The 2017 Women’s International Film Festival San Diego hosted by the Women’s Museum of California at Liberty Station runs March 24-26.
This annual international film festival not only features the finest films directed by women, but offers a rare opportunity to meet many of the actresses and directors in-person. It was created to celebrate women’s stories and experiences through film. The festival is held in March in honor of Women’s History Month. Its goal is to select films that represent the diversity of women from around the world.
“This is our third annual film festival,” said Diane Peabody Straw, executive director of Women’s Museum of California. “The Lot at Liberty Station has partnered with us to show all of these films, and to have some panel discussions there, and at the women’s museum.”
Peabody Straw noted there are some new developments at this year’s film fest.
“We’ve had previous panel discussions, but this year’s panels will be more topic-oriented,” she said. “We’ve also been very lucky to have women filmmakers flying in from all over the world to participate.”
The museum director noted one feature film in particular, “I Am Jane Doe,” about sex trafficking, will likely stand out.
“We’ll have a panel discussion with a surviving sex traffic victim, now an activist, on Saturday night,” Peabody Straw said.
Peabody Straw noted the women’s film fest “fulfills our mission of providing another opportunity for women’s stories to be heard.” That’s especially important, she said, given that “less than 8 percent of directors in Hollywood are women, in terms of the big blockbuster films that come out every year. Here, women have their films shown that they put their hearts and souls into.”
This year, the WFFSD welcomes films from Canada, Indonesia, UK and the United States. The movies, all directed by women, give independent female filmmakers a platform, while allowing women- focused issues to come alive on-screen. Films range from scripted comedies to issue-focused documentaries, from short, 10-minute films, to full-length, 90-minute features.
Selected festival films will be screened at The Lot in Liberty Station, 2620 Truxton Road. Panel discussions about the films, and VIP receptions, will be held at The Lot and the Women’s Museum of California from Friday, March 24 through Sunday, March 16. Featured films include: • Different Flowers: A dramedy full of girl power, kooky characters, and real heart. An independent feature film written and directed by Morgan Dameron.
• Lucy in My Eyes: Having lost her father to suicide in college, Lucy has a dream on the eve of her wedding where she reconnects with herself at age six. Given a window to ‘change’ her history, she comes to some poignant realizations about herself and her past. Written and directed by Megan Park.
• “The Things We Do They Don’t Understand” – A short film about a girl who wakes up after a one-night stand and finds herself alone in the man’s apartment – with his mother. Written and directed by Ashley Michel Hoban.
• “I Am Jane Doe” – Chronicles the epic battle that several American mothers are waging on behalf of their middle-school daughters, victims of sex trafficking on Backpage.com, the adult classifieds section that for years was part of the iconic Village Voice.  The Women’s Museum of California is at 2730, Historic Decatur Road #206. For more information visit wwwwomensmuseumca.org. Film Festival Schedule
(Films screened at The Lot at Liberty Station) March 24 5 p.m.: Red carpet, VIP reception. 6 p.m.: “Different Flowers” screening. 8 p.m.: Panel discussion. March 25 10 a.m.: Short Films Block: “The Things We Do They Don’t Understand,” “The Vanished,” “Juliet Remembered,” “Lucy in My Eyes.” 1 to 4 p.m.: Panel sessions. 5 p.m.: VIP reception. 6 p.m.: “I Am Jane Doe” screening. 8 p.m.: Panel discussion. March 26 9 a.m.: Short Films Block: “FiveAwake,” “Parthian.” 10 a.m.: “The Peace Agency” screening. 1 to 4 p.m.: Panel sessions. 5 p.m.: VIP reception. 6 p.m.: “Alive and Kicking” screening. 8 p.m.: “Alive” panel discussion.