BORN, 3min., Australia
Directed by Yixin Sun
This 2D experimental animation depicts a planet with reproductive functions, exploring the transformations associated with pregnancy and childbirth. By portraying these changes on both a psychological and physical level, the animation aims to highlight the impact of reproductive trauma and advocate for greater societal awareness and compassionate care.

https://yixinsun.cargo.site/born

https://www.instagram.com/xsuens_/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

At first, I only wanted to create a simple experimental animation about body horror. But as I went deeper into my research, I realized that using body metaphors to express themes of reproductive fear could be a powerful idea. That realization encouraged me to explore how experimental animation could use body parts as metaphoric visual elements. It became not just an experiment in form, but also a way of confronting and expressing anxieties around reproduction, trauma, and the fragile relationship between the body and the mind.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It took me around three months in total. I spent about two weeks developing the concept, but the majority of my time was consumed by creating the animatic. Ironically, I left too little time for the final production and refinement of the animation itself.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Fear and unease.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

One of the biggest obstacles was my limited experience with animation drawing techniques. This made it difficult to give certain visual elements—like the interaction between organs and the umbilical cord—the elasticity and tension that animation usually requires. Another challenge was the lack of a structured storyboard. Instead of planning in advance, I let my ideas develop spontaneously during the drawing and animating process. While this allowed for creative freedom, it also caused the project to stall at certain points, and I had to push myself to move forward.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was genuinely surprised and moved by how quickly the audience connected with the emotions and tension in the film. For me, that was already a success. What I didn’t expect was that some viewers were able to interpret the film on a deeper level, relating the reproductive imagery not only to bodily and psychological harm, but also to broader ideas about nature, life, and death. Their interpretations expanded the meaning of the work beyond what I had initially imagined.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

It was around the end of my undergraduate studies. At that time, I had a deep passion for motion design, but I also grew up loving cinema. I suddenly thought, why not combine these two passions? Animation felt like the perfect medium for me to develop my own form of storytelling.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

One of the most valuable things for me as a filmmaker is hearing how audiences respond to the work. I think festivals could provide more opportunities for structured audience feedback. Having access to diverse perspectives helps me understand how the film is being interpreted, what emotions it stirs, and where I could grow as a storyteller.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I appreciate how user-friendly the platform is—it made the whole process of submitting and tracking the film very easy.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I don’t really have a particular favorite. I’m not very sensitive about food.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m hoping to continue building a career in visual storytelling. I’d love to contribute to new film projects, maybe as part of a larger creative team. As for making my own new film, I don’t have plans yet, but I see this film as just the beginning.

Greytown Girl, 96min., South Africa
Directed by Darrell James Roodt
The true story of a small-town girl, born with physical limitations, abandoned as a baby, bravely builds her life and creates a love story that crosses continents through the romance of letter writing. An empowering and cinematic story of love and resilience.

https://www.greytowngirlthemovie.com/
https://www.facebook.com/greytowngirl/

Get to know Writer & Producer Rani Sitaram:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

This is a true story of a small-town South African girl, born with physical limitations, and as a baby she was left at an under-resourced orphanage for black and Indian children , no challenge stopped her though, she bravely goes on to build her life, learns to read and write from magazines, even finds a pen-pal all the way across the oceans and creates a love story that crosses continents through the romance of letter writing.

When I heard Meena tell her story with such honesty and strength, it impacted me on the level of my Soul so I made her a Promise many years ago that I would make her film. I always keep my promises.

2.From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

In total from idea to finished product including delays from COVID it took me 8 years.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

In two words, the film is simply a “Promise Kept”

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
My biggest obstacle to the start of Production was COVID. The world stopped and systems changed. Funding was delayed and we lost precious talent along the way. Time was a resource that I had to watch slip away.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was certainly a heartwarming experience. I also felt so grateful that even though the world of the story was different and unique with many little cultural nuances, the film still had Universal appeal. The esteemed assessors seemed to have had a visceral experience from watching the film. All felt the different layers at the level of their Soul. Listening to the feedback it’s clear that audiences had a whole and fulfilled entertainment experience. They seemed to have gained something, learnt something, rose with the characters against a regime, lost something, cried happy and sad tears and most importantly fell in love. I felt that the film achieved what it needed to achieve. I am humbled and thankful for the feedback.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I think I was born writing. My talent was probably nurtured over many a lifetime, so It’s almost channelled through me rather than from me. During the long enduring apartheid regime into which I was born, Black, Indian and Coloured communities could not engage in several careers from which we were banned. Filmmaking was one of them. As a young person, I never imagined I would make films. At the dawn of our democracy, I realised I had a passion for business as well. I completed a masters Business Strategy in the Netherlands and I evolved into making films in fiction and non-fiction genres. My career as a filmmaker began much later in my adulthood. I then realised that I could do both the business of film as a Producer and be in my creative space as a Writer. Today I have manifested my dream.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I enjoyed Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding so much that I’ve watched it several times over and was equally rivetted by Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and watched it many times.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
The feedback provided by the Female Film Festival is so critical to the advancement and possible sale of a film product. Feedback becomes an added asset to the package. I thank you for this.
I would love for there to be more networking interaction with relevant role players like sales agents and distributors in global territories. Even if this networking is online.
This will close the gap in the marketing process of submitting to festivals.
Another benefit would be if the Festivals themselves had access to more financial resources and funding in order to offer winning submissions grants or funds for their next product.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It’s a helpful site creating access to independent filmmakers on a global scale. It was user friendly and I liked the fact that FilmFreeway goes through a process of verifying and accrediting festivals that filmmakers submit to.

10. What is your favorite meal?

In South Africa we have a diversity of people, beautiful coastlines and exquisite cuisine. Our cuisine is a fusion of the indigenous and the incomers. When the Indians were brought to work the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu Natal we also brought our spices. My absolute favourite meal is a spicy, exotic, rich crab curry and roti.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m so excited about my next film. It’s equally immersive as Greytown Girl, but this time I’ll take you on a journey into magical realism and the supernatural. I have a diverse slate of content that I am currently writing and producing. I can’t wait to submit again next year.

Menopause Menopaws, 14min., USA
Directed by Akiko Matsumoto
This short comedic film about menopause uses humor as a powerful tool to break down walls and spark honest conversations. While menopause can be overwhelming—hot flashes, mood swings, sleep issues—it also has moments of unexpected hilarity. By leaning into the comedy, the film shines a light on the realities of this transition, helping women feel seen, less alone, and hopefully sharing a few well-earned laughs along the way.

https://www.instagram.com/akiko_nyc_la_jp

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

My age. I’m a woman in my 50s, and I noticed that many women of my age don’t openly admit about them going through menopause. Also, I had the music first, I orchestrated using my laptop, and the ideas for the film grew from that.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

About a month.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

” ” this is a tough question “like it or Not” ?

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The limitations of being a solo cellphone filmmaking. ( I am the main character and the only cameraman)

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

“Finally, a festival where people watched my film until the end.” Thank you! Thank you and Thank you!! I had submitted to festivals focused on women, but some rejected ( that is ok) or even disqualified my work. One female film festival even said, “Comedy is not a feminist film.”

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Thanks to handy tools like smartphones, I realized I could use advanced yet affordable technology to create art.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

The Sound of Music and Amadeus.
I am a musician and a professional piano technician.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Festivals with open-minded audiences are wonderful. Constructive criticism from judges is also valuable, because we learn from it.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Excellent! Very impressive.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Rice.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I won’t stop creating. When I find music that fits my narrative ideas, I will make another film. I encourage anyone (even kids) to do the same. I studied multimodal education and hold a doctoral degree, and my cognitive science experiments are still ongoing.