The FEMINA – International Women’s Film Festival, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is constituted of feature and short films screenings on film or video formats, exclusively directed by women, and a debate forum.

The FEMINA had its first edition in November 2004, and its accomplishment was a landmark in the women’s participation in cinema. As the first festival of films directed by women in Brazil and Latin America, it was greeted with enthusiasm by the exisiting festivals of its kind in other countries. International guests were hosted among filmmakers, actresses and women’s film festival professionals from around the world, who departed pleased and confirmed their support for the accomplishment of FEMINA 2005. The Festival presented a Brazilian Short Film Competition, Premieres of international and Latin-American feature films, Special screenings of Talent-Cannes 2004 and of Femme Totale Festival of Germany, Tribute Screening to the actress and producer Betty Faria, a Debate Forum constituted of three panels, and a Women’s Film Festival Directors Encounter.

The next FEMINA – International Women’s Film Festival will take place during June 21-26, 2005, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, and will count on the following activities:

• Feature Film Competition :: selection of foreign and Brazilian feature films directed by women, produced from 2004 onwards, which will be evaluated by a jury composed of film professionals (technicians, directors, producers, critics or researchers) who will award the best films in each category. In this section we’ll be premiering at least one Brazilian and one Latin-American film (see the regulations and entry form in this website);

• Short Film Competition :: selection of Brazilian and foreign shorts, produced from 2004 onwards, which will be evaluated by a jury composed of professionals, who will award the best films in each category. One award category will be strictly for films directed by students (see the regulations and entry form in this website);

• Tribute Screening :: Exhibition of an important film of a renowned filmmaker, actress or personality whose career has contributed for the Brazilian cinema, with her presence and of other invited guests of the film community with which she has worked along;

• Foreign Women’s Film Festival Special Program :: selection awarded films exhibited in the last editions of a foreign women’s festival. This year the invited festival is the FILMS DE FEMMES, of France;

• Debate Forum :: will be carried through in partnership with institutions which develop projects directed to gender issues. Meetings and discussions between directors, technicians, producers, actresses, sociologists, researchers and guests specialized in works related to the representation of women in the media will debate with the audience on subjects such as: women’s audiovisual production, the image of women in the media and its consequence in society, the feminine participation in politics and in economic and social enterprises.

It’s important to remind that all the activities of FEMINA – International Women’s Film Festival are free of charge and open to the general audience.