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

- Melissa Schneider, Executive Producer / SVP of Production and Development, New Form Digital

- Maggie Chieffo, General Manager at Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls

- Eric Voegele, Global Director of Content Production at Media Arts Lab

- Ali Brown, Executive Producer at Prettybird

- Destri Martino, Director/Editor and Founder of The Director List

- Ramaa Mosley, Director and Founder of Adolescent Content and the Adolescent digital platform

The Side Project was founded by Joe DiSanto, Partner / Executive Producer of Therapy Studios; and Alison Williams, CEO / Founder of PR & brand strategy consultancy Raconteur. The ethos of the project is embodied in The Side Project tagline, which states that most creative folks don't just “head home after work – they've got a side project.”

“Being freed up to do interesting work is the reason anyone does a side project,” remarks DiSanto.  “We are very excited about having created a venue for filmmakers to showcase their projects.  Often the hope is that these side projects are explorations, and become the primary projects at some point.  That was our main goal.  The other is having fun watching what people make!”

The Side Project is a direct result of these labours of love. What began as an informal screening meant to introduce emerging talent to established professionals within the production, advertising, film and music industries has quickly blossomed into a creative community epicentre and vital talent showcase.

Keeping in step with this risk-taking philosophy, Williams and DiSanto have focused the lens on female directors and creatives for this screening, in light of the important conversations about gender discrepancy in the industry that have taken center stage this year.  

“We’ve wanted to do a screening with work from female directors since we started The Side Project, and the support that we’ve received from all sides of the industry with this event has been overwhelming,” says Williams.  “It really feels like just the right moment.  From Cindy Gallup to See It Be It at the Lions to #FreeTheBid to the Alice Initiative, there are more voices than ever before calling out areas of improvement and requesting real change.  We’re pleased to be able to contribute to that conversation and show some killer work.”

The “Women Behind The Camera: Female Creativity In Film” screening will be held at WeWork Culver City, beginning at 6pm. The night's events are presented in partnership with ARC, ReadySet, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, New Form Digital, Ring The Alarm, and Need Financial Services.