Thousands of women’s stories are ignored or simply go untold — a huge problem that is addressed in this round of crowdfunding picks. These stories are diverse, yet they’re united by their commitment to sharing women-centric narratives that have previously gone unheard or unseen.
“Doors of Mercy” is a window into the life of Egyptian women whose children have been born out of wedlock — and are denied every form of legitimacy. Writer Alice Kriegel tells the story of one mother who takes to the streets to fight for her daughter’s rights, even though it’s possible no one will listen.
A rare female-led superhero show, “Empowered” seeks to balance the scales by focusing on a group of young women who are finding themselves and discovering their powers at the same time. The series aims to give young girls superheroine role models that are given a chance to exist as complicated people.
Our next pick, The Second Annual Women Sports Film Festival, cheers on real-life superheroes. The documentary fest organized by Susan Sullivan and Jennifer Matt centers on women in the sports world, and promises to cover female athletes’ stories, which are rarely included in mainstream sports analysis.
A narrative short with widespread resonance, “Leia’s Army” follows a young girl whose family is fractured after she takes part in the Women’s March on Washington. The film is set to premiere on the one year anniversary of the March, and explores the way political lines can divide families.
Our final pick, “The Bessie Coleman Story,” is an animated short about the first African American female pilot. Designed with kids in mind, the project will introduce children to a real-life role model who just happens to be a woman of color.
Here are our latest women-created and women-centric crowdfunding picks.
“Doors of Mercy” (Short) — Written by Anna Kriegel
There are thousands of Egyptians born out of wedlock each year, yet the state treats these children as illegitimate. They aren’t allowed to vote, and are denied access to health care and basic education. “Doors of Mercy” follows the mother of an illegitimate child who fights for her daughter’s right to exist. Writer Anna Kriegel uses one mother’s story to shine a light on the stigmas young Egyptian mothers face every day. “Doors of Mercy” is about what a mother will risk for her child, and obliterates the notion of illegitimacy in the process.
You can fund “Doors of Mercy” through its Seed & Spark campaign.
“Empowered” (Series)
As “Wonder Woman” breaks down barriers for women at the box office, “Empowered” seeks to do the same on the small screen. Focusing on a group of female superheroes, the series follows each of its young characters as they come of age and discover their capabilities. These girls happen to have superpowers, but “Empowered” shows its audience that every girl should be willing to fully embrace her own identity, whether it involves super strength or not.
You can support the production of “Empowered’s” pilot by donating via Seed & Spark.
The Second Annual Women Sports Film Festival — Founded by Susan Sullivan and Jennifer Matt
The Second Annual Women Sports Film Festival screens short and feature-length documentaries focusing on the impact women have had across the sporting world. The festival will take place in Oakland, California from September 28–30. After a successful festival in 2016, founders Susan Sullivan and Jennifer Matt are looking for funding to get them across the finish line for this year’s edition. The 2017 festival will come with more documentaries as well as other events and a variety of speakers — and will increase women’s representation on both sides of the camera along the way.
You can support The Second Annual Women Sports Film Festival by donating to the project on Kickstarter.
“Leia’s Army” (Short) — Directed by Oriana Oppice; Written by Jane Barbara
The Women’s March brought millions of women together, giving them a chance to voice their opposition to the incoming administration. It also encouraged women to express themselves freely, a privilege some women don’t have at home. “Leia’s Army” tells the story of one girl in this situation. The film follows Val, a girl under 18 who traveled to the March without telling her Trump-supporting parents, and did so for her sister, who was abandoned by the family after coming out. Director Oriana Oppice and writer Jane Barbara recognize the Women’s March as a turning point for our country, and wish to translate that on film.
You can support “Leia’s Army” by visiting Seed & Spark.
“The Bessie Coleman Story” (Short)
Presented by Sweet Blackberry, an organization devoted to bringing little known stories of African American achievement to kids, “The Bessie Coleman Story” is an animated short about the first black female pilot. The short will be narrated by Laurence Fishburne (“Black-ish”), and will inform kids about Coleman’s refusal to let societal conventions keep her from accomplishing her goals. Founded by Karyn Parsons (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”), Sweet Blackberry has sponsored a number of films about African Americans whose stories haven’t been told, all of which are currently available on Netflix.
Help sponsor Sweet Blackberry’s latest effort by donating to the project on Kickstarter.
To be considered for Women and Hollywood’s biweekly crowdfunding feature, please write to womenandhollywoodinterns@gmail.com. All formats (features, shorts, web series, etc.) welcome. Projects must be by and/or about women.
