Girls On Film

Anna Smith
  • 4.1 (13)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
Girls On Film

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 191: Kōki, Allison Gardner and The Extraordinary Miss Flower at Glasgow Film Festival 2025

    1 DAY AGO

    Ep 191: Kōki, Allison Gardner and The Extraordinary Miss Flower at Glasgow Film Festival 2025

    In this episode of Girls On Film, recorded at the 2025 Glasgow Film Festival, host Anna Smith is joined by co-founder and Executive Producer of the podcast, Hedda Lornie Archbold, to bring listeners exclusive interviews with some of the festival’s stars. They welcome insights from Festival Director Allison Gardner, star of opening gala film Tornado, Kōki, and two of the creative minds behind The Extraordinary Miss Flower. Allison Gardner talks about her highlights of her final year leading the Glasgow Film Festival. Kōki, the rising star of Tornado, opens up about her role as the daughter of a Japanese puppeteer in John Maclean’s thriller. And Emiliana Torrini and Caroline Catz dive into their work on The Extraordinary Miss Flower, a genre-blending love letter to love letters, set to Torrini’s dreamy soundtrack. The Extraordinary Miss Flower will be released in the UK on 9 May 2025. Tornado will be available in cinemas from 23 May 2025. Glasgow Film Festival 2025 runs from 26 February to 9 March 2025. For more information on screenings and tickets, visit the Glasgow Film Festival website https://www.glasgowfilm.org/home March is International Women’s Month, and this year also marks the 20th Anniversary of Birds Eye View Festival, now Reclaim the Frame, a charity championing women filmmakers. The festival will host a Weekender from 7–9 March 2025 at BFI Southbank and Regent Street Cinema, featuring events, screenings, and a special showing of Lollipop, which featured in episode 181 of Girls On Film. For more details, visit reclaimtheframe.org.Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 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. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer © HLA Agency

    49 min
  2. Ep 190: Emilia Pérez with Zoe Saldaña plus songwriters & composers Clément Ducol & Camille

    FEB 4

    Ep 190: Emilia Pérez with Zoe Saldaña plus songwriters & composers Clément Ducol & Camille

    Host Anna Smith brings you an exclusive conversation with Zoe Saldaña, Clément Ducol and Camille, recorded live at London’s Charlotte Street Hotel following a screening of the 13 time Oscar-nominated and 12 time BAFTA-nominated film Emilia Pérez. Directed by Jacques Audiard, this genre-blending musical thriller tells the story of a lawyer who becomes entangled in the world of a cartel boss undergoing a dramatic personal transformation. Starring Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz, the film is generating awards buzz for its bold storytelling and powerful performances. Joining Anna for this discussion is Oscar-nominee Zoe Saldaña, who plays Rita in the film. She shares her experience collaborating with versatile French filmmaker Jacques Audiard on bringing to life the story of four Latina women, citing how refreshing it was to embody a flawed woman, the character of Rita. She’s joined by Clément Ducol and Camille, the composers and songwriters behind the film’s evocative soundtrack, who share insights into the five-year-long creative process of bringing Emilia Pérez's distinctive musical identity to life. This episode was recorded live on 31 January 2025 and is brought to you in partnership with Netflix. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 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. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Alex Jones Sound recordist: Erin Millican House band: MX Tyrants This episode is in partnership with Netflix © HLA Agency

    32 min
  3. Ep 189: The Girls On Film Awards Podcast 2025 sponsored by Elstree Film Studios

    JAN 30

    Ep 189: The Girls On Film Awards Podcast 2025 sponsored by Elstree Film Studios

    In this special episode recorded at the 2025 Girls On Film Awards, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of women and people of marginalised genders in the film industry. Hosted by co-founders of Girls On Film Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold, the evening features inspiring speeches, awards across 14 categories, and interviews with some standout guests. You'll hear highlights from the ceremony, including insights from Oscar-nominated directors Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) and Shiori Itō (Black Box Diaries) as well as Oscar-nominated Actress Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez). Also in this episode, attendees reflect on the importance of women-led cinema and diverse voices in the industry. We also spotlight the sponsors and partners who made the event possible: our Gold Sponsors, CrewHQ and IMDb; our Silver Sponsor, Curzon; and our Bronze Sponsors, Netflix and Intimacy on Set. We are grateful for the support of our media partners Deadline, British Cinematographer magazine, and DDA, and to Lilac Grove Entertainment for sponsoring the reception. The awards celebrate the ongoing progress toward more inclusive storytelling, and this episode brings you right into the heart of the celebration. This episode is sponsored by Elstree Film Studios, who are celebrating their centenary in 2025. Full list of winners BEST FEATURE FILM The Substance BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Black Box Diaries BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson) FEMALE FRIENDSHIP ON SCREEN All We Imagine as Light ENSEMBLE CAST Emilia Pérez THE GIRLS ON FILM ALLY AWARD SPONSORED BY IMDb Mike Leigh (Hard Truths) BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY SPONSORED BY CREWHQ Hélène Louvart AFC (La Chimera) BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Judy Becker (The Brutalist) BEST COSTUME DESIGN Linda Muir (Nosferatu) BEST COMPOSER Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (Moana 2) BEST PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN Universal (Wicked) ACTIVIST IMPACT AWARD Shiori Ito (Black Box Diaries) FEMALE ORGASM ON SCREEN SPONSORED BY INTIMACY ON SET Nicole Kidman (with Nicole Kidman, and later Harris Dickinson) (Babygirl) Full list of commendations ENSEMBLE CAST Chuck Chuck Baby BEST COMPOSER Isobel Waller-Bridge (Wicked Little Letters) BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Gemma Jackson (Lee) BEST COSTUME DESIGN Rebecca Gore (Timestalker) Find out more here https://hlaagency.co.uk/category/projects/girls-on-film-awards/ Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 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. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Interns: Anna Swartz and Oli Fyne Sound recordist: Erin Macmillan Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

    1h 4m
  4. Ep 188: Netflix documentary Daughters - Empowering Girls’ Voices with Natalie Rae & Angela Patton

    JAN 27

    Ep 188: Netflix documentary Daughters - Empowering Girls’ Voices with Natalie Rae & Angela Patton

    Anna Smith takes a closer look at the poignant, BAFTA-nominated Netflix documentary Daughters, co-directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton. The film intimately portrays the lives of four young Black women in the United States, navigating the emotional challenges of growing up with fathers who are incarcerated. Directors Natalie and Angela join Anna to discuss their eight-year journey bringing this powerful story to life, from filming during the pandemic to building an open and compassionate dialogue with the young women seen on screen, all culminating in the transformative Daddy Daughter Dance at the heart of the documentary. Angela Patton, CEO of Girls For A Change, shares her perspective on amplifying young women’s voices, while Natalie Rae delves into the creative and emotional process of filming such a personal and moving story in this episode of Girls On Film. Daughters is available to stream on Netflix now. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 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. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Emma Butt House band: MX Tyrants This episode is in partnership with Netflix © HLA Agency

    35 min
  5. Ep 187: Crafting Wicked - behind the magic with Alice Brooks, Frances Hannon & Paul Tazewell

    12/03/2024

    Ep 187: Crafting Wicked - behind the magic with Alice Brooks, Frances Hannon & Paul Tazewell

    In this episode, host Anna Smith transports listeners to the world of Wicked. She speaks with three key creatives behind this enchanting film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, bringing this iconic story of friendship, magic, and love to life on the big screen. Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics Designer Frances Hannon discusses how she approached creating Elphaba’s iconic green look. Director of Photography Alice Brooks explains how she updated the technicolour dreamworld of Oz through the film’s cinematography. And, Costume Designer Paul Tazewell describes how he developed a ‘language of clothing’ to reflect the world and characters of Oz. The episode highlights the significant role that Hair and Makeup Design, Costume Design and Cinematography play in bringing the story of these two complex women to life. Listeners will get a glimpse into the artistry behind the film and the collaborative effort that makes Wicked both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. Wicked is in UK cinemas now, with part two coming next year. Let us know what you think on social media - tag Girls On Film and use the hashtag #WickedMovie. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 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. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Emma Butt House band: MX Tyrants This episode is in partnership with Universal Pictures © HLA Agency

    29 min
  6. Ep 186: Polite Society’s Priya Kansara on starting out, stunt doubles & stardom live from Exeter

    11/26/2024

    Ep 186: Polite Society’s Priya Kansara on starting out, stunt doubles & stardom live from Exeter

    Girls On Film brings you a live recording from the BFI’s Art of Action season at the Exeter Phoenix Cinema in Devon. Host Anna Smith is joined by Priya Kansara, star of the genre-blending feminist action film Polite Society. Following a screening of Nida Manzoor’s 2023 film, Priya discusses her lead role as Ria, a spirited young martial artist determined to stop her sister’s wedding with an audacious heist. She describes how, despite their different heritages, she instantly identified with the character of Ria, and revealed how she worked with Manzoor to put a personal spin on the film's more comedic scenes. Priya also discusses the reality of finding a stunt double when you’re a brown girl, calling for change in this area of the industry, as well as sharing some top tips for film industry newcomers to battle imposter syndrome. Listen to hear more! The conversation includes a post-screening Q&A with audience questions. This episode is part of Art of Action: Smash the Glass, a season that celebrates the women who have advanced action cinema both on and off-screen. The season is supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network with generous sponsorship from Packexe. To find out more about the BFI’s Art of Action season, and, for our UK listeners, to see which films are screening near you, visit the British Film Institute website below. The season is running from October to December 2024. https://www.bfi.org.uk/art-action Also in this week’s episode, Girls On Film is delighted to be celebrating our sixth birthday with the Female Film Club - a global members’ club specifically for women in film - who are turning four. Together we share 10 years in the industry, and to mark the occasion Female Film Club are opening up their networking space to Girls On Film listeners who work the film industry: They offer a completely free networking space designed to help you make meaningful connections within the industry and to network with other members. With thousands of members in their database, you’ll be joining a supportive community of creatives worldwide. With free membership, you’ll get access to the FFC app, direct messaging with fellow members, and exclusive perks like special events and industry opportunities. It’s a fantastic way to grow your network, build your skills, and get real support—some members have even landed jobs through it! https://female-film-club.mn.co/sign_up?bundle_token=e2f89f5961bbb9100aff796e6b36e50c&plan_id=479915&utm_source=manual” Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 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. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

    35 min
  7. Ep 185: The Importance of Women in Leadership at Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival

    11/07/2024

    Ep 185: The Importance of Women in Leadership at Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival

    In this special episode from the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, Anna Smith hosts a panel discussion on women in leadership within the film industry. In the third iteration of this panel, Anna is joined by three international industry leaders: Kirsty Bell, CEO of the Oscar-winning production company Goldfinch, international film publicity strategist Mia Farrell and Oscar-nominated producer Rebecca Pruzan. Together, they explore the pathways to landing leadership roles, the skills needed to thrive once there, and the shifting dynamics of gender and race in the film industry. Kirsty Bell shares her experiences starting Goldfinch as a family business and reflects on directing A Bird Flew In—the first film shot during the pandemic, which pioneered COVID protocols on set. She also highlights the importance of supportive men in her life, and how they’ve played a role in her career. Mia Farrell offers insights from her career as a publicist, discussing her passion for elevating films through strategic PR, as well as her advocacy for greater diversity in the industry. She tells the audience about the genesis of her impactful Screen Daily article, "Why are so few Black people in positions of power in the arthouse film PR sector?'”. Mia also shares her experiences working on The Dads, a heartfelt documentary on fatherhood and trans youth, directed by Luschina Fisher, and available on Netflix. Rebecca Pruzan discusses her transition from a career in IT and consultancy to becoming an Oscar-nominated producer. She reflects on the identity politics at play in producing her short film IVALU, highlighting the challenges of navigating cultural sensitivities in storytelling and discussing the reaction to the film on its festival journey. This episode is in partnership with Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival. You can find out more about the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival here: https://www.evolutionfilmfestival.com/tickets A reminder that you can read a transcript of our episodes on Apple Podcasts by clicking the ‘transcript’ option in settings in the episode description. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 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.x.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.x/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: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

    45 min
  8. Ep 184: Festivals special: Sea Change, BFI LFF and Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival

    10/16/2024

    Ep 184: Festivals special: Sea Change, BFI LFF and Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival

    In this festival special, Anna Smith island hops across some of the most unique film festivals of the season, taking listeners from Sea Change festival in Scotland’s Tiree to the London Film Festival before ending in Mallorca to hear about the upcoming Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival 2024. First, Anna reports from this year’s Sea Change Film Festival in the Inner Hebrides. She speaks with filmmaker Jeanie Finlay (Your Fat Friend, Seahorse) and festival-goers like Reclaim The Frame’s Melanie Iredale about their time at Scotland’s only annual festival dedicated to powering women in film. Next, she heads to the BFI London Film Festival to meet actor Deba Hekmat and writer Helen Simmons, whose film Last Swim has its premiere at this year’s festival. This coming of age drama tells the story of Ziba, a young woman who celebrates her A-Level results with friends while grappling with a personal secret. With Anna, Deba discusses the authenticity of the film’s dialogue, how it captured Gen Z sensibilities almost perfectly, and how she resonated with the character of Ziba. Helen reflects on working with a translator to capture an authentic Farsi that is spoken by Ziba and her mother in Last Swim, as well as speaking about the lack of representation of driven and intelligent young women in film. Anna also catches up with some friends of the podcast when she is out and about at LFF. Finally, it’s off to Spain for a preview of the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival. Anna sits down with festival director Sandra Lipski to discuss some of her feminist festival highlights. Sandra gives us an insight into the 2024 lineup, including the festival’s plan to welcome five time Academy Award-nominee Annette Bening to Mallorca's sunny shores. Films Mentioned: Last Swim (2024) Black Box Diaries (2024) Anora (2024) Conclave (2024) All We Imagine As Light (2024) Twiggy (2024) The Extraordinary Miss Flower (2024) Las chicas de la estación (2024) The Grifters (1990) The Outrun (2024) Endurance (2024) Emilia Perez (2024) Your Fat Friend (2023) Widow Clicquot (2024) Hoard (2024) Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer Our partners for this episode: Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival You can buy tickets for Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival from the 17th October 2024 via this link: https://www.evolutionfilmfestival.com/tickets Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter below: 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.x.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.x/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: Charlotte Matheson Intern: Anna Swartz Audio editor: Benjamin Cook House band: MX Tyrants © HLA Agency

    45 min
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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

Information

  • Creator
    Anna Smith
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    191
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Girls On Film

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