The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival lifts underrepresented filmmakers to top billing
By Kastle Waserman
Photos courtesy of Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
Important stories go untold when women’s voices are unheard, and unfortunately, the film industry is a stark reminder of gender inequality. Women have been underrepresented both in front of and behind the camera in mainstream films. A recent article in Variety magazine quoted a USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative report, which revealed that 2023 top-grossing films featured the same number of female leads as in 2010.
Women in Hollywood today strive for change, but in Colorado, two women launched an effort for change 37 years ago. It was clear to Jere E. Martin and Donna Guthrie that the industry ignored many women’s stories and issues, so they founded the ColoradoSprings–based Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival (RMWFF).
“We were driven by the belief that films are a wonderful medium for storytelling and change,” Guthrie says. “We wanted to establish a festival that not only showcased films created by women but also amplified women’s issues and perspectives. Our goal was to provide a space where female filmmakers could present their work, engage in meaningful discussions and inspire audiences with their unique viewpoints.”
The idea came to them after attending the Telluride Film Festival, when they realized there was a shortage of women-led films. But starting a brand-new festival is a massive undertaking and did not come without a learning curve. “Our biggest concern was whether Colorado Springs would be interested in a women’s film festival,” Guthrie says. With no prior experience organizing a film festival, they relied heavily on donations and free publicity via word of mouth to spread the news about the festival. “Fortunately, the community enthusiastically embraced it,” she says.
The festival has been going ever since at the same location, Colorado College, except in 2020 when the pandemic forced a change of venue. It showcases documentary, narrative, short and animated films that are thought-provoking and enriching and that encourage both global awareness and personal growth.
The three-day celebration of cinema kicks off this year with an opening night celebration at the Cornerstone Arts Center at Colorado College, followed by two full days of film screenings. Throughout the weekend, approximately 40 films will be presented at four venues on the Colorado College campus. They plan to hold Q&As with guest filmmakers from across the country.
Nicole Nicoletta, executive director of Rocky Mountain Women’s Film, says people come not only to be supportive of women in film but also for the experience of seeing high-quality films with a live audience.
“We curate these incredible films, and we hold the space for people to come together. Our mission is to build community around film,” Nicoletta says. “We can all binge-watch anything on cable or TV, but when you sit with someone in a theater and watch a film that touches you, you can communicate with people around you and feel it with them. It’s a very powerful experience.”
Filmmakers submit their work for consideration through the organization’s website during a month-long application window. Then, the films undergo a rigorous review process before the selection committee makes its final selections for the festival.
“We have a group of people who preview the films, and we have a group of people who are on the selection committee. The criteria for being selected is that the filmmaker or, at the very least, the director or producer has to be a woman. It’s a simple process but certainly not an easy one when you’re watching so many incredible films,” Nicoletta says.
There is also a selection made for the Madeline Osher Choice Award. Osher was a dedicated volunteer for the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005. The leaders of the RMWFF wanted to honor her and keep her name alive.
“She had a brightness, a love and zest for life that was so powerful,” Nicoletta says. “The film chosen for the award speaks to her personality and legacy. It’s pretty much the feeling: ‘Madeline would have loved that!’”
The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Organization also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including a shorts night fundraiser, pop-up cinema nights featuring first-run independent films, summer drive-in cinema and tailgate parties, a best-of-the-fest“microcinema” featuring standout documentaries from the previous year’s festival and an annual filmmakers retreat, an invitation-only weekend respite for those who’ve had a film screened at the festival to receive much-needed rest while building a deeper community with other women filmmakers.
“The festival has always been about fostering a community. We envisioned a supportive network where women could collaborate, mentor and uplift each other,” Guthrie says. “We hoped to create a space where women’s voices could be heard, their stories told and their talents celebrated. After thirty-seven years, I think that hope is a reality.”
The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival will take place October 18–20 at Colorado College. For more information, visit rmwfilm.org
