How was the Women’s Film Festival?

The 2008 Women’s Film Festival in Brattleboro was a jolt to winter doldrums with thought-provoking, enlightening and entertaining films about women — almost all made by women.

Far from the usual Hollywood fare, the festival lineup shines a light on real issues of real people — with great artfulness, grit, and the occasional spice of fun and whimsy.

The festival’s 30 films will take you far from Vermont’s wintry landscape and deposit you in Ethiopia, Lebanon, Israel, Afghanistan, Poland and Iran, to name a few of the films’ 11 countries of origin.

The United States is strongly represented with films spotlighting Navajo and Mexican-American women mariachis (”Miss Navajo” and “Companeras”); and tackling social ills from the paucity of maternity leave for working mothers to the rights of the handicapped, and corruption in the church (as exposed by the magnificent Sister Jane).

The Women’s Film Festival opens with the timely “Iron Ladies of Liberia,” a film featuring Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman elected head of state in Africa. Other politically oriented films in this year’s line-up includes, “Run Granny Run,” about Doris Haddock’s walk across the United States to publicize campaign finance reform and subsequent run for governor of New Hampshire; and “Enemies of Happiness,” a film featuring Malalai Joya, the first Afghan woman ever to enter Parliament.

Along with women in politics, this year’s festival touches on many important aspects of women’s lives today: women’s health, gay rights, women in the arts, self-image, and the rights of working mothers.

Many of the directors were present to introduce their film and answer questions. A number of films will be accompanied by a panel discussion.

The Women’s Film Festival is a unique benefit and outreach event for the Women’s Crisis Center held annually in Brattleboro since 1992. It takes place in three downtown venues — The Latchis Theater, the Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery, and the New England Youth Theatre — surrounded by excellent restaurants, cafes, and one-of-a-kind shops.

All proceeds from tickets sales, and from the sale of work in “Visions”, will go to benefit the Women’s Crisis Center. In its 30th year, the Crisis Center is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to end physical, sexual and emotional violence against women and children. WCC is a provider of advocacy and shelter to survivors of sexual assault and battered women and their children in Windham County and beyond.