WELCOME TO GLOBAL VOICES FILM FESTIVAL
Women face a ‘celluloid ceiling’ in obtaining key behind-the-scene roles in the film industry: Women comprised 18% of directors working on the top 250 films in 2020, up from 13% in 2019 and 8% in 2018. –– The Celluloid Ceiling, Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film of 2020
Global Voices Film Festival, hosted by UN Women USA San Francisco, exhibited films that spotlighted the unique voices, stories and experiences of women. The festival supported emerging and established female directors, producers and writers, who were creating some of the most compelling and groundbreaking work in cinema.
We encouraged submissions from creatives across all regions, languages, orientations, ethnicities. We prioritized works that amplify voices and stories which are under-represented in mainstream media and festival circuits. We welcomed all genres and expressive approaches to the medium, including narrative and non-narrative films and works that experiment with form and with musical, visual, aesthetic dimensions.
The San Francisco Chapter, launched in June 2009 as the local arm of USNC-UN Women, developed events and partnerships to educate and engages local communities about global women’s issues and provided key financial support for UN Women programs and initiatives.
Global Voices Film Festival donated net profits to fund UN Women’s life-changing global programs and initiatives. UN Women USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Global Voices Film Festival was as a 100% volunteer run film festival
The UN Women USA SF Global Voices Film Festival hit the stage virtually from September 13th through September 18th showcasing untold stories, emerging voices, and unique experiences of women around the world. The festival featured 15 independent films—three feature-length films and 12 shorts— written, produced, and directed by groundbreaking women filmmakers.
Thank you for joining us for special events comfortably from your home to celebrate and hear from the filmmakers themselves on how we can change the representation and equity of gender in film.
September 13 – September 18 | VOD via Eventive
September 15 | Live Streaming Day 1: 5:00 PM PST
September 18 | Live Streaming Day 2: 11:00 AM PST
Jennifer Magley
Jennifer Magley, Master of Ceremonies
Jennifer Magley is a Speaker, former Professional Athlete, NCAA Division I Head Coach, Entrepreneur, and mother. She has received national media coverage most notably by USA Today, US News & World Report, CNN, ESPN, Foundr Magazine, and Thrive Global. Her leadership fable “How To Be Queen” released this spring is a top selling book for Archway Publishing.
Jennifer is a Make-A-Wish® America Honoree and has served on non-profit boards The Patachou Foundation and COBURN Place in Indianapolis, IN. At 23, she was the youngest NCAA Division I head coach in the nation at Florida Gulf Coast University. During her five years at FGCU she served on various boards and committees including “Gender Equity/Title IX.” Jennifer’s life mission is to help “successful people become unstoppable.”
LIVESTREAM DAY 1 : September 15, 2021 | 5:00 PM PST
PANEL – NEW VOICES: EMERGING FILMMAKERS IN CONVERSATION
Liuying Cao
MODERATOR Liuying Cao
Midnight Blur Films | Parallax International Sales
Co-founder, Head of International Sales
Educated in China and France, Cao Liuying is the co-founder of the Chinese-language film critic platform DeepFocus and also works as a producer and promoter of Chinese arthouse cinema. She served as a programming consultant for Shanghai International Film festival and a jury member for various festivals including the Netpac Jury of the 2nd Hainan Island Int’l Film Festival. She was nominated as the ‘Future Leader’ of the industry by Screen in 2021.
PANELISTS
La’Chris Jordan, January 14th Director | Tatiana Jorio, Chick Flicks Director | Lydia Matata, You Will Get Another One Director | Vivian Gaiko (main character) You Will Get Another One Director | Tiffany K. Guillen, Welcome Back Director
La’Chris
Tatiana
Lydia
Vivian
Tiffany
Guest Musicians
Zahili Gonzalez Zamora
Cuba
A pianist, composer & arranger, representing Cuba, Zahili’s music is a fusion of different genres that sets its foundation in the deep traditions of Cuban music, bebop, funk & soul while giving a nod to more current artists such as Michel Petrucciani and Eryka Badu. She leads an Afro Cuban Jazz band, MIXCLA that performed internationally such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, etc. As a composer, Zahili was awarded the Duke Ellington Award and the Wayne Shorter Award, and the 40th annual Downbeat Music Award in 2017.
Zayra Pola Ocasio
Puerto Rico
A percussionist, drummer & singer, representing Puerto Rico, Zayra was awarded as the Salsa Singer of the year in 2017 from the Latin Boston USA Awards. Some of her fans have labeled her as “La Reina del Timbal” (The queen of timbales) since her outstanding performance in the Salsa Festival honoring a “La Fania” in 2009. Zayra is the producer of 3NITY, which empowers female talent. She is currently working on producing her first Album.
PANEL – THE POWER OF FILM: COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT
Sunny Slaughter
MODERATOR Sunny Slaughter
CEO | Consultant | Communicator | Connector
Sunny Slaughter is the CEO and Managing Principal of Sunny Slaughter Consulting, LLC. Sunny brings 35 years of experience to the table as a consultant, strategist, and instructor, intentionally centering Black women and other women of color to ensure diverse voices become decision-makers in business, the boardroom, and the community. She is a TEDx Speaker and alumni of the Women’s Media Center (WMC). Sunny was recognized by the Obama Administration for her efforts in human trafficking. Sunny Slaughter is a recipient of the Power Belle Bold Hat Award presented by Harry Belafonte.
PANELISTS
Ifeoma Fafunwa, Mrs. F | Sarah Kuck, Tarcila Director | Aideen Kane, The 8th Director | Radha Paudel, Break the Silence: The right to bleed with dignity Activist | Chris van der Vorm, Mrs. F Director
Ifeoma
Sarah
Aideen
Radha
Chris
PANEL – REDEFINING THE STATUS QUO: YOUTH DRIVING CULTURAL CHANGE
Vivian Connolly
MODERATOR Vivian Connolly
Before co-founding Phosphene in 2008, Vivian Connolly was Head of Production at Edgeworx Inc. where she oversaw all production and worked closely with John Bair on projects including Synecdoche, New York, Chicago 10, The Universe, and Peabody winner Judgment Day.
Under Vivian and John’s leadership, Phosphene has teamed up with HBO, FOX, Sony, A24, Dreamworks, Paramount, Universal, CBS, ABC, FX, HULU, Warner Bros., Netflix, Amazon, Showtime and Cinemax. Phosphene has received Two VES nominations, one VES Award as well as three Emmy Award nominations. Phosphene’s recent projects include: In The Heights, Stillwater, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Succession and The Stand.
Vivian is a lifelong activist, the vice-chair of the Post New York Alliance, the proud mother of two mini activists, and an (almost) native New Yorker by way of Mexico City.
PANELISTS
Ellie Wen, The Missfits Director | Sophie Max, The Whole Truth Producer | Yelita Ali, The Whole Truth Director | Kaja Chan, The Whole Truth Actor | Samar Minallah Khan, OutSwing Director | Flora Rees-Arredondo, Malinchista Director
Ellie
Sophie
Yelita
Kaja
Samar
Flora
Guest Musicians
Alejandro Cisneros, México | Cristina Vaira, Italy
Jandro & Cristina is an award-winning duo and family, performing in the US and internationally. The band was founded by the married couple, a Berklee College of Music Alumni Alejandro Ramirez-Cisneros is a 2019 Honorary Artist-in-Residence at the UR2, global award-winning film composer, music producer, singer-songwriter and filmmaker; Cristina Vaira is a singer-songwriter, book writer and former X-Factor Italy recipient. Jandro and Cristina are former founders of The Pillars Productions, LLC, a production company created to offer inspiring music and video content to an exclusive clientele of Grammy winner artists. They believe in the power of music to inspire audiences around the world.
Yoshie Nakayama – Japan (Performed by Vocal Ensemble Univoz)
Yoshie Nakayama is a composer, arranger, trombone player, singer and Co-Founder of Songs for World Peace. Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music. People recognize her warm and jazzy Acappella productions with traditional Japanese children songs. Other than Acappella creation, Yoshie finds herself working on various styles such as educational piano pieces, Latin band and strings arrangement with singer-songwriters.
Utako Toyama – Japan (Performed by Songs for World Peace & SkyBridge)
Utako Toyama is a multi-award-winning composer, recipient of the exceptional talent visa in the U.S. and the UK. She is a founder of SkyBridge and the Co-Founder of Songs for World Peace. She is now based in London, UK. She became the first and only Japanese composer who received multiple finalist awards at John Lennon Songwriting Contest. She devotes her gifts of leadership and composing to promote diversity, equality and world peace. Her goal is to help to amplify the messages and missions of wonderful organizations by composing for social causes that they focus on.