J.J. Abrams Keynote Speaker at The Archer School for Girls 5th Annual Archer Film Festival

5/3/16 — Celebrities and entertainment industry professionals recently joined The Archer School for Girls in presenting the 5th Annual Archer Film Festival. Director and producer J.J. Abrams was the keynote speaker for the event. The Archer Film Festival is one of the only all-inclusive global high school events dedicated to empowering female filmmakers with the goal “not to exclude men, but rather to include women.” Young filmmakers submitted thousands of student-produced films from all over the world, and twenty of these films were screened at a pink carpet gala.

The Archer Film Festival’s mission is to feature young filmmakers who are working to increase the number of women in the film and television industry and to participate in the conversation about women’s representation onscreen. “The Archer Film Festival was created to encourage our student filmmakers, give them hands-on experience in the industry, and to help achieve gender parity in front of and behind the camera,” said Head of School, Elizabeth English. “Archer students have run with this idea, making the Festival their own and bringing exposure and attention to a problem that affects the way young girls see themselves and their place in the world.”