Women Of The Lens Film Festival launches on Friday 10th November at the iconic venue Goldsmiths Curzon, London. This UK-based Festival was created to showcase the work and challenge perceptions of black women and women of color in front of and behind the camera.

Women Of The Lens is the brainchild of Jennifer G. Robinson, who has over 25 years of experience working in the creative industries. Robinson has worked with Menelik Shabazz and other industry professionals to produce one the longest running London-based film festivals – The Black Filmmaker International Film Festival. To say that Robinson is passionate about the industry may be considered clichéd, but it is the best word to use that describes her innate commitment to create and deliver a festival of integrity to fulfill its ethos, as described above.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the festival. It demonstrates to me the growing potential of what’s being created and my responsibility to filmmakers as they submit their precious creations. The stories contained in the festival highlights the multi-faceted complexities of black women and women of color. The stories show that these women’s stories are human stories, our stories that can be enjoyed by all audiences irrespective of their ethnicities. I’m excited by the coming events and humbled by the support received,” Robinson stated.

Festival Coordinator Laurelle Jones says, “I have thoroughly enjoyed researching the film industry; digging deep for not only quality, but masterpieces that celebrate the gifts from women of color in front of and behind the lens. The festival has been warmly received, demonstrating the integral need for such a platform here in the UK. I look forward to the launch of this festival as it gives birth to a unique experience in film championed by women of color.”

Women Of The Lens Film Digital Broadcast Festival was created because the representation of black women and women of color in the creative industries remains disturbingly low. The festival was created to reveal the complexity, diversity and multiplicities of women who are overlooked in the conventional/mainstream media-sphere. Their stories are our stories, human stories with varied narratives and as such. Wider audiences, beyond those of color, can truly engage with complex tales that move beyond the common tropes reserved for these women in typical media representations.

Women of The Lens Festival welcomes alliances with people who seek to challenge representations in front of and behind the camera, irrespective of their ethnicities.