In 2004, several filmmakers from across the area founded the Santa Fe chapter of the Women in Film and Television International, an organization aimed at assisting over 10,000 women filmmakers in over 37 countries worldwide. This weekend, WIFTI board members from across the globe visited Santa Fe for their Bi-Annual Board Summit.---
The local chapter gave a grand tour of the city to the board members, most of whom have never visited the American Southwest. Between a lunch outing at Luminaria and an evening party at Jay Etkin Gallery to meetings discussing the future of the project and an election of a new president, the Board Summit weekend had a big impact on the growing local film community.
In the early 2000s, the Santa Fe film scene was just starting to make its mark on the international community. According to New Mexico WIFTI representative Janet Davisdon, the influx of many filmmakers on the area was enormous. “We were living in Southern California at the time. Many men were seizing the incentive to move [to Santa Fe], and women were left out only as workers.”
Recognizing this disparity, Davidson and others began a series of meetings to discuss the impact of the filmmaker’s community on its women members. But what started out as regular meetings between friends quickly erupted into a full-fledged women’s filmmaker movement. In 2004, the New Mexico chapter of the Women in Film and Television International was born.
Over the past six years, the chapter has been making an impact on the local community, from public service projects to their annual film festival. “We welcome in so many young, new members,” Davidson says. “They’re just starting out. Our chapter is always a safe place for anyone to come and say ‘I need some help.’”
Davidson hopes that the visit from the international board will bring some much-needed recognition to the Santa Fe film market, and the focus on women filmmakers will only help strengthen their numbers.
“It’s important to get recognition, for the board to realize that New Mexico has such a strong voice in the industry,” Davidson says. “The meeting taking place here just proves that Santa Fe is definitely in their minds.”
