La Femme Independent FF Official Competition 1

La Femme Independent Festival aims to empower women and promote inclusivity, diversity, and equality. We believe that celebrating women's achievements and contributions will inspire future generations and create a more just society. Join us!

We invite you to join us for an enchanting week of film screenings, Q&A sessions with directors and actors, and exciting events. Our festival celebrates the art of storytelling and the power of cinema to inspire, entertain, and educate. From independent films to international blockbusters, we showcase the best of the best.  

The 2026 festival event at Riverside Studios in January will also feature a celebration of Diane Abbott and her acceptance of the La Femme Honorary Award, recognizing her pioneering achievements as the first Black woman in the UK Parliament and her tireless advocacy to support women and minorities, highlighting her remarkable accomplishments as a trailblazing and successful woman.

Ticket prices are £13 Full Price / £11 Concession / £9 Under 25 + £2 booking fee if you book online or over the phone. There is no booking fee if you book in person.

A panel talk with the filmmakers will follow the end of this programme, and there will be a short panel talk following the screening of the short film The Hour.

Shorts lineup:

IN DORA'S SHOES (dir: Alessandro D'Ambrosi) - 20m

Anna is a publicist struggling to write an article on Dora Maar, a surrealist artist and photographer known to most only as Pablo Picasso's muse and lover. In search of inspiration, Anna visits an exhibition on Pablo Picasso and, right in front of one of the famous portraits of Dora, she has a surreal encounter: a woman with exactly Dora's features approaches her and, very intrigued by Anna's sneakers, starts talking to her. Incredulous, Anna decides to follow her outside of the museum. It is an opportunity for Dora to guide the girl on a journey into her own memory. From here, we follow these two women on an investigation into the sense of identity, memory and its distortions, ambition, and love. Anna will truly understand, for the first time, what it means to be a Muse

DIA MNIE (dir: Aneta Barbara Kotwica) - 23m

Marianna loses one of her twin daughters due to a premature birth and seeks justice by filing a lawsuit against the hospital for malpractice. Despite gathering overwhelming evidence, the courts repeatedly rule against her. Her first lawyer abandons the case, and the public defender who takes over fails to inform her of the impending deadline to reopen proceedings. When Marianna discovers that the case has expired, it's devastating – and irreversible. Yet, her determination for justice remains unbroken, driven by her love and memory of her daughter.

THE HOUR  (dir: Paige Henderson) - 17m + panel talk

A film about domestic violence. This is the chronicle of a woman’s first year of healing after leaving an abusive spouse. Guilt and shame slow her progress, and tensions rise as years of domestic violence come to the surface. But with the support of her therapist, women in her support group, and her family, she may be able to rediscover the strength within herself and ultimately choose to heal.

Inspired by a personal story, this film was made in response to an industry that too often uses sexual abuse for shock value, centering on the violence instead of the voice of the survivor and their strength in moving forward.

DEJA DREAM  (dir: Mahmudul Hasan)- 15m

25-year-old Ethan Sullivan struggles with anxiety and depression after completely losing his ability to dream for months. Seeking help, he visits a careless and arrogant psychiatrist who is addicted to TikTok and dismisses Ethan's concerns, stating that not dreaming is no longer considered an illness by the health sciences. As Ethan returns for multiple sessions, their encounters become increasingly surreal. They humiliate each other, play football on a deserted island, and discuss dreams, reality, and the nature of existence. Eventually, the dream comes to an end.  

Now, in stark contrast to his dream self, Ethan is organised and composed, getting ready for a job interview. But when he steps into the interview room, he meets the psychiatrist again, a sharply dressed corporate professional who doesn't recognise Ethan either.

This dream also ends abruptly.