It seemed a no-brainer to celebrate International Women’s Day with Birds Eye View Film Festival on the eve of Kathryn Bigelow’s unprecedented win at the Oscar’s as the first ever female awarded Best Director – Birds Eye Film Festival supports talented female filmmakers, helping to address the shocking gender imbalance in the industry, highlighted by the fact that Bigelow’s win was such headline news.

Last night BEV put on a richly eclectic range of short films by aspiring women filmmakers, each director demonstrating a clear clarity of vision and a strong sense of confidence in their chosen craft.

Highlights for me included The Park by Destiny Ekaragha, about a trio of frustrated young men, all struggling with their own secrets and unable to share them with each other. This brilliantly observed piece featured sophisticated direction, sterling acting and held a delicate balance between the tension of the three narratives and the humour that characterised these young men and their relationship with each other. Kirran and the Hatchmaker by Amy Rose was also a personal favourite – an endearing and hilarious documentary about a thirteen year-old chicken breeder, whose unique personality and imagination was a joy to behold. Rose deftly managed to capture and celebrate the boy’s quirky humour rather than making him the object of ridicule or condescension.

I was moved, amused, enchanted and held in suspense across the evening. Above all however, I was inspired – by a group of dynamic young women making interesting and high quality work. It is clear that BEV has a keen eye for the next generation of leading filmmakers who are bound to follow in Bigelow’s footsteps, continuing to break more and more precedents!