Women’s Film History Network – UK/Ireland
Doing Women’s Film History: Reframing
Cinema Past and Future
13-15 April 2011
Centre for Research in Media and Cultural Studies
University of Sunderland
Despite their marginalization in film history, women continue to be widely involved in cinema as producers, directors, scriptwriters, cinematographers, editors, designers, actresses, distributors, programmers, cinema managers, publicists, critics, audiences. This international conference brings together researchers, archivists, filmmakers and those involved in distributing and programming films to explore new research in women’s film history, asking how this impacts on conceptions of cinema and how women’s filmmaking can be made more visible, accessible and relevant.
Plenary Speakers and Panelists include: Monica Dall’Asta (Bologna University; Non solo dive. Pioniere del cinema italiano); Jane Gaines (Columbia University, Women Film Pioneers Project); Christine Geraghty (Glasgow University; Women and Soap Opera); Karola Gramman (Kinothek Asta Neilsen, Frankfurt); Debbie Horsfield (Theatre/TV writer/producer); Margo Harkin (Besom Productions; Northern Ireland Film Commission); Sue Harper (Portsmouth University; Women in British Cinema); Clare Holden (Sally Potter Archive); Kate Kinninmont (Women in Film & TV – UK); Neepa Majumdar (Pittsburg University, Wanted, Cultured Ladies Only: Female Stardom in India 1930s-1950s); Laura Mulvey (Birkbeck, London University; feminist filmmaker & writer); Tessa Ross (Controller, Film4); Heide Schlüpmann (Goethe Universität, Frankfurt; The Uncanny Gaze); Felicity Sparrow (Central St Martins; Circles); Debra Zimmerman (Women Make Movies, New York).
The conference will also include •screenings •forums on teaching & the curriculum •the future development of Women’s Film History Network – UK/Ireland.
Papers are invited on a broad range of issues raised by women’s involvement in cinema: •women’s film historiography: filling gaps or changing film history? •relationship between feminism & women’s film history •historising women’s film collectives of 1970s and 80s
•impact of women on cinema as audiences, campaigners, fans •women’s career moves from other creative industries into cinema •migrant and diasporic women’s filmmaking •cross-national connections & comparisons • strategies for archiving, preservation & exhibition of women’s films •sources & methodologies for gender-oriented film research •impact of digitisation on women’s filmmaking & future histories • ‘women’s cinema’ as critical category in post-feminist contexts • women’s film history & women’s film practice now •changing the curriculum: critical canons, teaching & film programming
Women’s History Review, Journal of British Cinema and Television, History Workshop Journal and Framework have indicated interest in publishing suitable papers, subject to reviewers’ reports. Proposals from post-graduate researchers are welcome and some bursaries offered.
Proposals (150 word limit) for presentations of 20 minutes (including audiovisual material) should be sent by 1st December 2010 to: Lianne Hopper, The David Puttnam Media Centre, Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s, St Peter’s Way, Sunderland, SR6 ODD, UK; or by email to: [log in to unmask]. For more information please visit the conference blog at http://wfhnsunderland.blogspot.com/p/directions.html.