Girls On Film

Anna Smith

Girls On Film is a film review podcast from a female perspective, hosted by film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and produced by co-founder Hedda Archbold at HLA Agency

  1. Ep 216: Celebrating Creative Brilliance: Girls On Film Awards 2026

    2D AGO

    Ep 216: Celebrating Creative Brilliance: Girls On Film Awards 2026

    This episode takes you right to the heart of the Girls On Film Awards 2026. The prestigious awards attract a glittering array of guests and shine a light on the remarkable achievements of women and non‑binary creatives across the film industry. Hosted by Girls On Film co‑founders Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold, the evening unfolds with inspiring speeches, and conversations with standout guests, showing us once more what brilliant things we can achieve if we stand together and lift each other up. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Thanks to our wonderful presenters Ronni Ancona, Teanne Andrews, Sarah Niles, Lesley Sharp, Priya Kansara, Kerry Fox, Dame Twiggy Lawson, Hannah Onslow, Ita O’Brien, Col Needham, Maïwenn le Mouée, Blair Barnette, Meera Syal and Sally Phillips. This episode also features Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, Autumn Durald Arkapaw ASC, Zoe Mutter, Andrea Riseborough, Idil Ahmed, Posy Sterling, Daisy-May Hudson, Nadia Fall, Suhayla El-Bushra, Nicky Bentham, Geeta Gandbhir, Jessie Buckley, Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́, Ann Akinjirin, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, John Maclean, Jon M. Chu, Tamara Deverell, Pippa Harris and Liza Marshall. Thanks especially to the sponsors and partners who made the event possible: CrewHQ DISAUTHORITY EON Productions IMDb Intimacy on Set Andrew Jose Salon Astella Jewellers Curzon Elstree Studios Lilac Grove Entertainment Netflix Papa Salt Gin Stephen Webster Jewellers Deadline British Cinematographer magazine DDA Global Ask Mummy & Daddy Gourmet Confectionery Girls on Tops WorkWise for Screen Thanks to our production team: Oli Fyne - Awards producer Charlotte Homeshaw - Sound Recordist Claudia Vyvyan - Digital Assets Designer Richard Gay - Videographer Adam Southgate - Videographer Ciaran O'Brien - Gaffer Joanne Davidson - Photographer Thanks to each and every one of the volunteers who helped pull it all together on the night: Anna Penney Blair Barnette Elliana Hamer Hattie Morris Heather Dempsey Jade Evans Jo Rogers Ruby Rose Bradshaw Tallulah Treadaway Tom Oliver Tew Yvonne Potter Winners in order of appearance on the podcast: Best Composer: Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch – H is for Hawk Best Cinematography Sponsored by CrewHQ: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC – Sinners Best Editing Sponsored by DISAUTHORITY: Olivia Neergaard-Holm – The Chronology of Water Best Ensemble Cast: Goodbye June Best Female Friendship on Screen: Brides and Lollipop Best Documentary: The Perfect Neighbor (Geeta Gandbhir) Best Performance in a Supporting Role: Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another Best Performance in a Leading Role: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet Intimacy Award Sponsored by Intimacy On Set: Dreamers (Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́, Ann Akinjirin, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor) Ally Award Sponsored by IMDb: Jon M. Chu – Wicked: For Good Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell – Frankenstein Best Director: Chloe Zhao – Hamnet Best Feature Film Sponsored by EON productions: Hamnet Activist Impact Award: Daisy-May Hudson Commendations: Best Composer – Nala Sinephro – The Smashing Machine Best Documentary – Sadie Frost – Twiggy Ally Award – John Maclean – Tornado Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Credits: Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Awards Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold and Oli Fyne Social Media Producer: Dr Jade Evans Intern: Ruby Rose Bradshaw Sound Recordist: Charlotte Homeshaw Audio Editor Extraordinaire: Benjamin Cook House Band: MX Tyrants Principal Partners: Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith Episode Sponsor: Lilac Grove Entertainment © HLA Agency

    1h 13m
  2. Ep 215: The Perfect Neighbor exclusive: director Geeta Gandbhir talks about her award-winning doc

    FEB 9

    Ep 215: The Perfect Neighbor exclusive: director Geeta Gandbhir talks about her award-winning doc

    In today’s on Girls On Film we’re unpacking The Perfect Neighbor - a powerful Netflix documentary that’s up for an Oscar and a BAFTA. It investigates the shooting of Ajike Owens, a mother of four who was beloved in her tight-knit community in Florida. Owen’s neighbour shot her in 2023, after a years-long campaign of harassment that sewed division in their shared neighbourhood. Using police body-cam footage, the documentary pieces together the events that led to this tragedy and asks important questions about what enabled it to happen. Anna sits down with its director and producer Geeta Gandbhir to talk about the making of this tough and urgent film, why its story needs to be brought to the screen, and how filmmaking like this can be a tool for social change. This episode is in partnership with Netflix. The Perfect Neighbor is on Netflix now. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Visit https://www.girlsonfilm.org.uk/ for more information about the podcast. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Heather Dempsey Intern: Ruby Bradshaw Audio editor: Alex Jones Host: Anna Smith © HLA Agency

    22 min
  3. Ep 214: Laura Poitras on Cover-Up, documentary success and exposing the CIA

    FEB 6

    Ep 214: Laura Poitras on Cover-Up, documentary success and exposing the CIA

    On today's Girls on Film we’re getting conspiratorial with COVER-UP - a BAFTA-nominated documentary following the career of investigative journalist Seymour Hirsch. He was an expert at exposing government corruption and scandal in the United States, and this documentary has exclusive access to him. Co-director Laura Poitras will be giving Anna the story behind the story of this thrilling film. Laura has been three times Oscar nominated for My Country, My Country, All The Beauty and The Bloodshed, and Citizenfour—for which she won. Alongside her co-director Mark Obenhaus, she's putting another gripping story onscreen here. We talk career inspirations, the art of the expose, and how being underestimated can be a woman's secret weapon. This episode is in partnership with Netflix. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Heather Dempsey Intern: Ruby Bradshaw Audio editor: Alex Jones Host: Anna Smith © HLA Agency

    19 min
  4. Ep 213: How two women mastered the art of Frankenstein - with Tamara Deverell & Kate Hawley

    FEB 5

    Ep 213: How two women mastered the art of Frankenstein - with Tamara Deverell & Kate Hawley

    This episode of Girls on Film is all about Frankenstein – and we’re ‘a-live’ onstage from our special Q&A screening of Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation with its Production Designer Tamara Deverell and costume designer Kate Hawley. Our host Anna Smith sits down with these two exceptionally talented female heads of department – both of whom have been BAFTA and Oscar nominated for their work on the film – to find out how they created this movie’s extraordinary visuals. It’s based on a classic tale, over 200 years old and first written by a teenage girl – the 18-year-old Mary Shelley. Del Toro’s new take has garnered 9 Oscar nominations and 8 BAFTA nominations. We’re giving you the low down from the women who helped bring it to life and up-to-date on the big screen. Plus they answer questions from you lovely Girls On Film listeners in our audience Q&A. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z This episode of Girls On Film is in partnership with Netflix. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Heather Dempsey Intern: Ruby Bradshaw Audio editor: Jack Howard Host: Anna Smith © HLA Agency

    36 min
  5. Ep 212: Claire Foy and Philippa Lowthorpe talk H is for Hawk and the joys of messy women on screen

    JAN 20

    Ep 212: Claire Foy and Philippa Lowthorpe talk H is for Hawk and the joys of messy women on screen

    Philippa Lowthorpe, the writer-director behind H is For Hawk, and the film’s star, Claire Foy, join Anna Smith to discuss the moving adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s hit memoir, co-starring Brendan Gleeson, Denise Gough, Lindsay Duncan and Sam Spruell. Philippa speaks frankly to Anna about the film’s poetic embodiment of the experience of grief, which produces a story that is both powerful and inspiring. Claire and Philippa discuss the process of collaboration, and consider how the on-set dynamics allowed for an element of freedom in Claire’s performance. Claire’s embodiment of Helen is represented beautifully by Philippa, whose documentary background informed her process of capturing the moment. No film made with live, wild animals is without its challenges, and Claire and Philippa speak to Anna about the incredible experience of working with hawks on set, Claire’s own personal reflections of working with them, and the intense, ethical falconry techniques and training involved. Finally, Philippa and Claire discuss bringing the role of Helen to life in all her messy complexity with the support of the film’s producer Dede Gardner. This episode is in partnership with Lionsgate. H is For Hawk is in select UK cinemas on 23 January. Philippa Lowthorpe has also appeared on episodes 28 and 145 of Girls On Film, when she attended the Girls On Film Awards. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Intern: Ruby Bradshaw Audio Editor: Benjamin Cook Principal Partners: Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith © HLA Agency

    23 min
  6. Ep 210: The Women behind WICKED: FOR GOOD talk collaboration, creativity and female empowerment

    12/17/2025

    Ep 210: The Women behind WICKED: FOR GOOD talk collaboration, creativity and female empowerment

    Anna Smith goes behind the scenes on one of the biggest films of the year, and one of the biggest contenders in film awards season: WICKED: FOR GOOD. This sequel to WICKED came to our cinema screens in late November and Anna is thrilled to sit down with four women who helped create both films, which are a key influence in shaping the lives of young viewers today. Anna talks first with Screenwriter Dana Fox and Casting Director Tiffany Little Canfield, and then with DOP Alice Brooks ASC, and Hair & Make-Up Designer Frances Hannon. They speak about collaboration, female empowerment, the intricacies of their jobs and about working with the whole crew, including director Jon M Chu and co-writer Winnie Holzman. Tiffany, Alice and Frances were all shortlisted for the Oscars the day before this podcast was published. This episode is in partnership with WICKED: FOR GOOD Subscribe to the Girls On Film newsletter via the website, www.girlsonfilm.org.uk Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Assistant Producer: Negin Nia Intern: Tallulah Treadaway Audio Editor Extraordinaire: Benjamin Cook Thanks to Girls On Film principal partners Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer © HLA Agency

    51 min
  7. Ep 209: Laura Mulvey on Feminist Filmmaking and her BFI Fellowship + Maria Shevtsova on Editing

    12/05/2025

    Ep 209: Laura Mulvey on Feminist Filmmaking and her BFI Fellowship + Maria Shevtsova on Editing

    In this episode of Girls On Film, we speak with Laura Mulvey, British feminist film theorist, filmmaker, and Patron of Girls On Film, who was awarded the prestigious BFI Fellowship in November. Laura has curated a selection of Big Screen Classics running throughout December 2025 at London’s BFI Southbank, featuring titles such as Morocco, Man with a Movie Camera, and Through the Olive Trees. A wonderful opportunity to revisit, or discover, these influential films. And in the episode we introduce a new category in the 2026 Girls On Film Awards: The Girls On Film Award for Best Editing sponsored by DISAUTHORITY. Anna chats with Maria Shevtsova, Vice President of DISAUTHORITY and Head of DISAUTHORITY Originals, about the award category, and the exciting partnership. The 2026 awards will take place on February 2nd, and we’re delighted to celebrate this new addition. Thank you to Lilac Grove Entertainment for partnering with us on this episode. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Negin Nia Intern: Ruby Bradshaw Audio Editor: Benjamin Cook Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer © HLA Agency

    33 min
4.1
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Girls On Film is a film review podcast from a female perspective, hosted by film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and produced by co-founder Hedda Archbold at HLA Agency

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