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about femme totale
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| femme totale Association has existed since 1986 as a non-profitmaking organisation. Its aim is to stress the significance of women’s work in the world of film. Last but not least the history of film was marked by outstanding camerawomen, composers, set designers, stuntwomen, producers and of course directors and screenwriters. Succesful directors like Jane Campion, Kathryn Bigelow, Margarete von Trotta, Doris Dörrie or Caroline Link are still rare exceptions in this line of business. In 1987 the first International Women’s Film Festival Dortmund started work and is still the heart of femme totale. The only film festival in Germany centered on one topical theme showcases films in which women were/are chiefly responsible for the direction, scriptwriting, soundtrack and/or camerawork. The festival is organised on a biennial basis. Another special feature about the Dortmund Festival is its non-competitiveness. Films are selected solely in relation to the festival theme. Also, in addition to movies and videos, the Festival highlights works from the world of multimedia femme totale’s presentation of the work of famous directors and yet unknown filmmakers is an entertaining mixture that contains popular as well as ambitious political cinema. The festival also offers workshops and talks, which enables controverse discussions between the artists and the audience. The extensive programme of background events with specials and highlights creates the well-known atmosphere. The programm of the festival appeals to everyone. At our festival we receive with open arms all those people who like good movies and entertainment; who like to discuss about the screenings; who take much delight in the weird and the unconventional, but also in elegiac and touching story-telling cinema. For us, cineasts are as welcome as the common filmgoers, who just want to see something different. As such, femme totale employs full-time staff, freelancer and voluntary workers who, when drawing up and carrying out the film programmes, are supported by a group of film academics and film makers. In 1997 femme totale became member of the Brussels-based European Coordination of Film Festivals and initiated the working group "Women and Film in Europe". On the level of Dortmund femme totale organizes with growing succes film weeks for schools and pupils, and was one of the founders of the initiative KinoSchule, which came into being in 2002. |
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