WVN Film Festival.
A women’s rights documentary films recognizing films by women that advocate for girls’ and women’s rights around the world.
Call for Submissions: Film Festival 2022.
We are now accepting submissions in the documentary feature, documentary short, and youth documentary categories!
- Are you an emerging filmmaker?
- Are you submitting a social-change film?
- Does your film advocate for women's & girls' rights?
If yes, then YES, this is the festival for you!
Our online women’s rights documentary film festival seeks films by women filmmakers and femme-identifying filmmakers. Winners will be announced in March 2022, when our festival events will take place virtually, for our global audiences.
All filmmakers whose works are pre-selected to the festival receive discounted tickets to festival events, networking opportunities, visibility and a new community of like-minded filmmakers!
Films compete for $10,000 in cash prizes.
Not a filmmaker? Check out other ways to participate in the festival below!
2022 Awards
Leslie J. Sacks Best Documentary Feature – $3,500
Best Documentary Short – $2,000
Best Human Rights Documentary – $1,500
Best Creative Documentary – $1,000
Best First-time Filmmaker – $1,000
Best Youth Documentary Short – $500
The Celluloid Ceiling.
Women filmmakers are out there, so why is women-produced content still underrepresented?
- In the United States, women face difficulty in fundraising and attracting interest in films about women and individuals from underrepresented groups
- In Europe, only 16% of available funding goes to films directed by women.
- Stereotypes about women's skills and ambition, and man-dominated networks remain a powerful barrier to entry.
Women Filmmakers: Shattering That Ceiling.
Contributing to a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive film industry, our independent film festival challenges gender-based stereotypes both on and off the screen. To support this vision, our online film festival:
- Provides a platform for emerging women filmmakers telling essential, authentic stories.
- Supports women filmmakers with cash prizes and visibility
- Connects women filmmakers with each other and with film industry professionals
Our Approach.
- We seek films that address or shine light upon issues affecting women and/or girls through a social-change lens.
- We accept documentary films in the short, feature, and youth categories; and award $10,000 in cash prizes each year.
- We receive submissions from August through November, and celebrate the winners and the film festival in March during Women's History Month.
“The Women’s Voices Now Film Festival provides a rare and special platform for unheard voices and issues, and is a creative boon for independent women filmmakers around the world.”
– Dr. Meena Longjam, Filmmaker
