Lady Brain Film Fest Slated for August 8 - Submissions Open April 6

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020 - SAN DIEGO, CA

Pandemic pending, local creative womxn's collective Lady Brain Presents is practicing cautious optimism while moving forward with plans for Lady Brain Film Fest, scheduled for Saturday, August 8. Submissions will be open April 6 through June 7, and earlybird tickets will be available starting in May. The festival will take place at the United Domestic Workers of America courtyard and sanctuary (4855 Seminole Dr, San Diego, CA 92115).

​Last July's inaugural Lady Brain Fest focused primarily on music, showcasing 20 womxn-fronted acts on two stages at Heritage Ranch in Encinitas. This year, in an effort to celebrate a broader range of womxn creators, the festival is shifting gears toward the cinematic arts. Films and music videos will be screened, and Lady Brain Collective members from across the creative spectrum (directors, writers, actors, musicians, videographers, makeup artists, costume designers, etc.) are welcome to submit their creations. 

Voxy performing at Lady Brain Fest 2019 - photo by Sharisse Coulter

​The 2020 festival is the brainchild of collective member Mary Bee (filmmaker, musician, and host of travel docuseries Finding Harmony).

“I thought it would be fun to bring more creatives into the collective who work in different art forms," she said. “It will be so nice to get to know more work of Lady Brain members, and by everyone coming together that night, I hope it sparks some new collaborations!"

Lady Brain Presents founder Lindsay White is excited to help execute Bee's vision. 

“A common misconception about Lady Brain Presents is that we are a music collective, when in reality we aim to celebrate and support local womxn creators across mediums. Mary's idea is a great way to roll out the red carpet for a more inclusive membership."

White leads January member workshop - photo by Sydney Prather

White also addressed how San Diego's recent shelter in place orders have affected the organization's current and future plans.

“It's been a challenge because one of the main reasons we organized in the first place was to cultivate community support for womxn creatives in real, physical spaces through both private workshops and public community gatherings. Moving away from that model feels counterintuitive because we spent the last year encouraging folks to get off their devices and out into the world. But this is a new world, at least temporarily, and we have to adapt."

Tori Roze performs at this month's Lady Brain Presents Takeover of Grampa Drew's Flim Flam Revue - photo by Darci Fontenot

​First up in the collective's pivot to online spaces was last Sunday's ​“Community Quarantine," a Facebook livestream concert featuring performances from Julie Albright, Julia Sage, Astra Kelly, Rosy Dawn, Corina Rose, and Bonnie Nicholls. The organization has also transformed its monthly Brain Candy blog from a gig calendar to an artist relief resource. As shelter in place orders continue, Lady Brain Presents will move additional member workshops and showcases to virtual platforms as needed.

“No matter what, the goal is for this family of local womxn creators to work together and find ways to lift each other up and amplify each other's work in the community," said White. “I am optimistic we will be able to gather again by August, but if we need to host a virtual film festival online, we will figure that out, too. Creative womxn always find a way - we're scrappy as hell."

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