Women's film festival to buckle down on gender inequality with new merger

The St. John's International Women's Film Festival is bringing a new production partner under its wing that aims to better examine, support and strengthen gender representation in the Canadian media industry.

Festival executive directorJenn Brown credits Women in View with being one of the first organizations in Canada to look at how to change systemic gender inequalityin the industry. They've alsoworked with the festival for over a decade.

Now, the group will merge into the festival to expand its programming and advocacy efforts.

"Together we really worked on many initiatives to help move forward and, you know, collaborate on this shared vision and goal. And it's been a pretty significant impact over their legacy here of really helping push the needle," Brown told CBC News Tuesday.

"They're going to be coming under the women's film festival umbrella, and we're quite thrilled about it."

Brown said conversations around Women in View becoming part of the festival team have been happening for over a year, driven by a shared set of core beliefs and goals.

The festival plans for Women in View to serve as the future research arm of their planned expansion, which Brown said will include the creation of Canada's first gender equity and film institute.

"Our film industry is expanding and changing and growing quite substantially. So we really wanted to connect with our community here, and then also nationally and beyond," she said.

"It's going to be really exciting to figure out our next step as we build these ambassadors."

News of the merger also comes as the festival prepares to mark its 35th year.

Brown said the fact that one of the world's longest running women's film festivals is in Newfoundland where it's also the province's flagship film festival shows how far the local industry has come over the years.

However, she added, there's still much to be done.

"Women making their first feature [film is] a miracle. The number of women who are making multiple features in Canada, that number shrinks so quickly. And it's shocking how limited those opportunities are, and we really question why is that the case," Brown said.

"This is going to be a new way for us to really be able to serve that at that next level.Take the evolution of our organization and how to do it better, and how to also share success and really champion women and gender diverse artists in a more meaningful way."

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