F-Rated
Our programme of films featuring the work of female directors has coincided with the development of the F-rating, a new system designed to flag up the significant involvement of women in film, on either side of the camera.
The F-Rating Manifesto
The stories we see on screen influence our lives. We want to hear stories from everyone, not just from one section of society.
We want diversity in filmmaking, both on and off screen.
The F-rating was founded by Holly Tarquini at Bath Film Festival 2014 where we wanted to highlight films which feature prominent women both behind the camera and in front of it.
Every film which ticks yes to the one of the following questions receives the F-rating of approval:
- Does it have a female director?
- Is it written by a woman?
- Is/are there complex female characters on screen who exist in their own right (not simply there to support to the male lead)?
The F stands for feminist.
Feminism is: "The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities." We believe that feminism benefits everyone.
Featuring
Prepare yourself to be sad, angry and thrilled all at once... Katja is a loving wife and mother. Life is looking better and better for her family as both parents recover from drug addiction and become good citizens, when both her husband and son are killed in a bomb blast.
Katja is devastated, failing to hold herself together as the crime is investigated. The police think it is drug related, but could it be something a lot worse? And how will Katja cope if those to blame are not caught and punished?... There are effectively three parts to this film; the crime, the trial and the post-trial, all of which hang on Katja and, specifically, on the acting of Diane Kruger who plays her. In a film that has itself won many awards for Best Foreign Film, including the Golden Globe in USA, Diane Kruger won Best Actress at Cannes Film Festival, and huge praise from every reviewer I can find.
Winner of awards at Berlin and Seattle, 'The Heiresses' is a beautiful look at the problems and opportunities when life changes unexpectedly as "A withdrawn, middle-aged gay woman slowly inches out of the shadows of her dissatisfaction as she's forced to navigate a life separated from her more outgoing partner of 30 years... Minor-key and subdued to a fault, the drama nonetheless builds emotional involvement by infinitesimal degrees through its acute observation of characters and social context and its ultra-naturalistic performances" - David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter.
6 year-old Frida is taken to live with her aunt and uncle after her parents have died. She befriends their 3 year-old daughter, but the summer is not as idyllic as it might seem...
"In its subtlety, richness and warmth it is entirely beguiling – complex and simple at the same time. It is also very moving. 'Summer 1993' is about childhood and a child's fraught relationship to the adult world, and has some of the most miraculous child performances I can remember seeing recently, although the concept of 'performances' and 'acting' are meaningless with children this young: two little girls of six and three years old...What a lovely film it is" - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian.
If you can picture Sergio Leone directing a feminist western in Indonesia you are on the way to seeing what Mouly Surya has succeeded in doing here: after being told she is going to be robbed and raped in half an hour, Marlina prepares for the 'Robbery', then goes on her 'Journey' for revenge; you will have to come and see the movie to find out what the other two acts are...
Director Annemarie Jacir uses a simple road trip around Nazareth to explore the different 'truths' of life as seen by Palestinians in Israel. Father and son (as are the actors), are hand delivering invites to a wedding; Abu Shadi - who has lived here all his life - and Shadi - who now lives in Italy - argue about their different views of how to survive, about what is important; about pragmatism and idealism.
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16th Keswick Film Festival
Take a look back as we celebrated Dogme, told you to Get On Yer Bike and welcomed the makers of the Cumbrian-based film Radiator, plus much more...
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