
Gender Equity in Media Festival
The 20th annual international Gender Equity in Media film festival will take place
March 5-9, 2025.
GEMS Vancouver's signature event, GEMFest, is the only film festival dedicated to women and gender-diverse people in Western Canada, and one of just three international film festivals for women and gender-diverse people in Canada.
Now in its 20th year, GEMFest continues to provide a platform for challenging gender inequity and the lack of diversity in the screen-based media industry through a combination of film screenings, discussions, professional development and networking opportunities.
NiiMisSak weaves shared truths with the raw personal experiences of being an IsKweWak storyteller in the film/documentary industry, specifically in British Columbia. Now is the time to share these important stories of resiliency and power because we are experiencing a revolutionary shift in Indigenous cinema in Canada. Iskwewak (Indigenous women) are taking control of their own STORIES.
Mar 6
Ziggy receives her first internet influencer job offer to promote the seed and fertilizer company Nature's Oath. When her cousin calls her back to the reservation, she is compelled to fight to preserve the history of her people and discovers her strength in the process.
Mar 9
In a time of immense environmental degradation and global uncertainty, the buffalo can lead us to a better tomorrow. After a dark recent history, the buffalo herds of North America are awaiting their return, aided by dedicated Indigenous activists, leaders and communities, including award-winning Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard (nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up).
Mar 8
Village Keeper follows a family grappling with secrets that uphold domestic abuse and unresolved rage. Jean lives in constant fear of everything that could go wrong, going to great lengths to shelter her children, so when a spree of violence comes to her doorstep, she secretly cleans an abandoned crime scene, which unknowingly leads her on a path that exposes generational chains of silence, self-discovery and finally putting herself first.
Mar 7
Facilitated by Ghazal Elhaei (Chair of the Board GEMS, Capital G Media), is a 90-minute workshop designed to equip filmmakers and creatives with the strategic tools needed to navigate the business side of the industry. This event is free of charge or by donation.
Mar 7
Select finalists from this year’s screenplay competition will discuss their work and the power of storytelling in a conversation moderated by filmmaker Andy Alvarez (Curl Power). This year's finalists are: Corina Bizim & Maddy Hillis, Brenna Goodwin-McCabe, Mykayla Filipovic, dre larivée, Jasleen Kaur, MK Morris and Tessa Parker. This event is free of charge/by donation.
Mar 9
Sahar, an Iranian international student in Vancouver, embodies the courage and resilience of a generation. Torn between her academic dreams and her yearning for justice, she secretly writes feminist blogs exposing Iran’s oppressive laws. When Mahsa Amini’s death sparks global outrage, Sahar joins a Women, Life, Freedom protest, igniting a chain of events that upends her life.
Mar 5
Mawtini (My Homeland):Nawal, a young Palestinian woman grieving the death of her grandmother & clinging to the task of keeping a fig sapling alive as her last thread of connection to Palestine.
Karateka: Gabrielle and Alix are about to compete in the finals of the regional karate championship. But when Gabrielle discovers that she is having her period when she wasn't expecting it, things get complicated and the fight becomes unequal.
Little Miss Sleepy: A filmmaker explores her journey of being diagnosed with Narcolepsy at age 21 and documents her participation in a scientific research study to help raise awareness for the condition that currently has no known cure.
Passageways: Passageways is a stop-motion documentary that takes a positive look at the emotional and physical transformations women experience during menopause. Drawing on the authentic confidences of five women who share their personal experiences of this natural stage of life.
Mar 8
Lovin' Her: The breadth of a trans woman’s life is shown as she navigates the complexities of a fading memory. Blending the past and present, glimpses of her struggles with love and her evolving gender identity showcase a heartfelt portrait of humanity.
Unibrow: Unibrow follows Leyla, a second-generation Irani-Canadian girl striving for the perfect brows, as she befriends a new student from Iran, Sahar, who introduces her to the cultural significance of eyebrows.
Saigon Kiss: Mơ roams through the rush hour traffic to avoid an unwanted phone call. When she meets Vicky by the side of the street with her broken motorbike, a visceral chance encounter unfolds between the two young queer women on the loud streets of Saigon.
Mar 6