Currently Browsing: Athena Film Festival

Filmmaker Julia Hart’s Characters are Some of the Best

Seven years ago today was the theatrical release of Miss Stevens, the directorial debut of the incomparable Julia Hart. 

Julia Hart is an American filmmaker known for the complexity, depth, and heart that she brings to every genre (which, for her, spans from young adult musical romance to crime thriller). Raised by James Hart, a Hollywood screenwriter known for his literary adaptations such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and Hook, Julia was exposed to the world of film from a young age.read more.

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Petra Volpe Explores the Personal and Political

On this day five years ago, The Divine Order was released. We’re celebrating its writer and director, Petra Volpe. 

Petra Volpe is a Swiss filmmaker, best known for her film The Divine Order, which was released in 2017. The Divine Order is about women’s suffrage in Sweden, where women did not have the right to vote until the 1970s.read more.

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Join FF2 in Celebrating the 15th Annual SWAN Day!

Hello, Cyberspace. I’m Jan Lisa Huttner, the “mastermind” behind the SWAN concept.

Today is the last Saturday of March, and I am thrilled to be celebrating 15 years of continuous SWAN Day programming with all of you – ensuring that Women’s History Month ends once again this year with a tribute to women artists regardless of mode and media.… read more.

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Petra Volpe on Swiss Myths of Neutrality in WW2 & After

Filmmaker Petra Volpe grew up “half-Italian” in Switzerland and looks askance at the myths of Swiss history: “We are connected to the past because it also determines our present.” Her directing debut film The Divine Order – winner of the Nora Ephron Prize at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival – entertainingly showed international audiences how Swiss women organized to finally get the right to vote at the late date of 1971.… read more.

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FF2-Sponsored Panel ‘Bringing in New Voices in a Post-Pandemic Film Industry’ at Athena Showcases Two Promising New Artists

FF2-Sponsored Panel “Bringing in New Voices in a Post-Pandemic Film Industry” at Athena Showcases Two Promising New Artists

Like many things, Athena Film Festival looked completely different this year than it did in past years. The festival took place online, with live panels happening on Zoom.read more.

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Sophia’s Athena 2020

Walking into Barnard College, there is already a sense of female empowerment and pride. It feels like women can do anything and will conquer the world. This creates a perfect setting for the Athena Film Festival. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Athena showcased some powerful works of art. With a pass swinging around my neck, in the cold winds of February, I walk into Barnard feeling inspired already. read more.

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