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There’s something special about watching women-centered stories on the big screen in a space dedicated to advancing and supporting women — that’s the magic of the Athena Film Festival.
Thought up in the living room of legendary activist Gloria Steinem, the annual festival, now approaching its 15th iteration, continues to ignite conversations around women’s leadership in today’s world.
“Our job is to provoke conversations, to challenge people to think about the world differently, to help the students understand how they’re going to fit into the world as they go forward into their leadership,” says Melissa Silverstein, co-founder and artistic director of the festival.
To date, the Athena Film Festival (AFF) has screened over 550 films — 70% by women or nonbinary directors and more than 50% by directors of color — and provided more than $250K in direct funding to filmmakers. As the festival nears its 15-year milestone, Barnard Magazine revisits the standout moments from years past.
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2011
Five years after graduating, actor and director Greta Gerwig ’06 returned to Barnard for the first annual festival, where she was honored with the Athena Award. In the decade that followed, Gerwig would go on to helm the critically acclaimed box-office successes Lady Bird, Little Women, and Barbie, films distinctive for their strong female leads.
2013
Up-and-coming filmmaker and Athena Award winner Ava DuVernay joined the AFF for a screening of her second feature film Middle of Nowhere, followed by a Q&A. “That was prior to her making Selma, so it was as she was about to break out,” says Silverstein. “This was a woman on the verge.”
2014
British filmmaker Amma Asante came to campus for the New York premiere of her movie Belle. “It’s been a joy to see people at the beginning of their careers, to see them blossom into really important voices in our culture,” says Silverstein of Asante.
2018
Tennis icon Billie Jean King, considered one of greatest players of all time, made an appearance for the screening and Q&A of the film Battle of the Sexes, the story of the infamous 1973 tennis match in which Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs.
The AFF has always been on the cutting edge of telling the stories of women who have been omitted from history, says Silverstein. One such example is Bombshell, the remarkable story of inventor and Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr, whose work laid the foundation for modern Bluetooth technology. The Bombshell screening was part of the annual Alfred P. Sloan STEM Showcase.
2019
The AFF welcomed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (aka AOC) for the premiere of Knock Down the House, the story of four working-class women, including Ocasio-Cortez, who charted a path to Congress despite the odds.
2020
The festival’s 10th anniversary was celebrated with a star-studded list of attendees, including Gloria Steinem, Greta Gerwig ’06, Unjoo Moon, Paul Feig, Lorraine Toussaint, and Effie T. Brown.
Gerwig presented the Athena Award to Booksmart star and Lady Bird alum Beanie Feldstein. The two shared a warm embrace on the red carpet.
2022
In 2022, the festival screened The Janes, which told the true story of the clandestine network of women who facilitated access to abortion care pre-Roe v. Wade. Following the film, Abby Pariser ’67, one of the original Janes, led a Q&A.
2023
The AFF launched the Abortion Pipeline Project, a narrative screenplay competition for feature and short film scripts that center on abortion.
Festival attendees gathered to watch The Fire That Took Her, a documentary exploring the question “How much must women suffer in order to be believed?” The Athena Documentary Pitch Program served as a launchpad for this Emmy Award-winning film, directed by Patricia E. Gillespie.
Nostalgia was in the air during the screening of Judy Blume Forever, a documentary about the beloved author of trailblazing fiction for children, teens, and adults.
The Athena Film Festival Teen Immersive debuted. The program invites high school cinephiles for a weekend of screenings, panels, and discussions on leadership and representation in the film industry.
2024
The 14th annual festival kicked off with Copa 71. The documentary brings attention to the 1971 “unofficial women’s World Cup,” an event that was buried from history despite drawing thousands of people from around the world.
The year’s lineup included As You Are, a film that depicts first-time intimacy between a queer, interabled couple and was the directorial debut of Daisy Friedman ’25, a film studies student and co-founder of the Barnard Union of Disabled Students.
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What’s Ahead
At the 15th annual Athena Film Festival (March 6-9, 2025), filmgoers can expect to see work that touches on many timely themes, including reproductive rights, women’s work, sports, and the environment.
Film producer and philanthropist Regina K. Scully, whose generosity has been integral to the festival’s success, will also be honored this year. “I am incredibly proud to be the founding sponsor of the Athena Film Festival, which continues to be a powerful showcase and platform for stories about women’s leadership,” says Scully.
“As we head into our 15th anniversary celebration this March, it is inspiring to see how Athena has carved a unique space in the festival landscape. These stories of women leading with courage and vision are more critical now than ever, and I am honored to support this vital work.”
For more information on this year’s festival and to purchase tickets, visit athenafilmfestival.com.
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