FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Marty Schechter: marty@schechterpr.com
DENVER – March 3, 2023 – Barbara Bridges, the founder and driving force behind Women+Film, announced today her retirement from the annual festival and year-round program after two decades of service to Denver Film. From concept to creation, sponsorship to curation, Bridges served as the visionary leader of Denver’s only program dedicated exclusively to promoting women behind the camera and on the screen. Under her leadership, Women+Film has built community around the overlooked contributions of women to the filmmaking industry.
“Nothing is more powerful than stories,” said Bridges. “Movies by and about women connect us to people around the world and here at home, helping us to feel their struggles, share their joys, and understand our world a little bit better. But the most transformative moments came with my back to the screen, hosting discussions between filmmakers and local audiences. A movie is nothing without an audience, and Women+Film created not just an audience, but a community for sharing these stories here in Denver.”
The community that Bridges built and the conversations she inspired will continue under new leadership, as she passes the reins to a committee at Denver Film which will collectively continue the work that Bridges pioneered.
“We are so incredibly grateful to Barbara for everything that she has shared with us and inspired us to pursue in celebration of women in film,” said Denver Film Board Chair Chad Jimenez. “Her vision, drive and passion have focused a lens on both behind-the-scenes and on-screen performances that ignited important discussions throughout our community.”
Bridges created Women+Film while serving on the Board of Directors for Denver Film in 2006. At the time, a woman had never won an Oscar for best director, a woman of color had never directed a $100 million movie, and Hollywood’s #MeToo reckoning was still a decade away.
“In the time since I founded Women+Film, the place of women in the film industry has decisively changed,” added Bridges. “I’m delighted that we’ve played a role in that transformation.”
Women+Film’s programming struck a chord with Denver audiences and ultimately drove the creation of the annual Women+Film Festival in 2011, celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Each year since, the multi-day Festival has spotlighted the roles, challenges, creativity and triumphs of women in film everywhere.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors, the Women+Film Premiere Circle, and the thousands of guests who have been inspired at Women+Film events, I want to express the deepest appreciation to Barbara for her vision in creating Women+Film,” said Denver Film Board Member Maren Stewart. “As we look to the future without Barbara’s leadership, our goal is to honor her, and her passion, as we continue her legacy.”
Part of Bridges’ legacy is the creation of the Women+Film Premiere Circle, a membership that includes some of Denver’s most influential women business leaders and community philanthropists. As the group’s membership grew, it has honored prominent industry professionals with the Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award. In recent years, this honor was presented to Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winner Rita Moreno, Emmy Award winner Abigail Disney, and Denver’s own Academy Award winner Donna Dewey.
The lineup and individual tickets on-sale for the 14th Annual Women+Film Festival, scheduled April 13-16 at the Sie FilmCenter, will be announced on March 16. Full Festival passes are currently on sale at denverfilm.org.
Founded in 1978, Denver Film is a membership-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution that produces film events throughout the year, including the award-winning Denver Film Festival and the popular, summertime series Film on the Rocks. With a vision to cultivate community and transform lives through film, Denver Film provides opportunities for diverse audiences to discover film through creative, thought-provoking experiences.
The permanent home of Denver Film, the Sie FilmCenter is Denver’s only year-round cinematheque, presenting a weekly-changing calendar of first-run exclusives and arthouse revivals both domestic and foreign, narrative and documentary – over 600 per year, all shown in their original language and format. Denver Film’s one-of-a-kind programs annually reach more than 200,000 film lovers and film lovers-in-training.
