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The Women of Influence at TIFF 2015

2015 may be the year for women at TIFF. Lisa De Wilde, CEO of TVOntario, is the festival’s first female chair of the board of directors. Kathleen Drum joined the non-profit in June to serve as Director, Industry Office. She’ll be connecting the creative side of the industry—like this year’s impressive roster of female directors—with business heavyweights, including Gigi Pritzker, CEO and co-founder of production and financing company Oddlot Entertainment (and one of the world’s 172 female billionaires).

 

And what about the films? If you’re in search of stories about inspiring women, here are three selections from TIFF 2015 to put on your watch-list:

 

He Named me Malala

He Named me Malala tells the powerful story of Malala Yousafzai, and how her life unfolded after she was shot by the Taliban for standing up for women’s rights. The youngest person to ever receive the Nobel Peace Price, Malala’s name alone evokes courage and inspiration. Brought to the big screen by Oscar-winning director Davis Guggenheim, this documentary tops our list of not-to-be missed films.

“I am not a lone voice, I am many. And our voices are our most powerful weapons.”

 

Our Brand is Crisis

Disappointed with the lack of strong female roles available, Sandra Bullock proved the importance of asking for the job you want with the question: “Are there any male roles out there that [the filmmakers] don’t mind switching to female?” The result: she’s at TIFF this year as the lead in Our Brand is Crisis, a part originally written for her Gravity co-star, George Clooney. Playing political consultant Jane Bodine, she’s tasked with getting the unpopular Bolivian president re-elected (and proves that her job doesn’t need to come with a gender requirement).

 

 Related: Top Five Books for a Changing Workforce

 

The Dressmaker

Not only does The Dressmaker have a stellar female cast, including Academy Award winner Kate Winslett and nominee Judy Davis, the film also boasts a powerhouse female director, Jocelyn Moorehouse. The bittersweet comedy tells the story of dressmaker Tilly Dunnage (played by Kate), who returns from Paris to live in the rural Australian hometown that shunned her. Set in in the 1950’s, it incorporates a strong theme of female empowerment alongside a scandalous love story and plenty of haute couture.

 

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