NFMLA's InFocus: Female Cinematography

      A high school robbery, a fascination with meat, and an unexpected wedding night were just a few topics presented in the films showcased at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles’ InFocus: Female Cinema, which also included the Los Angeles premiere of The Day Iceland Stood Still.

      The Day Iceland Stood Still, directed by Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker and journalist Pamela J. Hogan, offers a vibrant portrayal of the nationwide women's strike in Iceland in 1975, a pivotal event that marked Iceland’s rise to the top of the global gender parity index. “We hope this untold story will inspire viewers for generations to envision new possibilities,” Hogan states.

      The short film segments featured narratives depicting government oppression, hidden joys, recovery after trauma, and friendship dynamics, among others. Included were works produced through Girls’ Voices Now, part of Women’s Voices Now’s youth development initiative that empowers young individuals from underserved communities to express their voices for social change through filmmaking.

      NFMLA highlights films from filmmakers of diverse backgrounds throughout the year, including in both general and InFocus programming. All filmmakers are invited and encouraged to submit their work for consideration at future NFMLA Festivals, independent of the InFocus program schedule, which aims to promote representation by highlighting various filmmaker communities as part of NFMLA Monthly Film Festival. This initiative is partially supported by grants from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

      Here are additional insights into the films and filmmakers, courtesy of NFMLA.

      “The Day Iceland Stood Still” directed by Pamela Hogan

      About Pamela: Pamela Hogan has dedicated her career to telling stories of everyday women accomplishing extraordinary feats. She co-created PBS’s Women, War & Peace series, served as executive producer for PBS’s Wide Angle, and initiated the Emmy-winning Ladies First, focusing on women's leadership in Rwanda. The New York Times hailed her film “Looks Like Laury, Sounds Like Laury” as one of the 10 Best TV Shows of 2015. With recognition including the Making a Difference for Women award from the National Council for Research on Women, her work has been celebrated by the Overseas Press Club, the Television Academy Honor, and the ABA’s Silver Gavel.

      About The Day Iceland Stood Still: When 90% of Icelandic women refused to work, cook, or care for children one fall morning in 1975, they plunged the nation into a standstill, propelling Iceland to the title of “best place in the world to be a woman.” Presented for the first time by the women themselves, enriched with playful animation and music from Björk, this story is cunning and unexpectedly humorous.

      Watch the NFMLA interview with Grima Irmudóttir, associate producer of “The Day Iceland Stood Still”:

      “Skrrrt!” directed by Gabriela Garcia Medina

      About Gabriela: Gabriela Garcia Medina’s short film “Little Con Lili” (2019) won accolades at the HBO Women in Comedy Festival, was distributed on HBOMax, and optioned by Netflix. The 90 Day Plan (2020) was also honored at HBO Women in Comedy Festival and released on HBOMax. “Skrrrt!” (2025) is a project developed by Dirty Films and financed by Netflix, while Gabi’s feature For Your Own Good ranked in the Top 5 for TriBeCa and AT&T’s Untold Stories and is currently in development with Gina Rodriguez’s I Can and I Will Productions and Unapologetic Projects. She has received fellowships and grants from organizations such as TriBeCa, NALAC, and the Academy’s Film Accelerator.

      About “Skrrrt!”: A group of high school frenemies devising a grand automotive heist must persuade an elitist salesman at a supercar dealership to allow one girl to test-drive a luxury car.

      Watch the NFMLA interview with Gabriela Garcia Medina, co-writer, director, and producer of “Skrrrt!”, and Laura Fries, producer of the film:

      “Bobo In Bliss” directed by Vivian Ip

      About Vivian: Vivian Ip is a Chinese writer-director and attorney originally from Singapore, now based in Los Angeles. Her work delves into the human experience and highlights marginalized voices, often inspired by personal memories, identity, and experiences of displacement. Her short films include “An Island Drifts,” “At the Water’s Edge,” and “The Smart Diver.” Recognized for her talent, she has received awards from ARRI and the University of Southern California, where her semi-autobiographical short “Bobo in Bliss” premiered at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Alongside her films, she has directed commercial content for clients like TikTok Shop and Red Bull.

      About “Bobo In Bliss”: When her traditional parents and younger sister visit her at boarding school, a Singaporean teenager struggles to reconcile their values