22 years in and counting, the Female Eye Film Festival returns to Paradise Theatre and TIFF Bell Lightbox from July 18-21 with a vibrant lineup of films directed by, written by, and starring women. 

This year’s edition will screen over 75 short films, features, and documentaries during its 4-day run, all of them connected to the 2024 event mantra, “Always Honest, Not Always Pretty.”

According to FeFF’s founder and executive director Leslie Ann Coles, the festival will “showcase an eclectic and thought-provoking selection of films directed by women and female-identifying filmmakers”. Several of them will be in attendance at screenings for Q&As with the audience. 

New at the festival this year, screenwriters can enroll in an intensive program helmed by The Writer’s Lab (NYC) and the Firecracker Department. 

Ahead of the 2024 Female Eye Film Festival, here is a guide to titles that are worth checking out. From stories about women reclaiming their rights to depictions of female characters learning to cope with motherhood, the list below is a culmination of works that are both emotional and inspirational. 

Good Girl

Centered on Halima, a single mother of East African heritage, Good Girl follows her last minute decision to prevent her teenage daughter from getting circumcised. As Salama gets ready to fly to Kenya and follow through with the tradition, Halima interferes, despite knowing that preventing her daughter from partaking in a cultural ritual like this can cost her everything. 

When: July 18 at 10 AM

Where: Paradise Theatre

Mom

Kate Campbell’s short film provides a raw look at a woman who is struggling with infertility while being a maternal figure to her stepchildren. As the protagonist tries to balance grief over the two miscarriages she’s endured, she must also maintain her composure and continue to be a loving stepmom of two. 

When: July 18 at 10 AM

Where: Paradise Theatre

Sara

After her flight gets delayed multiple times, Sara’s anxiety kicks in, especially at the sight of a missed call from an unknown number. As she takes refuge in a bar, the character meets a stranger who provides the support needed in a moment of distress. In an article for SheDoesTheCity by the filmmaker Jessica Hinkson, she writes about how this project was inspired by her real-life experience with receiving a breast cancer diagnosis.

When: July 18 at 10 AM

Where: Paradise Theatre

One For Sorrow, Two For Joy

In this production by Ana Yang, China’s second-child policy allows for Qin Ling to get pregnant again, and she is hopeful that the baby she is carrying is a boy. Yet, her daughter Yimeng isn’t as thrilled at having a little brother (who would inherit the family name) and feels concern for her mother’s well-being.

When: July 18 at 7 PM

Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox

Rebelled/Rebeladas

One of the few features that will screen at the festival, Rebelled/Rebeladas follows a group of female filmmakers who unite on International Women’s Day to tell their stories. After founding the Collectivo Cine Mujer (Women’s Cinema Collective) in the 1970s, these women continued to work on projects that tackled sexist violence in its various forms. Yet, more than 40 years afterwards the issues they continue to bring to the screen remain unresolved in Mexico. 

When: July 19 at 11 AM

Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox

Discordia

Rowan Gray’s Discordia is centered on a gymnast who learns that she has a rare disorder that prevents her from being able to compete. The short was shot in 16 mm and it captures the trials and tribulations of wanting to accomplish something beyond your control.

When: July 19 at 2:30 PM 

Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox

First Last Month

This film by Elena Vatamanu-Mărgineanu follows a relationship between a girl and her granddaughter after they step into different phases of their lives. 12-year-old Doina gets her first period, she also witnesses her grandmother having a stroke. In order to prevent her father from checking her grandma into a nursing home, Doina proves to him that she is mature enough to be a caregiver. 

When: July 20 at 9:45 AM

Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox

Mother’s Skin

Set in Newfoundland in the ‘70s, Mother’s Skin revolves around a six-year-old that is often disregarded by her parents. With her mother suffering from depression and her father constantly getting drunk and angry, the young girl must fend for herself. When she uncovers a secret that is hidden in their home, the dysfunctional family dynamic in her midst gets a whole new meaning.

When: July 20 at 6:30 PM

Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox

Lei

In Lei, a seamstress named Yokai wakes up only to find her home filled with strands of red yarn. As she tries to sort through the yarn and break free from a nightmare, the protagonist goes through a literal and symbolic journey navigating this psychological maze of self-doubt and existential fear.

When: July 21 at 3:30 PM

Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox

Age of Consent

This short directed by Toronto’s own Katherine Gauthier follows Héloise, a woman who clings to her independence despite her age and continual struggle with memory loss. When an intrusion takes her world by storm, her adult children are left with a dilemma as to whether they should trust someone who can’t even trust themselves or take agency over their own body.

When: July 21 at 3:30 PM

Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox

The Female Eye Film Festival will take place from July 18-21. Find the full lineup of films and their screenings here.