The 9th Annual Athena Film Festival kicks off from February 28-March 3 and continues to showcase stories of fierce and fearless female leaders from all walks of life. The festival will open with Julia Hart’s Fast Color, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and close with Rachel Lears’ Knock Down The House, featuring NY Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The festival will also honor Nina Shaw who will receive the Athena Award. Desiree Akhavan Will Be Honored with Breakthrough Award, and Cameron Bailey to Receive Leading Man Award.
Festival highlights include the Opening Night Film & New York Premiere of Fast Color: Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Q&A with co-writer & director Julia Hart and co-writer Jordan Horowitz to follow the screening.
Friday, March 1st
6:00PM – Screening of On The Basis Of Sex: Director Mimi Leder and Starring Felicity Jones
Panel with Irin Carmon (moderator), Daniel Stiepleman (screenwriter), Julie Cohen (co-director of RBG documentary) and Jane Ginsberg (daughter of Ruth Bader Ginsburg) to follow screening.
6:00PM – Screening of Lady Parts Justice in the New World Order. Q&A with film’s subject Lizz Winstead (creator of The Daily Show) and ) and diretor Ruth Leitman to follow screening.
9:00PM – Screening of Lights Camera Dykes: Director Caroline Berler
9:00PM – Screening of The Favourite: Starring Olivia Coleman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz
Saturday, March 2nd
12:00PM – Time’s Up x2 Panel featuring Nina Shaw. Additional panelists to be announced.
3:00PM – Screening of Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Director Marielle Heller and Starring Melissa McCarthy. Q&A with producer Anne Carey to follow screening.
6:00PM – Documentary Centerpiece: This Is Personal
7:00 PM – Women & Horror Panel featuring Caryn Coleman (director of programming at Nitehawk Cinema), Ashlee Blackwell (creator of Graveyard Shift Sisters), Nancy Stephens (actress, Halloween) & more.
9:00PM – Screening of The Miseducation of Cameron Post: Starring Chloe Moretz Grace. Q&A with writer and director Desiree Akhavan to follow screening.
9:00PM – Narrative Centerpiece: Out Of Blue
Sunday, March 3rd
12:00PM – Screening of What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael. Panel featuring Aisha Harris (New York Times), Monica Castillo (New York Times) and Kate Erbland (IndieWire) to follow screening.
3:00PM – Screening of A Private War: Starring Rosamund Pike
6:00PM – Closing Night Film & New York Premiere: Knock Down The House. Panel featuring director Rachel Lears and producer Sarah Olson to follow screening.
The full festival lineup can be found https://athenafilmfestival.com/
