Only “27% of producers, 22% of executive producers, 20% of editors, 20% of writers, 16% of directors, and 12% of cinematographers working on the 250 top films” of 2024 were women, according to San Diego State University. The World Economic Forum found women have accounted for only 17% of Oscar nominees since 1929.
Archer held its 14th annual Film Festival Friday, April 11, at the Writers Guild Theater to highlight female voices and underrepresented perspectives in the film industry. Out of more than 300 submissions, 11 films created by high school students from across the world were showcased at the event, including two made by Archer students.
Guests arrived at the event on a pink carpet, and the festival then began with a keynote panel, followed by a screening of the films, a Q&A with filmmakers and closing remarks. Film teacher Brooke Sebold helped oversee, plan and prepare for the event alongside a student-run festival committee. Sebold described the film selection process for the event.
“We talked a lot about what our mission is, and we really did want to center female voices, whether that’s in front of the camera or behind the camera. We also wanted to spotlight marginalized filmmakers and stories that we don’t often get to see,” Sebold said. “So that was the guiding light in terms of, you know, we saw so many incredible films, and some of them we just had to let go by the wayside because they weren’t doing as much of that. So all of the films that are in the program have input from women, either in front of the camera or behind the camera.”
Film Festival committee board members Olive Poulos (‘25) and Gemma Wyles (‘25) moderated the Q&A with this year’s three keynote panelists: filmmaker Karyn Kusama, actress Amy Adams and Director of the Telluride Film Festival Julie Huntsinger. The title of the panel was “The Future is Female.” Sebold said that after landing on the theme of gender equity in the film industry, the festival board considered potential speakers who could speak best to that particular issue.
“The quality of the panel is outrageous. It’s such a group of heavy-hitting women, and they all have such a profoundly unique perspective,” Sebold said. “Amy Adams is an activist around these issues, in addition to being such an unbelievable actress. And then Karen Kusama is a revolutionary feminist filmmaker in her own right. And Julie Hunsinger runs the Telluride Film Festival, so she has such a profound impact on the films that are shared with the world.”
Alicia Flores (‘25) is a member of the Film Festival board, where she worked mainly on film selection. One thing Huntsinger said during the panel that stuck out to her was that there are many ways to spotlight female voices.
“Our theme this year was highlighting female stories, so [Huntsinger] said something about moving in a more discreet way and not being so overt about trying to push forward female narratives, but rather just doing the work and then letting people figure it out themselves,” Flores said, “because it can be hard for people to accept certain things being pushed on them when it’s so in your face.”
Flores, Poulos, Kate Hanney (’25), Maya Acutt (‘25) and alumna Sophie Sackett (’24) collaborated on the opening film screened at the festival titled “Alliteration.” It was named after Wyles’ original song “Alliteration Song,” which was played over the film. Poulos said she enjoyed being able to showcase their film at the event.
“It’s cool, it’s inspiring. You see all your hard work come together and have other people appreciate it,” Poulos said. “And also just seeing our film with Gemma’s song was really great because it felt extra personal, and it’s a nice reflective moment of the work you put in is in front of you.”
Sebold said they think it is important to spotlight works that include a central female voice or feature other underrepresented perspectives — including high school students — to appreciate everyone’s varied experiences in a shared industry. They hope the festival allowed guests to experience the wonder that is filmmaking while leaving students with a lasting impression.
“I hope [guests at the Film Festival] take away some sort of creative inspiration around what’s possible and wonder around what these high school students were able to create, and then also a little bit more knowledge through the panel conversation around the landscape of the industry and how we can keep moving forward,” Sebold said. “The title of the panel is ‘The Future is Female,’ and [it’s important] to really hone in on what that means in an industry that’s really been dominated by male voices for so long.”
Similarly, Poulos said there are not many opportunities for teenagers, especially girls, to display their work in a semiprofessional setting. The Film Festival acts as a space for them to do so.
“Since we had so many films that were of such high quality, [its purpose] is to show people, as a teenager, you can make great stuff,” Poulos said. “You don’t have to be grown to be able to make a high quality, high value production. And you can also just tell whatever stories you want.”
