It seems like every day brings more cancellations, closings, and upsetting news. The coronavirus is affecting the whole world, not least of all the artists and creators who are trying to bring their projects to fruition — and to an audience.
As such, Women and Hollywood is highlighting women-driven and women-made projects that have been impacted by COVID-19 and are now looking for outside help. Some of these projects were set to premiere at now-cancelled festivals, others have had theatrical premieres postponed. Money and opportunities have been lost, and these projects and their filmmakers need some extra financial backing and word-of-mouth.
Each week, we’ll be updating our readers about projects by and about women that have been rocked by COVID-19 and are currently crowdfunding or asking for additional support — including project info, why they need help, and how you can help them. Check out the latest round of titles below.
“Karuara, People of the River” (Documentary) – Directed by Stephanie Boyd and Miguel Araoz
What it’s about: Beneath the waters of Peru’s Amazon lies a vibrant spiritual world led by the Karuara, which means “people of the river.” A brave indigenous woman and her family confront powerful interests to save their river and these sacred beings. The doc will also feature “And that is how the rivers came to be,” the animated short the filmmakers released last year.
How it has been affected by COVID-19: The animation’s distributor, Feelsales, cannot attend important markets and is based in Spain, one of the countries hardest hit by the virus. This affects much-needed sales, which would have been invested in “Karuara, People of the River.” The filmmaking team has also had several festival cancellations, funders have been cutting grants, and editing has stalled since March 15.
The film’s indigenous producers live in Peru’s Amazon region, and are even more vulnerable to the virus. The film’s indigenous protagonists lack clean, safe drinking water and are running out of food staples. They live a day’s journey from the nearest hospital and can’t afford treatment.
How to help: Make a donation via Women Make Movies. Funds raised will be used to help complete the feature doc and cover urgent, basic necessities for our indigenous crew and participants.
“Stucco” (Short) – Written and Directed by Janina Gavankar and Russo Schelling
What it’s about: While hanging a piece of art in her new home, a woman knocks a hole in her wall, revealing what might be another room. Her mind races and unravels as she wonders what could be on the other side.
How it has been affected by COVID-19: The short was set to screen at SXSW, which was cancelled.
How to help: The filmmakers are not currently crowdfunding, but are looking for people to watch and amplify their project online. They’re hoping industry professionals will see it, and that someone will be interested in producing or distributing the feature version.
“Minimum Mass” (VR Short) – Written and Directed by Raqi Syed and Areito Echevarria
“Minimum Mass”
What it’s about: “Minimum Mass” is the story of couple who experience a series of miscarriages and come to believe their children are being born in another dimension. Set in contemporary Rotorua, New Zealand, and the speculative world of black holes, it is a short interactive narrative virtual reality. “Minimum Mass” is a 20-minute experience that takes place in a real-time, photorealistic computer-generated story world and has been developed for the Oculus Rift-S platform.
How it has been affected by COVID-19: “Minimum Mass” was scheduled to premiere at Tribeca next month, but the fest has been postponed indefinitely. The filmmaking team was in conversation with a few organizations and technology companies, and intended to raise $50,000 in gap funding once we were able to exhibit at Tribeca, but of course that is no longer possible.
How to help: The “Minimum Mass” team is looking for finishing funds and sponsorship. If you’re interested in contributing, contact the filmmakers via the project’s website.
“Clarkston” (Documentary) – Directed by Erin Bernhardt and Din Blankenship
https://vimeo.com/314147320
What it’s about: “Clarkston” is the story of a Muslim refugee and a former Klansman whose only commonality is being the target of blame in a polarized America. Set to the backdrop of two towns separated by 100 miles and diverging ideologies, the film uncovers what is possible when we leave the security of our tribes and what is at stake for our country if we don’t.
How it has been affected by COVID-19: The filmmakers’ local fest, the Atlanta Film Festival, is postponed until further notice, but they are hoping to premiere “Clarkston” at TIFF or Telluride this fall. It’s unclear how future fests will pan out, but the filmmakers are determined to release the doc to the mass public this fall, to coincide with the election.
How to help: The “Clarkston” team is seeking $90,000 in finishing funds. Contact the filmmakers via the project’s website to contribute.
“Sophie Jones” – Directed by Jessie Barr; Written by Jessie Barr and Jessica Barr
What it’s about: Sixteen-year-old Sophie Jones (Jessica Barr) is grappling with the recent death of her mother. Physical intimacy with another person becomes the only way for Sophie to feel anything. Eroticism becomes the antidote to her mother’s death. She tries to keep her relationships strictly for her own empowerment and as a means of distraction. But what happens when Sophie finds that she does want more than physical intimacy, but is terrified of being vulnerable and receiving love or pleasure? What if none of Sophie’s relationships with the boys in her life are the answer but they are all part of her journey back to healing herself?
How it has been affected by COVID-19: “Sophie Jones,” Jessie Barr’s first feature film, was slated to premiere at Portland International Film festival and screen at VAIL 2020. Both fests have been cancelled.
How to help: The filmmakers are currently seeking distribution, and would appreciate people sharing their connections, resources, and networks, and amplifying the project over social media. You can connect with the “Sophie Jones” team via their website, Twitter, and/or Instagram.
“Broken Bird” (Short) – Written and Directed by Rachel Harrison Gordon
What it’s about: “Broken Bird” follows Birdie, a biracial girl raised by her Jewish mom in a New Jersey suburb, as she spends a rare visitation day with her father while preparing for her Bat Mitzvah. She overcomes her doubts, and decides to risk inviting him back into her life. Birdie confronts what independence means as she steps into adulthood on her own terms.
How it has been affected by COVID-19: “Broken Bird” was due to make its North American premiere at SXSW, which was cancelled. Writer-director Rachel Harrison Gordon was planning to pitch the feature version of the story at SXSW and other fests, and interact with audiences and attendees. The short was competing for prize money at several of these events, which Gordon hoped to apply towards production of the feature.
How to help: Gordon is unsure how to move forward with “Broken Bird” at this time. She’s hoping to spread the word about the short and connect with other women filmmakers who have been affected by the pandemic. You can contact her via Instagram.
The AFI Directing Workshop for Women’s 2020 Showcase
What it’s about: The AFI Directing Workshop for Women (DWW) is the longest-running program dedicated to supporting women and gender nonbinary narrative directors. Committed to providing opportunities for marginalized genders, DWW annually mentors eight filmmakers through the production cycle of a short film, providing hands-on instruction with classes led by industry experts.
The 2020 showcase includes Robin Cloud’s “2 Dollars”; Nicole Taylor-Roberts’ “410 Stamped”; Revati Dhomse’s “भाग” (“Bhaag”); Bridget Moloney’s “Blocks”; Marie Jamora’s “Harana”; Tiffany Frances’ “Hello from Taiwan”; Ashley Eakin’s “Single”; and Lara Panah-Izadi’s “The Summer of Snakes.”
How it has been affected by COVID-19: The DWW’s 2020 showcase was to be held at the DGA West Hollywood on March 11, but was cancelled. It was a night the filmmakers worked rigorously hard for 15 months — it was the opportunity to screen their shorts in front of agents, managers, and other people who could directly impact their careers.
How to help: Watch the films, and share the DWW Showcase link so that as many agents, managers, and industry executives see the projects as possible.
“Rocky Flats” (Documentary) – Directed by Nancy Wolfe
What it’s about: “Rocky Flats” is a feature documentary about an under-the-radar but urgent environmental story, of the nuclear waste left by America’s Cold War nuclear weapons production. Across the country, former nuclear weapons plants are now either being remediated or left to crumble, and posing a range of threats to surrounding communities. The film focuses on dramatic events unfolding in Colorado, where communities are engaged in a contentious battle over lands around the notorious Rocky Flats Nuclear Facility.
How it has been affected by COVID-19: “Rocky Flats” had a planned production shoot April 6 in Denver, Colorado, but this and other scheduled shoots have been cancelled. This has severely upset the doc’s production schedule and impacted funding.
How to help: Make a donation via Women Make Movies.
“Finster” (Documentary) – Directed by Ava Leigh Stewart
What it’s about: Howard Finster, the grandfather of the Southern Folk Art movement, was a pioneer that showed the world that art can thrive outside of museums and galleries, in ordinary places and in everyday objects. He took what others might deem trash or obsolete and turned it into something contemplative. He opened Paradise Garden for the world to enjoy, a true testament that art comes to life when people are able to interact with it. Howard Finster showed the world that objects surrounding us can take on a new life, in a sometimes magical way, and communicate messages that can lead to transformation.
How it has been affected by COVID-19: “Finster,” Ava Leigh Stewart’s first feature doc, was set to screen at the RiverRun, Dallas, and Calgary Underground festivals so far, which have all been canceled.
How to help: The “Finster” team is hoping to find a sales agent and looking to acquire worldwide rights to two R.E.M. songs for the project. If you can help or would like to connect to the filmmakers, you can reach out via the doc’s website.
“How Not To Be A Junkie” – Directed by Michelle Peerali; Written by Andrea Metz
“How Not To Be A Junkie”
What it’s about: “How Not To Be A Junkie” is a dark, comedic exploration of addiction, sexual identity, the innocence of youth, and how within every addict, there is a little girl, or a little boy, who longs to feel seen, heard, and loved. The film floats back and forth between two important chapters of our lead character, Lexi’s, life. We examine how sometimes seemingly inconsequential moments in our childhood can stay tethered to our souls and affect the choices we make later in life.
How it has been affected by COVID-19: The project’s team had planned on shooting in late-April/early-May, but as the virus has spread, people have cancelled their crowdfunding pledges. They realized they would need to delay filming, and asked Kickstarter if they could pause their campaign, but that’s not possible and the filmmakers don’t want to lose the money they have already raised.
How to help: Check out the film’s Kickstarter campaign.
To be considered for inclusion in this feature, please send an email to Laura Berger (berger.laurae@gmail.com) and Rachel Montpelier (raemontpelier@gmail.com) with Women and Hollywood – Special Crowdfunding Support Feature in the subject line. Please send us the following information:
- Project title and synopsis:
- Writer/director/creator credits:
- A link to the crowdfunding page or other campaign:
- A link to the project’s festival information, if applicable (i.e. something like this):
Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis. All formats (features, shorts, web series, etc.) are welcome.
Previous installments of this feature:
These Projects Have Been Affected by Coronavirus. Here’s How You Can Help. (Volume I)
