Video Contests, Film Festivals, and Awards

A "True Blood" actress gets behind the camera, President Obama's older half-sister lands in front, and Internet mover and shaker Tiffany Shlain grabs the mic at the 8th Annual San Francisco International Women's Film Festival (SFIWFF), running April 13-15 at the Roxie Theater, 3117-16th St. (at Valencia St.) in San Francisco.

"Women are powerful, accomplished storytellers in film, but women directors are overlooked by the industry," said festival founder Scarlett Shepard. "Their voices are missing from our culture, but we aim to open the floodgates."

Produced by the Women's Film Institute, the SFIWFF has a mission to increase the exhibition of works by female film directors, and in 2012 celebrates eight years of showcasing neglected work in film and video by accomplished women artists from the United States and around the world.

Featuring work by women directors from Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as the United States, SFIWFF sparks global conversations and focuses on issues and diverse viewpoints outside of the Hollywood mainstream.

Featured events at the 2012 festival include "The Education of Auma Obama," a captivating documentary about the U.S. president's older half-sister; the comedy feature "That's What She Said," directed by Carrie Preston (Arlene on HBO's "True Blood") and written by Kellie Overbey ("Law & Order: SVU," "The Good Wife"); and "Connected," award-winning director Tiffany Shlain's autobiographical exploration of how technology changes us for better and for worse.

Screenings will also include live appearances by Shlain, Overbey and Tanya Wright, director of "Butterfly Rising" and Deputy Kenya Jones on "True Blood."

The three-day SFIWFF program was selected from hundreds of submissions received over the past year, and represents the world's best independent film directed by women.

Resources:

www.sfiwff.com

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