For the first time ever Cinema Femme Short Film Fest is having in-person screenings in Chicago. We celebrate and kick-off our in-person festival by elevating Chicago women and non-binary filmmakers and their work.

Swimming Through, dir. Samantha Sanders

Three women forge a friendship by swimming through the winter in Lake Michigan as a way to cope with the pandemic. Director Samantha Sanders and subjects of the documentary will be in attendance. https://vimeo.com/749360475 (trailer)

Paper Planes, dirs. Alyssa Thordarson and Michael Glover Smith 

A woman with agoraphobia and the AirBnB guest across the hall strike up a correspondence that becomes something more for the holidays. Star/Co-Director Alyssa Thoradson, Co-Director Michael Glover Smith (Relative), and star Shaina Schrooten will be in attendance. Chicago premiere! https://vimeo.com/805535388/e7b6296a90 (trailer)

this is not the morning i thought i was going to have, dir. Margaret Kellas

Two estranged sisters reunite in a 2005 Honda Civic on a sweaty Chicago day. As the car comes to a boil so does their tolerance for one another. Director Margaret Kellas, and Sarah Ruggles (Paige), Jillian Warden (Lindsey), and Cara Ross (Assistant Camera, Production Sound) will be in attendance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSJzcAwrCw0 (trailer) 

Dois Estágios (Two Stages of Blood), dir. Lua Borges

A documentary that explores the beginning and end of a bloodline. Starting in the urban environment of São Paulo city where the filmmaker was raised and ending on her family’s country farm where her grandparents spend their golden years, the film delves into the personal and shared history of a Brazilian family, and the explorations of a longing memory. Director Lua Borges and DP, John Jadkowski will be in attendance. https://vimeo.com/421217528 (trailer)

Caroline, dir. Juli Del Prete

A young woman’s audition for a major movie takes an unexpected turn. Director Juli Del Prete will be in attendance. Chicago premiere! https://vimeo.com/698689361 (trailer)