A recent article in The Wrap noted that of the 149 movies currently slated for a wide release from the six major Hollywood studios over the next three years, only 12 have female directors. And two of those studios, Paramount and 20th Century Fox, actually have zero women at the helm for major releases coming out through 2018. So while the 1,000 lb. behemoth that is Hollywood continues to drag its heels, film schools are turning out female filmmakers by the hundreds and festivals are touting record-breaking programming numbers. The 2017 FFF has programmed over 70 films directed by women across virtually every category in the festival. Life on the festival circuit seems to paint a rosy picture of the future—but is that reality or a rose-tinted world? This forum gathers women filmmakers to talk about forgoing the studio system and forging their own path to tell original stories in the face of what seems like insurmountable statistics. Panel includes Dorie Barton (Girl Flu.), Julie Sokolow (Woman on Fire), and Valerie Weiss (The Archer). Moderated by Anne Russell, Program Director—Film Production MFA at Full Sail University.

Coffee Break with Coterie Coffee Co.
Start your daily coffee and cinema binge with a complimentary “coffee break ” at Enzian sponsored by Coterie Coffee Co and preceding all Festival Forums at 10-11am. Coterie Coffee Co. is an Orlando-based specialty coffee roaster providing Central Florida with globally sourced, locally roasted coffee since 2016.