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Q&A with Melissa Fowler, curator of the Reel Venus Film Festival

Melissa Fowler founded the Reel Venus Film festival in New York City 3 years ago to promote the advancement and visibility of women film makers.

VP: How would you best describe the Reel Venus Film Festival?
MF: Reel Venus Film Festival is an eclectic showcase of film and video shorts that have been directed by women filmmakers & video artists. I use the word eclectic, because I include all genres—narrative, documentary, experimental and animation—and blend them together. It’s a showcase of work that celebrates and honors the independent and creative voices of women filmmakers both emerging and established.

VP: What inspired you to start the Festival?
MF: I myself am an aspiring filmmaker and wanted to create a space for other women filmmakers who need places to get their work seen. I wanted to increase the opportunity for promotion and exposure.

VP: What is the most difficult part of the selection process?
MF: Liking all of the work but not being able to include it all due to space and time constraints. Also, being in a position to have to give feedback

VP: Do the selected films affect your fundraising efforts?
MF: Possibly. Not all of the work is mainstream, or super linear in format & structure. But then that’s the beauty of it all. It’s quite refreshing when a filmmaker approaches her storytelling method in a less formulaic manner.

VP: If so, how?
MF: I think some art forms are more valued if they have a mainstream sensibility and can appeal to everyone, particularly if it has been created by a woman.

VP: Obviously this is a small, independent festival and you don’t have the resources of a big producer. How do you go about tackling fundraising?
MF: Fundraising has been challenging since day one. I send out a fundraising letter and submission fees help defray some of the cost. The festival received its first grant for the 3rd annual fest in 2005. However, even for grant money it’s quite competitive.

VP: If funding were not an issue, what would your ideal film festival consist of?
MF: It would still focus on screening a variety of quality short films, but panel discussions & guest speakers would be included to reflect the diversity of talented filmmakers & filmmaking as well as the whole creative process of filmmaking as opposed to just the business aspect of it.

VP: Where do you see the Festival in five years?
MF: By that time, I would like to have acquired some sponsorship, increased and developed my audience more, be well established with a positive reputation for showing fine & provocative work, and as I stated before, I would like to add a panel and discussion workshop component to engage the audience & fellow filmmakers.

VP: In your opinion, why don’t we see more women filmmakers in Hollywood?
MF: This question gets trickier every time. The cliché answer is to say that it’s a male-dominated profession, which it is. . . but what it boils down to is that women simply have to believe that they are good enough and proceed in that manner to continue creating their place at the table and not blend into the scenery like wallflowers or doormats.

VP: What female filmmaker( inspires you?
MF: Jane Campion immediately comes to mind and Claire Denis.

VP: And why?
MF: They are not afraid to cover dark, neurotic, damaged sides of people.

VP: And finally, what’s your favorite movie?
MF: My favorite movies are: Something Wild, Sweetie, Diva and Sunday . . . sorry I couldn’t just pick one.

Reel Venus Film Festival runs July 26-27 in NYC. For more information, go to www.reelvenus.com.