The Film Fatales of Minnesota

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About fifty of us crowded into Cooper’s Screening Room at the West End, grabbing a pastry and some coffee before we settled in to hear the speakers. Between the vintage decor of the dimly lit room and the eager energy of the crowd, it certainly set the right tone to hear from some of the Twin Cities’ most creative, accomplished, and talented filmmakers. This discussion panel was part of the Twin Cities Film Fest’s (TCFF) education programming. Throughout the festival, TCFF hosts a variety of free, open to the public events, workshops, and panels focusing on filmmakers, prospective filmmakers, and of course, for those who simply love film.

The excited chatter died down as award-winning documentary filmmaker Melody Gilbert introduced the panelists, or rather, the Film Fatales. The Film Fatales is a growing international community of diverse women filmmakers that meet regularly to collaborate, mentor each other, share resources, and build a supportive network. Comprised of fourteen women directors, the Twin Cities is the newest chapter in this global community. Sharing their stories and wisdom from the Twin Cities chapter was Norah Shapiro, Lisa Blackstone, Missy Whiteman, Melissa Butts, and Melody Gilbert.

The discussion focused on the challenges the filmmakers face in the industry and how being a woman influences their filmmaking and choices in what films to make. One of the major themes that emerged was to give a voice and a platform for stories that are not being told.

“Everyone has a story to tell”, says Lisa Blackstone, who’s documentary film America’s Secret War tells a war story, though not through the traditional lens of a soldier. She instead focuses on the experience of women and families. Blackstone articulated she “was making sure the women’s stories got told. Women and families are a part of it”.

Filmmaker Norah Shapiro’s documentaries tend to focus on women and their stories as in her current project “Time for Ilhan” where she follows Ilhan Omar as she runs for a seat in the Minnesota State Legislature. Shapiro stresses the importance of finding subject matter that will sustain you and keep you interested for years until you finish the project. Many times Shapiro is “exploring [her] own story through telling others’”.

Filmmaker Missy Whiteman also does this by sharing the untold stories of Native Americans. Through Whiteman’s incredible films she is determined to preserve the culture and language of her ancestors in order to pass it on to future generations.

The filmmakers shared many kernels of wisdom working in the industry as women. Melody Gilbert tells us laughingly, “Everything will go wrong and you will fail multiple times”. Filmmaker Melissa Butts who has made multiple films for IMAX including “Space Junk 3D” which is shown around the world, gave simple advice, “Be tough and have sharp elbows”. And this is where the importance of Film Fatales comes into play, especially in a male dominated industry where less than 5% of the top box office films are directed by women. Building a community that collaborates and encourages, benefits not only women filmmakers, but also gives a space and opportunity for diverse voices and stories that otherwise might not be told.

Watch these women’s extraordinary films and be sure to look for their upcoming works! Visit the Film Fatales website filmfatales.org to learn more about these incredibly talented filmmakers.

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Lauren is a filmmaker and writer. She loves capturing and sharing Minnesotans’ unique stories. And when not behind the camera, she’s always on an adventure traveling, exploring new bike trails, and subjecting her friends to taste testing her latest baking experiments.