Girls On Film – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Girls On Film, recorded at the 2025 Glasgow Film Festival, host Anna Smith is joined by co-founder and Executive Producer of the podcast, Hedda Lornie Archbold, to bring listeners exclusive interviews with some of the festival’s stars. They welcome insights from Festival Director Allison Gardner, star of opening gala film Tornado, Kōki, and two of the creative minds behind The Extraordinary Miss Flower. Allison Gardner talks about her highlights of her final year leading the Glasgow Film Festival. Kōki, the rising star of Tornado, opens up about her role as the daughter of a Japanese puppeteer in John Maclean’s thriller. And Emiliana Torrini and Caroline Catz dive into their work on The Extraordinary Miss Flower, a genre-blending love letter to love letters, set to Torrini’s dreamy soundtrack. The Extraordinary Miss Flower will be released in the UK on 9 May 2025. Tornado will be available in cinemas from 23 May 2025. Glasgow Film Festival 2025 runs from 26 February to 9 March 2025. For more information on screenings and tickets, visit the Glasgow Film Festival website https://www.glasgowfilm.org/home March is International Women’s Month, and this year also marks the 20th Anniversary of Birds Eye View Festival, now Reclaim the Frame, a charity championing women filmmakers. The festival will host a Weekender from 7–9 March 2025 at BFI Southbank and Regent Street Cinema, featuring events, screenings, and a special showing of Lollipop, which featured in episode 181 of Girls On Film. For more details, visit reclaimtheframe.org.Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer © HLA Agency

Host Anna Smith brings you an exclusive conversation with Zoe Saldaña, Clément Ducol and Camille, recorded live at London’s Charlotte Street Hotel following a screening of the 13 time Oscar-nominated and 12 time BAFTA-nominated film Emilia Pérez. Directed by Jacques Audiard, this genre-blending musical thriller tells the story of a lawyer who becomes entangled in the world of a cartel boss undergoing a dramatic personal transformation. Starring Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz, the film is generating awards buzz for its bold storytelling and powerful performances. Joining Anna for this discussion is Oscar-nominee Zoe Saldaña, who plays Rita in the film. She shares her experience collaborating with versatile French filmmaker Jacques Audiard on bringing to life the story of four Latina women, citing how refreshing it was to embody a flawed woman, the character of Rita. She’s joined by Clément Ducol and Camille, the composers and songwriters behind the film’s evocative soundtrack, who share insights into the five-year-long creative process of bringing Emilia Pérez's distinctive musical identity to life. This episode was recorded live on 31 January 2025 and is brought to you in partnership with Netflix. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Alex Jones Sound recordist: Erin Millican House band: MX Tyrants This episode is in partnership with Netflix © HLA Agency

Zoë Kravitz joins Anna Smith to discuss her directorial debut, Blink Twice, while Anna also reports from the 2024 Edinburgh International Film Festival, where she speaks with Daisy-May Hudson about her feature debut, Lollipop. First up, Anna welcomes actor turned writer, director and producer Zoë Kravitz, best known for her roles in ‘The Batman’ and in TV series ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘High Fidelity’, onto the podcast. With Anna, Zoë discusses the feminist messaging in her slick thriller ‘Blink Twice’. She talks about casting the wonderful Naomi Ackie as Frida, a cocktail waitress who catches the eye of tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) and is transported to his private island for sundrenched luxury, or so she thinks… Zoë also tells Anna about the writing process behind ‘Blink Twice’, originally titled ‘Pussy Island’, reveals her relief at turning up to set as the director without having to worry about what she looks like, and describes her approach to capturing women on camera to produce a disturbing and believable depiction of gender and power among the megarich. Next up, Anna reports from Edinburgh International Film Festival, where Girls On Film partners on the festival’s Closing Night sçreening of the powerful feminist music documentary, ‘Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands’. Anna catches up with first-time feature director Daisy-May Hudson whose film ‘Lollipop’ is a heartbreaking but hopeful depiction of a mother (Posy Sterling) who battles to regain custody of her children after coming out of prison. Daisy-May speaks about the fierce maternal love of her protagonist Molly, what happens when children are required to parent, as well as the challenges faced by a first time director. Plus: karaoke as a symbol of working class joy! Anna also hears from Karen Needham and Col Needham from the IMDb, plus director of the BFI’s filmmaking fund Mia Bays and costume designer Rachael Fleming about their highlights from the EIFF 2024. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of Girls On Film as we move into autumn and host Anna Smith heads to Sea Change Film Festival 2024. Find out about their festival, dedicated to women in film at https://screenargyll.co.uk/sea-change-2024/ Films mentioned in this episode: Timestalker - Alice Lowe Xibalba Monster - Manuela Irene Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands - Blair Young, Carla J Easton Blink Twice - Zoë Kravitz Rosemary’s Baby - Roman Polanski To Kill A Wolf - Kesley Taylor Sunlight - Nina Conti Lollipop - Daisy-May Hudson Blink Twice was released in the UK by Warner Bros. Pictures on 23rd August, 2024 Lollipop had is world premiere at the 77th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival (on August 20th) Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands will hit UK cinemas from 18th October and Glasgow girl band Sophisticated Boom Boom will reform for one night only at a special screening of the film in Glasgow on the night of the release. For more information visit sinceyesterdayfilm.com Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Jade Evans Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

In a live episode recorded at the London Podcast Festival, we chat to some of the women behind two big titles on the small screen: Back To Life and Sex Education. First up, creator and star of Back To Life Daisy Haggard chats to Anna about her darkly comic BBC drama, as the show’s second series hits our screens. From teenage fashion and tamagotchis to social attitudes to female criminals, they discuss the stories behind the series. Plus, she shares her directorial daydreams of helming a feminist Jaws... Next, Chinenye Ezeudu joins us to talk about her role in the Netflix smash Sex Education. She hints at what’s to come for her character Viv in the forthcoming series 3, and gives a glimpse into her own future acting and writing projects. Finally, Chinenye’s collaborator and director of Sex Education series 2 Alice Seabright takes to the stage to talk about her work on the show. We hear about her fab feminist short films and upcoming TV series Chloe -- plus she tells us about her experience of working with top intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien, and what slug sex has got to do with shooting an intimate scene… All three of our guests give us some stellar watchlist recommendations, and shoutout the women in the industry who have inspired them. Plus, our guests tackle some fascinating questions in a Q&A with our live audience. Other film and TV mentions: Portrait of a Lady On Fire, Titane, True Things, Wildfire, Copilot, Respect, Herself, Breeders, Green Wing, Peep Show, Episodes, Harry Potter, I Give it a Year, The Stranger, The School for Good and Evil, Chloe, Pregnant Pause, End-O, Bridesmaids, Unbelievable, Jaws, Stories We Tell, Away from Her, Diary of a Teenage Girl, Raw, Lost in Translation, One Sings The Other Doesn’t Become a patron of Girls on Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive producer: Hedda Archbold. Audio Producer: Benjamin Cook. Principal Partner: Peter Brewer. Assistant Producer and Social Media Manager: Heather Dempsey. Intern: Jess Moon.

From a 70s feminist classic to a musical drama about the Deaf community, this episode is a summer medley of female-focused film chats that were too good to miss. First up, Girlfriends director Claudia Weill chats to Anna about making the 1978 hidden gem, how feminism has changed since the salad days of the second-wave, and busting Jewish screen stereotypes of the era. Next, we hear from two stars of arthouse smash hit and Girls On Film favourite Portrait Of A Lady On Fire -- both of whom have just screened directorial debuts at Cannes. Noémie Merlant tells us about her new film ‘Mi Iubita Mon Amour’, a drama of unexpected romance on a Romanian hen-do gone wrong. Her Portrait co-star Luàna Bajrami shares her empowering snapshot of rebellious girlhood in Kosovo, ‘The Hill Where Lionesses Roar’ -- and of course we talk Céline Sciamma too! And finally the director and star of new musical hit CODA join us to discuss the movie, which takes its name from the acronym for Child Of Deaf Adults. Director Sian Heder talks taking on the extraordinary tale and working with the Deaf community, while star Emilia Jones shares the skills she learned while playing the role -- from American Sign Language to trawler fishing. Other movie mentions: The Heartbreak Kid, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, La Famille Bélier PODCAST TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/124ehjp5C2XWN_-uVERq2015oY0dCVYLx_yWMfmpnaZs/edit?usp=sharing If you'd like to watch Girls On Film on stage then join us at the London Podcast Festival on 9 September 2021: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/girls-on-film-2/ Become a patron of Girls on Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive producer: Hedda Archbold. Audio Producer: Emma Butt. Principal Partner: Peter Brewer. Assistant Producer and Social Media Manager: Heather Dempsey. Intern: Jess Moon.

From intimacy scenes to industry tips, our fun feminist film chat went down a treat at Latitude Festival’s The Listening Post in July 2021. We were ecstatic to be back on stage for the first time since March 2020! First, Kerry chats to Anna about her directorial debut Topping Out and the short film’s unique depiction of male vulnerability. She further discusses the challenges of filming on scaffolding, explains the importance of the focus puller, and recalls working with director Jane Campion. They have an interesting discussion about the negatively gendered use of the word “difficult”. From Intimacy (2001) to Rare Beasts (2021), keep listening to hear more about Kerry’s acting experiences. Next, our Assistant Producer and occasional Audio Producer Elliana joins Kerry and Anna on stage. She discusses being a young woman trying to break into the film and tv industries, and offers an insight into the inner workings of the Girls On Film podcast over the past year. Stay tuned for tips from both Elliana and Kerry on entering the industry. Other movie mentions: Promising Young Woman, An Angel at My Table, The Piano, Hustlers. Stay up to date with where you can watch Topping Out by following Kerry @KerryFoxActs on Twitter. Elliana recommends visiting the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, find out more here: https://www.bdcmuseum.org.uk/. And a massive thank you not only to our current team, but to everyone who has contributed to the Girls On Film podcast, including other integral members Jane Long, Tom Whalley, Dan Pugsley, Benjamin Cook, Emma Butt, Kate Archbold, Eddie Charles and Peter Brewer. If you'd like to watch Girls On Film on stage then join us at the London Podcast Festival on 9 September 2021: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/girls-on-film-2/ Become a patron of Girls on Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive producer: Hedda Archbold. Audio Producer: Tom Whalley. Principal Partner: Peter Brewer. Assistant Producer and Social Media Manager: Heather Dempsey. Assistant Producer: Elliana Jay.

Horror experts and Censor filmmakers talk gender, guts and gore - and the things we might not want to remember… First up, critics Clarisse Loughrey and Leila Latif get to the guts of the exciting new British horror film Censor, celebrating its role in the female horror renaissance. They debate the movie’s meta-messages and share their own experiences of the video nasties era - or, in Clarisse’s case, the stateside ‘Satanic Panic’. Next, Censor director Prano Bailey-Bond and star Niamh Algar join Anna to discuss the retro chiller, set amidst the moral panic of the 1980s video nasties craze. Niamh reveals her experience of playing the movie’s highly-strung film censor Enid, whose repressed trauma rises to the surface thanks to one of the gory slashers she’s handed for the snip. From cult horror to the culture wars, Prano shares her inspirations and fascinating research for the film - plus what it was like to shoot its more stomach-churning scenes! From the feminist highlights of Censor to overdue reappraisals of genre-classics, there’s plenty to chew on for fans of a psychological scare. Censor is in UK cinemas August 20th 2021. Other movie and TV mentions: Saint Maud, Midsommar, Cannibal Holocaust, Driller Killer, The Last House On The Left, The Witch That Came From The Sea, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre This episode is in partnership with Vertigo Releasing. Become a patron of Girls on Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive producer: Hedda Archbold. Audio Producer Emma Butt. Principal Partner: Peter Brewer. Assistant Producer: Elliana Jay. Assistant Producer and Social Media Manager: Heather Dempsey.

Dan Stevens plays a lovebot in the new female-directed film I'm Your Man... and there's a LOT to discuss! First up, critic and author Terri White joins Anna to talk about the unconventional German rom-com. It stars Maren Eggert as a woman who trials a robot (played by Stevens) designed specifically to please her. Terri and Anna debate the genre of this hybrid movie and discuss its central gender flip. They further unpick the complex character of Alma and celebrate Maren’s memorable performance of her. Next, Anna speaks to the terrific Maren Eggert herself. From working with writer-director Maria Schrader to starring opposite Brit actor Dan Stevens, she shares her experience of making the movie. Which tricky stunt failed to make the cut? What’s it like to perform sex with a robot? And is I’m Your Man a feminist film? Keep listening to find out! Want to find out more about great German films you can watch here in the UK? @kinogermanynowuk is a newly launched channel on instagram and facebook, follow now for all the latest news and exclusive content on German film releasing and streaming in the UK and Ireland. Other movie and TV mentions: Black Mirror, Blade Runner, Her, Weird Science, Little Joe, Toni Erdmann, And Tomorrow The Entire World, Downton Abbey, Night at the Museum. This episode is in partnership with German Films. Become a patron of Girls on Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive producer: Hedda Archbold. Audio Producer and Assistant Producer: Elliana Jay. Principal Partner: Peter Brewer. Assistant Producer and Social Media Manager: Heather Dempsey.

In this bonus episode, we’re bringing you a podcast edition of our ‘Film Industry Post-Pandemic’ panel, created in partnership with the BFI for their Woman With A Movie Camera summit, powered by Jaguar. We assembled a panel of expert women from five corners of the film industry to talk about the future of their fields following the impact of Covid-19. Anna is first joined by Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film, Claire Vaughan, lead programmer at Cardiff’s multi-artform venue Chapter, and filmmaker, writer and disability advocate Kyla Harris. They share what the pandemic has revealed about the workings of their respective facets of the industry, what changes they made to survive, and how we can hold on to some of those creative innovations to help us thrive in future. Allison shares how she made a success of Glasgow Film Festival despite ongoing lockdowns, and Claire tells Anna how she got creative with programming when cinemas closed their doors. Kyla talks about the impact of the pandemic for people with disabilities -- plus her new project documenting her endeavour to teach a friend her care regime in just one week. The panel also discuss the crucial role of caring and carers in society, and how the film industry can acknowledge and facilitate this better. In a second conversation, filmmaker and Luxor director Zeina Durra joins Anna alongside Eve Gabereau, CEO of Luxor’s female-led distributor Modern Films. They discuss the challenges of releasing an independent movie during lockdown, and how filmmakers and distributors have worked together to achieve successes like Luxor’s in this challenging time. All this and many more strong words from inspiring women. Other TV and movie mentions: Luxor, It's Personal, The Imperialists Are Still Alive! Become a patron of Girls on Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive producer: Hedda Archbold. Audio Producer and Assistant Producer: Elliana Jay. Principal Partner: Peter Brewer. Assistant Producer and Social Media Manager: Heather Dempsey. Special Thanks: The BFI Woman With A Movie Camera summit powered by Jaguar.

Anna is first joined by Mia Bays and Be Manzini for a celebration of Sundance Film Festival: London. Mia gives a rundown of the female-directed films playing at the festival, from documentary The Most Beautiful Boy In The World to musical drama CODA. Be talks about responding to films through poetry and delivers a reading of her Sundance-inspired poem. Next up, Anna talks to director and producer Rintu Thomas about Writing with Fire. This feminist documentary follows the movements of India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women. Rintu recalls the thrills and fears of shadowing these daring female journalists. She applauds their passionate and refreshing voices, and reveals how they have empowered her. What do Indian female journalists bring to light, that their male counterparts may not? Finally, director Phyllida Lloyd returns with an update on her emotional drama Herself, a film whose story of domestic violence and housing has evolved in meaning during lockdown. She explains what attracts her to telling women’s stories and remembers that directing Mamma Mia was “a feminist mission”! Other movie mentions: Daughters of the Dust, First Date, In the Same Breath, Zola, Death in Venice, Censor, Pleasure. Sundance Film Festival: London 2021 takes place at Picturehouse Central from 29th July to 1st August. Book here: https://www.picturehouses.com/sundance. Become a patron of Girls on Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive producer: Hedda Archbold. Audio Producer: Benjamin Cook. Principal Partner: Peter Brewer. Assistant Producer and Social Media Manager: Heather Dempsey. Assistant Producer: Elliana Jay. Special Thanks: Felicity Beckett and Edward Lomas.