The seventh edition of a feminist film festival will take place in Montreal from March 6 to 17, just in time for International Women's Day. What a great idea this Filminists Festival is!
Apart from that, looking at the program of this festival, I wonder if feminism has become a movement of fragile little beings who need to be protected and are in danger of collapsing at the slightest confrontation.
WOKISM FESTIVAL
On the website we find the usual elements of any wake-up event in 2024. First, territorial recognition. Then a word about the toilets: “The sanitary facilities on site are gender-neutral and accessible to everyone without gender differences.”
And of course: “We have an emotional supervisor for every discussion panel. She is a person committed to maintaining a space of trust, active listening and kindness. If you feel the need to talk to her, raise concerns, or report an uncomfortable situation, don’t hesitate to reach out to her.”
We have a warning before every film description: “Scenes of verbal and physical violence”, “This film addresses everyday discrimination, anti-queer politics and a lack of family support”, “This film brings medical violence (surgeries, caesarean sections) to the screen”. “, “This film deals with grief”, “This film deals with sexism, ageism and fatphobia”.
“For any screening that requires an alert, we provide instructions at the beginning of the session. You can also find these warnings on our website and in the paper program. We recommend that you read this information to prepare for the content of the demonstrations.
“Preparation” for the content of the demonstrations? I remember…strong feminists who weren't afraid to shake things up, who didn't need safe spaces or trauma warnings.
I also have some questions about the programming itself. We are told about a film from 2019 about the everyday life of Palestinian women with the following comment: “In addition to this difficult everyday life, there has been an intensification of violence against Palestinian women since October 7, 2023.”
Not a word about the October 7th pogrom, seriously?
A feminist festival that doesn't say a word about “an intensification of violence against Israeli women” on October 7th by Hamas terrorists who brutally raped women and girls? For what? Because they are Jews?
It continues: “This broadcast reaffirms our support for the struggle of the Palestinian people, who we want to see free on their land, from the river to the sea.” Do these feminists know that the expression “from the river to the sea” refers to space between the Jordan and the Mediterranean and that they therefore… support the extermination of the State of Israel and thus of millions of women?
VARIABLE GEOMETRY
“On its closing night, the Filministes Festival invites you to reflect on and question the worrying rise in hate and violence against LGBTQIA2S+ people around the world.”
I agree 100%, I find it terribly worrying. But we will show us a film about the situation in Russia. No word on how LGBTQIA2S+ people are treated in Palestine, even though we say we care about women's rights in this part of the world?