Past Events

10th Anniversary International Film Festival

Hollywood 20 Cinema, Sarasota

It all began with one woman's vision of a film festival in Sarasota to advance community outreach and fundraising for UNIFEM. Her name was Nancy Griftner, co-founder and first president of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the US National Committee for UNIFEM. In the late 1990s, she organized an annual Saturday film screening. Then, in 2000, she joined forces with another UNIFEM member, Jan Holmes, to launch a film festival. The rest is history - a rich history built on the commitment of hundreds of local UNIFEM volunteers, the support of thousands of area filmgoers and 151 films by women directors who brought the world to Sarasota through women's eyes.

Our 10th anniversary was a time to celebrate and, celebrate we did! Here are some of the many highlights.

$15,000 raised in 2009 brought the total 10-year film festival contribution to UNIFEM to more than $100,000 

Sold-out Filmmakers' Reception featuring nine women directors and two-day Film Festival screening 10 documentaries and six short films selected from more than 200 entries 

Record-breaking ticket sales, sponsorships and fees betwee 2006 and 2009 resulted in a 108% increase in ticket sales, 95% increase in sponsorships and 310% increase in filmmaker submission fees

UNIFEM Deputy Director Joanne Sandler (far right) traveled to Sarasota to present UNIFEM recognition awards to (from left) Communications Chair Phyllis Johnston, Festival Chair Jan Holmes, and Artistic Director Diane Mason "for inspiring leadership Through Women's Eyes."