WHO WE ARE
The Chicago Female-Focused Film Meetup & Festival is a group for those involved in the film industry, (not a group that goes to see movies together) who are interested in actively participating in the creation, support, development, and promotion of screenplays and films that offer increased opportunities for women in film, especially in broadening the types of roles, stories, ages, body-types, diversity and the overall presence and number of women in film.
Members range in experience from student filmmakers to professionals and include writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors, all crew roles, entertainment attorneys and more.
**PLEASE NOTE:
- The group is currently only accepting members who want to actively participate in building the foundation of the group and its projects. Please do not apply at this time if you do not have the desire/time to volunteer or get involved in one of the many areas.
- this group welcomes both female & male members who support the mission statement!
CFFFMF MISSION
The primary mission of the Chicago Female-Focused Film Meetup & Festival is to discover, develop, create and promote screenplays and films with strong roles for women that break from the accepted Hollywood norms of looks, age constraints, body-types, and stereotypical women's roles in order to equalize female and male opportunities in film, as well as to more accurately, inclusively and diversely represent, and positively influence, all women who watch films.
The secondary goals of CFFFMF are to influence, practice, and promote increased non-traditional casting, diversity in casting, and hiring of female crew and filmmakers, especially in roles that are typically the domain of men.
The group will aim to achieve its goals through meetups and projects including :
1. Choosing screenplays that match the group's mission/criteria and having public readings of the screenplays to expose the scripts, writers, and actors to potential producers and directors, as well as for feedback for writers in the development phase.
2. Having guest speakers come in to present seminars on relevant, helpful topics.
3. Scheduling networking time at meetups and events for filmmakers to make connections and find other members for their current film projects.
4. Having participatory workshops to learn new film-related skills or to improve skills in a fun, supportive, female-focused atmosphere.
5. Starting a Chicago Female-Focused Film Festival.
6. Having contests to find, produce, support, or promote screenplays and films that meet the group's criteria and mission.
7. Working together with group members to create and produce unique new media content to promote the group and entertainingly educate viewers about women in film, or the lack thereof, and the need for change.
8. Holding creative fundraising events and film screenings to help fund all or any of the above while offering networking opportunities to all.
If you'd like to get involved as a Committee Member or an Assistant Organizer in one or more of the following areas, please let me know. I welcome individuals who care about the mission and want to become a part of making things happen!
1. Screenplay Series committee: organization, guidelines, screenplay solicitation, reading/judging.
2. Administrative committee: Leadership team/officers/board, non-for profit status, legal, website.
3. Events Planning committee: securing venues, planning & organizing workshops, seminars, speakers, fundraisers, readings & contests.
4. PR & Marketing committee
5. Film Festival committee: research, development, organization, guidelines, submissions, judging/selection
6. Fundraising & Sponsor committee.
This meetup group is a work in progress as it's just starting out. All of the above areas of interest may not start at the same time. I encourage members to share ideas to plan, jump-start, organize or help develop the group to reach out to me and help make this meetup group a fulfilling, effective, collaborative place for all involved!
Thanks for joining!
~ Janet
This festival meets the 1st Tuesday of every month and always sells out so buy your tickets ahead. You can sign up for the mailing list on their website or join the... Learn more
