Birds Eye View Film Festival

Birds Eye View returns to the BFI Southbank, ICA and Barbican for its 6th annual Film Festival celebrating, championing and showcasing women filmmakers. The nine-day event includes eight inspired features, seven penetrating documentaries, 21 visionary shorts, 22 retro movies starring iconic blondes, some cutting-edge fashion and music films plus BEV's already-famous commissions of new scores by hot female talent to classic silent films. Birds Eye View launched the UK's first major film festival to showcase women's work (a bird's perspective, geddit?) back in 2005, a response to the fact that only 6% of directors and 12% of screenwriters are female. This year, The Guardian journalist Miranda Sawyer presents a Music Video showcase, while the actress Jane Horrocks opens the festivities, which kick off with the trademark programme of the world's best new shorts by women, including Juanita Wilson's freshly Oscar nominated The Door. Of course, this year's festival could carry even more resonance if, mid-way through the celebrations on 7th March, Kathryn Bigelow makes cinematic history across the Atlantic by becoming the first woman to win a Best Director Oscar for her acclaimed war film The Hurt Locker. This year, the BEV also has screenings, parties and get-togethers at the Renoir and the Ritzy Picturehouse: check the official website for more information and full listings.