This year’s Brighton-based festival is set to be bigger than ever and Emerald’s sponsorship continues its commitment towards insurance’s underrepresented communities
WOFFF is the only festival of its kind in the world, celebrating the work of older women in film both on screen and behind the camera. Following last year’s success, both filmmakers and cinema lovers alike are coming together from Thursday 14th September when the festival returns to Brighton for a blockbuster third year.
Women are underrepresented in film and in insurance
Last year, WOFFF showcased the work of older women in film, in an industry too often obsessed with age, by screening 44 international short films. Thanks to support from sponsors like Emerald Life, this year even more screenings are planned in WOFFF’s biggest festival, starting lightheartedly with a Mamma Mia sing-a-long on the Thursday night.
Last year, just 29% of the top 100 grossing films were led by a woman actor – a frustrating statistic made worse by the fact this was an all-time high. Woman, both as leading ladies and core production members of a project, are miles behind male colleagues and yet in the early days of film women played a much greater part. WOFFF challenges this inequality by showcasing great films that involve women.
And awards there are! Emerald is proud to be sponsoring the Audience Choice Award which is judged by festival attendees. Emerald Life, who first sponsored the festival in 2016, is the UK’s first insurance provider to engage and focus on equality for underrepresented and underinsured groups. Last year, it was awarded
Ethical Financial Services provider by industry peers. Emerald was founded by Heidi McCormack,game-changing advocate of women’s equality in the boardroom and former CEO of General Motors Russia and Steve Wardlaw, previously one of the world’s top oil and gas lawyers as part of their commitment to insuring diversity.
Heidi McCormack said: “We are delighted to be working with WOFFF again this year. More needs to be done to attract and nurture the talent of women. What WOFFF does in showcasing women in film is an extremely important cornerstone to getting the word out about these great works and great women.”
Nuala O’Sulivan, WOFFF’s director added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Emerald Life again. The Audience Choice Award is a firm favourite at the festival and we’re thrilled to have Emerald Life sponsoring and supporting it for a second year. This essential sponsorship allows us to recognise and celebrate the strength, talent and verve of older women in front of and behind the camera.”
ENDS
More information, including images and interview requests, please contact:
Steve Wardlaw, Chairman 07808 167868
Notes to editors:
Emerald Life is an insurance provider focused on the needs of under-represented groups particularly women, LGBT, non-traditional families and single people across the financial services sector. Emerald, awarded Ethical Financial Services Provider of the Year in 2016, supports community based projects by providing resources and partnering with leading organisations shaping equality, and recently has advised trade bodies including the ABI on BAME issues within insurance.
Women representation in film as quoted on the Guardian website, 21/2/17.
WOFFF website is found at www.wofff.co.uk
Emerald Life website is www.emeraldlife.co.uk