Film Femmes

Women are Filming it for Themselves

The Underexposed Film Festival yc is more female than ever before! Half the accepted films and almost half of those that are screening at the 2019 festival were directed by women. The UFFyc highlights this achievement in sharp contrast to Hollywood, where only 4-8% of the directors tapped to helm films each year are female. Recognizing the talents of women in the field of directing has always been important to the UFFyc. The Woman to Watch award for Best Female Director has been awarded annually since 2013.

The diversity of each of the female-driven films screening in the 2019 UFFyc solidifies the voice of women in filmmaking – brash, bold, and adventurous. While festivalgoers will find films directed by women in each of the screening blocks, Block B, Ladies who Lens, screening on Thursday, March 28 features only films that have been directed by women.

2019 UFFyc Woman to Watch Nominees

All Inclusive, dir. Corina Schwingruber Ilić

Almost Everything, dir. Lisa Gertsch

Amaterasu, dir. Chirstine Papalexis

An Act of Terror, dir. Ashley Page Brim

Coastland – Litoral, dir. Miruna Dunu

Consent: a short comedy about a serious subject, dir. Kimmy Gatewood

Divulge, dir .Haven Nutt

Fuse, dir. Shadi Adib

Hope, dir. Katie Damien

Icebergs, dir. Eirini Vianelli

Kitwana’s Journey, dir. Ng’endo Mukii

Paint the Forest, dir. Karin Neuvirth

Pie, dir. Adria Tennor

Rachel’s Pitch, dir. Julia Fulmer

Shakespeare in Tokyo, dir. Genevieve Clay-Smith

Sono Pippa, dir. Yasmin Joerg

The Call, dir. Anca Damian

The Gift of the Red Fern, dir. Robyn McSheehy Hartman

The Masque of Blackness, dir. Epoh Beech

Mixed Directing Teams:

After the Rain, dir. Valérian Desterne, Rebecca Black, Céline Collin, Juan Olarte, Juan Pablo de la Rosa Zalamea, Carlos Osmar Salazar Tornero, Lucile Palomino

The Afterbirth, dir. Ignacio Rodó, Blanca Bonet

Carlotta’s Face, dir. Valentin Riedl, Frédéric Schuld

In its 8th year, Karen Collins, Directors Guild of America Assistant Director (retired) and Winthrop alumna, once again serves as Festival Director of the Arts Council of York County’s Underexposed Film Festival yc in York County, South Carolina. Her projects in Hollywood display genius through films like Courage Under Fire (1996), The Thin Red Line (1998), Gettysburg (1993), and her resilience in a male-dominated industry exemplifies strength while inspiring the next generation of female filmmakers.

The 2019 Underexposed Film Festival yc screens on the campus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC from March 27 – 30.

The Underexposed Film Festival yc is presented by Morton & Gettys, and is made possible by partnerships with Carolina Fresh Farms; Cinematiq; Karen Collins, Dr. Susan Collins; Concerts at the Courtroom; Final Draft; Founders Federal Credit Union; Hilton Garden Inn; Lightworks; Melton Insurance; Old Town Association; Teresa & David Rector; Samsung; Sharp Business Systems; Toon Boom; Winthrop University; Wells Fargo; The White Horse Restaurant; Winthrop University College of Visual and Performing Arts; WRHI AM/FM, Interstate 107, and 104.1 The Bridge.

Support for this project is provided by the SC Arts Commission, Arts Council of York County Small Grants Program, the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC, Rock Hill Accommodations Tax Grant Fund, York County Hospitality & Accommodations Tax & the ACYC Annual Campaign. For visitors information including lodging, contact the York County Visitors Center at 888-702-1320.

The 2019 Underexposed Film Festival yc is a part of the 2019 South Carolina Humanities Festival. Visit York County has partnered with South Carolina Humanities to host the 2019 SC Humanities Festival in York County for the first time.