The Dortmund | Cologne International Women's Film Festival presents a broadbased programme with around 100 films made by women directors from all over the world.
Women have increasingly come to occupy a good number of creative and responsible posts in all fields of film production. However, the old rule of thumb still applies: the higher the budget and the higher the financial risk associated with the production the less frequently you will find a woman with executive functions.
It is for this reason that the Dortmund | Cologne International Women's Film Festival runs different competitions to highlight the work of women film directors.
On an alternating biennial basis, then, the International Debut Feature Fiction Film Competition for younger talented filmmakers and the National Competition for Women Directors of Photography, aiming at the next generation of camera women at German film colleges, are held in Cologne.
Also on an alternating biennial basis, the International Fiction Feature Film Award is given in Dortmund for women directors who can look back on a longer period of creativity.
The Audience Award is awarded to a festival film at least sixty minutes in length and completed within 24 months prior to the date of festival.