Women in the Director's Chair

For the past two decades Chicago-based Women in the Director's Chair has been bringing an astounding array of films, videos and other media to audiences throughout the Midwest. In fact, their annual film festival, showcasing the works of women and trans-gendered people, can proudly be called the largest and longest-running women's film festival in the United States.

This year, their annual festival marks the organization's largest number of film entries to date -- a whopping 650. The goal of the festival, rather than focusing on technical expertise and expensive special effects, is to bring a plurality of visions representing women's views to the big screen, said Sabrina Craig, program director of the WIDC Annual Festival.

"Our focus isn't on women who've already achieved great fame. Instead we highlight independent, low-budget media and those with a global view," Craig said. "We value risk-taking by filmmakers verses the tried and the true."

Highlights of the festival include two feature-length films: "By Hook or by Crook," directors Silas Howard and Harry Dodge's butch-buddy version of John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy," and "Frontiers of Dreams and Fears," a deeply textured portrait of refugee life in the Middle East by Lebanese filmmaker Mai Masri.

"We feature more serious films than purely 'entertainment' media. We find programs we think are trying to say something meaningful," Craig said, adding, "Which isn't to say, that all our films are heavy. We just don't show stuff that's pure fluff."

WIDC's 10-day long celebration showcases approximately 120 films, from 2-minute animations to full-length dramas. Most of the screenings feature at least one speaker, usually the director, for a Q+A session after the show. Some of the programs include a round-table discussion with the artist. The most popular annual programs at WIDC are Homegirls (featuring Chicago area media artists), Media Grrrls (new videos by young women from around the country) and Dyke Night (a showcase of short pieces by lesbian and transgendered directors).

Craig, who joined WIDC in 1994, began in the organization as a volunteer and graduated four years ago to board member. She has been active in the film community, teaching media literacy several years ago at the American Friend Service Community.

"What we [WIDC] are doing is creating a space for women to show their works," said Craig. "Many times it's hard for women to get started in this field because of a lack of resources. Women are not part of 'The Old Boy's Network,' and the films and videos that we make are about real issues in our lives. So what we do is provide a venue for them to show all this."

Founded in 1980, WIDC is an international media arts and activist center.

The 21st WIDC Annual Festival runs March 15-24, 2002. A 6-show festival pass cost $35 regular and $30 for students/seniors/WIDC members. Single program tickets cost $8 regular and $6 for students/seniors/WIDC members. Pre-sale tickets are available at Star Gaze (5419 N. Clark), Women and Children First (5233 N. Clark St.), Center for Gender Studies at the University of Chicago (5835 South Kimbark, Room 422) and Seminary Bookstore (5757 S. University). Checks only for pre-sale tickets.

For more information on Women in the Director's Chair, go to http://www.widc.org.

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