With the film award and festival seasons in full swing, movies have continuously been making news the past few months, with film’s grandest night taking place with the Academy Award ceremony on February 24. The award shows and more mainstream festivals predominately celebrate the accomplishments of male filmmakers, leaving the majority of female filmmakers, and the examination of women’s leadership in Hollywood, uncelebrated. But the up-and-coming Athena Film Festival is bringing the emphasis on women’s issues and achievements to the forefront.
Now in its third year, the Athena Film Festival celebrates women’s leadership in real life and the fictional world, through a weekend of feature films, documentaries and shorts. The four-day festival, which includes conversations with directors and Hollywood stars and workshops for filmmakers, has established itself as one of the most prestigious festivals of its kind. The festival will be held February 7-10, 2013 at New York City’s Barnard College, the most sought-after women’s college in the nation, and the Athena Center for Leadership Studies.
Cody generously took the time recently to discuss her position as the Co-Chair for the Athena Film Festival. Among other things, the screenwriter and director spoke about why she decided to return to the festival after serving as a Co-Chair last year; why the festival is an important forum to discuss women’s issues; and why Barnard and the Athena Center for Leadership Studies are the right locations to hold the festival.
Question (Q): You’re once again serving as the Co-Chair for the Athena Film Festival, which includes feature films, documentaries and shorts that highlight women’s leadership in real life and the fictional world. Why did you decide to return to the festival after serving as a Co-Chair last year, and why do you think it’s an important forum to discuss women’s issues?
Diablo Cody (DC): I think it’s an incredible and necessary event. It’s not just about filmmakers; it’s about leadership in film. That’s something we’re unfortunately lacking in Hollywood films. It’s an event I’m very happy to be involved in, because I’m looking out for women in films.
Q: Why do you think the festival is an important forum to discuss women’s issues, and showcase films that showcase women in a realistic light?
DC: Well, I think a lot of those films have a tendency to fall through the cracks. The Oscar nominations were just announced a few weeks ago. There were 12 screenwriters nominated in the Best Screenplay category-Original and Adapted. Of those 12 writers, only one is a woman (Lucy Alibar for ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ in the adapted category, based on her play, ‘Juicy and Delicious’). Then, in the Best Director category, all of the directors that were nominated are men.
So to me, it’s obvious that there’s still a disparity. Since there’s a disparity, women’s stories aren’t necessarily being told. So a festival like Athena creates a safe place for these stories. It’s exclusively dedicated to telling these stories. It’s one of these things that are totally necessary, and we have to have it. Unfortunately, the mainstream isn’t honoring those narratives.
Q: The festival is once again being held at Barnard College, the most sought-after women’s college in the nation, and its Athena Center for Leadership Studies, a multi-disciplinary center devoted to the advancement of women’s leadership. Why do you think Barnard and the Athena Center are the right locations to hold the festival, and how do they fit into the festival’s theme of highlighting women’s leadership?
DC: Well, Barnard is an amazing college. I always used to joke that the Athena Film Festival is the only way I could get in. (laughs) New York is the most amazing city in the world, so I’m really glad they’re doing it there. I don’t travel much, because I have two tiny children at home. I’m happy to make the trip to New York for Athena, because it’s incredibly exciting. I’ve been looking forward to this all year.
Q: There are several feature films, documentaries and shorts playing during the festival that have received acclaim during this year’s award season so far, including ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ and ‘Brave.’ Where you involved in choosing which films would play during the festival, and what qualities was the festival looking for in the movies it chose to screen?
DC: I’m not actually part of the selection committee. But I would say that the primary thing the festival is looking for is women in leadership positions in films. Obviously, they’re great movies. With films like ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild,’ a lot of audiences have already been exposed to those successful movies. I’m very excited about the opportunity to showcase some smaller films, which may not be receiving the national spotlight right now. This is the place for them to shine.
Q: Besides showing movies that promote and illustrate women’s leadership in films, the festival will also hold special events, including conversations with directors and Hollywood stars and workshops for filmmakers. Do you feel the events will showcase the empowerment of women, and their ability to lead, in Hollywood?
DC: Yeah, there’s going to be a Q&A; session with Brenda Chapman, who co-directed ‘Brave.’ It’s really cool, because you don’t often get the opportunity to hear about women who get to direct a big budget, commercial film like that. I think people are going to have a lot of questions for her.
We have an event honoring Gale Anne Hurd, who’s a legendary producer. There are three different short programs. It’s really important for aspiring directors to have the opportunity to express themselves in that space. Short programs are always beneficial.
There’s also going to be the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, which is really cool. Athena’s partnering with the American Film Institute, and there’s going to be a writing workshop and a shorts workshop. So there are a lot of opportunities for education, in addition to the films.
Q: Speaking of Gale Anne Hurd, she’s this year’s recipient of the Laura Ziskin Lifetime Achievement award. What was the process of choosing who would receive the achievement like, and do you think Gale deserves the award?
DC: I think she absolutely does. Again, I was not part of the selection process, I’m just a co-chair. But obviously, it’s pretty exciting for us.
Q: Also speaking of the shorts, like you also mentioned, why do you think they’re important for women filmmakers to be a part of, besides feature films?
DC: Well, a lot of successful, mainstream directors started off making shorts. Right now, I’m thinking of Jason Reitman, who I worked with twice (on ‘Juno’ and ‘Young Adult’). He’s one of our greatest established directors. He started out making shorts and working in short programs and exhibiting his films in shorts festivals.
I think it’s a great place for aspiring filmmakers to experiment, on a lower budget with fewer stakes. It really gives them the opportunity to find their voice and visual style, without the huge expense of making a feature.
Q: Speaking of working with Jason, you’re known for writing and producing projects, including ‘Juno’ and ‘Young Adult,’ that heavily focus on women’s determination to overcome any obstacle they face. Why do you think it’s important to showcase women’s strength in your own films, as well as the movies that are featured in the festival?
DC: I think there will definitely be some films at the festival that deal with those themes, which is wonderful. At the same time, what I think is great about this type of festival is that there are going to be films with all types of themes. They’re not just about women overcoming adversity or female toughness. There are also women villains, or women characters who are a mess or are perfect. It’s just a place for that whole representation.
Q: Besides being the co-chair at the festival, you’ll also be making your directorial debut this year. Why did you decide to make the transition into directing, and will the movie you’ll be helming showcase women’s struggles as well?
DC: I don’t know. I actually did the movie already, and it’s going to be out this year. I’m really glad that I did it. For me, it was the necessary next step. As a writer, you can only tell a portion of your story. To fully tell your own story, you have to get behind the camera. You have to be responsible for filling in those details, and creating those landscapes. So I was really happy I had the opportunity to do so.
I have to say, it’s definitely a feminist film. It deals with self-esteem and self-confidence and the anxiety a lot of women deal with.
Q: Now that the Athena Film Festival is in its third year, do you think it can compete with bigger festivals, and how do you think it differentiates itself from other festivals?
DC: I definitely hope it can compete with a Sundance or a Toronto; for me, that’s the dream for the Athena Film Festival. I think we’re getting there; every year it becomes more high profile. Obviously, these voices are going to be heard. Is the Athena Film Festival worthy of being on the world stage? Absolutely!
