For the 13th year in a row, Barnard will host the Athena Film Festival to highlight the work of women in media. This year, the lineup includes nearly three-dozen features, shorts, and documentaries “dedicated to elevating complex and deeply thoughtful stories of women’s leadership.” The festival will run from Thursday, March 2 to Sunday, March 5. Below are some of the screenings we at Bwog are most excited to experience!

  • Thursday, March 2, 7:00 pm at the Diana Event Oval: Till
    • The festival opens with this historical drama, which tells the true story of Mamie Till Mobley as she relentlessly struggles for justice after the lynching of her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till.
  • Friday, March 3, 6:00 pm in Held Auditorium: Esther Newton Made Me Gay
    • This documentary uses archival footage to follow activist and anthropologist Esther Newton as she navigates sexuality, gender identity, and community on New York’s Fire Island. A Q&A with the filmmaker will follow the screening.
  • Friday, March 3, 6:00 pm in Lehman Auditorium: Daughter of Rage (La hija de todas las rabias)
    • Come see the New York Premiere of this story of gang violence, deception, loss, and love in contemporary Nicaragua.
  • Friday, March 3, 8:00 pm in Held Auditorium: My Emptiness and I (Mi vacío y yo)
    • After being diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria, Raphi must learn to navigate the banalities of everyday life as she begins her transition in Barcelona.
  • Saturday, March 4, 12:00 pm at the Diana Event Oval: The Lost King
    • Though they were missing for 500 years, the remains of King Richard III of England were found by amateur historian Philippa Langley. This true story shows her struggle to convince her family, friends, and establishment academics that her discovery under a parking lot is nothing to be dismissed. This will be The Lost King’s New York premiere!
  • Saturday, March 4, 3:00 pm in the James Room: Leadership from Below the Line
    • This panel discussion with women and non-binary film technicians will tackle the unique challenges of working in such a high-stress, demanding industry.
  • Saturday, March 4, 4:40 pm in Held Auditorium: Andrea Dworkin: Ongoing Evolutions of Feminist Herstory
    • Another panel discussion, this one will take place immediately after the screening of My Name is Andrea. Topics to be covered include pleasure, gender violence, women’s rights, and inequality.
  • Sunday, March 5, 12:00 pm in Lehman Auditorium: Student Film Showcase
    • Just as the name suggests, this event will feature student films, as well as a subsequent Q&A session with the filmmakers!
  • Sunday, March 5, 4:00 pm in the James Room: Under G-d Screening & Conversation on Abortion, Faith, and the Law
    • Following the Dobbs Supreme Court Decision, Jewish community organizations, interfaith leaders, and individual women launched lawsuits and protests to protect their rights. The film will be followed by a conversation on relevant topics.
  • Sunday, March 5, 6:00 pm at the Diana Event Oval: PLAN C
    • The Athena Film Festival will conclude with the New York Premiere of this documentary, which follows a secret alliance of grassroots organizations fighting to expand access to abortion pills all across the United States despite challenges brought on by the pandemic and conservative legislation.

More information about these events and more can be found on the Athena Film Festival website. This is a ticketed event, so make sure to purchase online before your screening!

Making Movies via Bwarchives.