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The Oscar-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in the Southeast U.S. This is a festival who hopes to bring more inclusiveness to the cinema. It champions filmmakers who have been historically denied access to resources and opportunities within the industry–– including Southern artists, women, people of color, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities. With this in mind, 90% of the films in the festival will come from submissions, ensuring New Orleans Film Festival is a place of discovery where all voices have an opportunity to be heard. Furthermore, 50% or more of the films will be helmed by women and gender non-conforming filmmakers. To know more of the festival and its mission we had a chance to interview Zandashé Brown , the programming manager and artist development coordinator of the festival.
Interview conducted by Amir Ganjavie for UNIVERSALCINEMA.CA