Written by Jenny L. Hanson
March is Women’s History Month. The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is hosting some pretty awesome women and featuring their film, media, and artworks all month long. After closing out February with an event series on acclaimed filmmaker Julia Reichert, March brings the work of an early queer film influence of mine, filmmaker Cheryl Dunye to the screen. The Walker will also take a look back at the Women with Vision series, and continue the Indigenesis series focusing on indigenous film that opens with what reasons to be a fun new media adventure curated by Missy Whiteman.
A key component of this year’s programming is “Women with Vision: Then and Now.” The event series features the cinematic work of some of the women who participated in the Women With Vision showcase (also known in its early years as Women in the Director’s Chair). It also celebrates the curatorial work of Walker Senior Curator of Moving Image Sheryl Mousley. Minnesota’s own Film Fatales Melody Gilbert and Kelly Nathe, who curated many of the events in the series, will also be hosting a candid conversation with filmmakers about their journey. I might also note that among the filmmakers is Augsburg instructor Jila Nikpay!
Curating the work of filmmakers who identify as female, who are persisting as directors, cinematographers, and storytellers and creating space for people to see the films is important work. The film industry has notoriously discounted the work of women and persons of color. Movements like #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite have sought to bring about change. Events like those at the Walker this month are part of what is needed if a systematic change is going to occur. I know this first hand, as the Walker gave me one of my first film screenings as part of the Women in the Director’s Chair and the Jr. Home Girls Series many, many, years ago. It gave me hope as a young queer filmmaker that I could make a living creating films.
So, when we were asked to help transfer work for the event series, we were happy to offer our support. This kind of equity is exactly the kind of thing our program embraces and seeks to live out.
Please show your support at these events, many of which are free. Visit: walkerart.org for more details.