Leading FeMales

"Leading FeMales in Film" shines a spotlight on inspiring women as they share their career journeys and highlight the various challenges within the film industry. In collaboration with the Müller-Möhl Foundation, the Zurich Film Festival invites guests to an exclusive lunch event to explore the current film landscape from the diverse perspectives of female voices.

Gender equality, the promotion of women, and the balance between work and family life are key priorities for the Müller-Möhl Foundation (MMF). Through its taskforce4women, the MMF is actively involved in society, business, politics, science, culture, and the media. Until 2019, the MMF made a significant impact at the Zurich Film Festival with its "Women of Impact" event. This evolved into the successful "Leading FeMales in Film" format, a partnership with the Zurich Film Festival. Together, we bring women and men from the film industry to the stage to discuss opportunities and challenges, particularly for women.

Leading FeMales 2024

Crafting stories against all odds: The challenge of female filmmakers. This year, we shine a spotlight on women directors as they share their personal approaches to tackling tough topics and overcoming difficult filming conditions in documentaries. We'll also highlight those working with complex female characters in narrative films. Additionally, a producer will offer insights into the unique challenges of bringing these projects to life. Together, we’ll explore how the art of filmmaking has shaped and influenced their self-perception as artists.

Lina Vdovîi

is an award-winning independent reporter from the Republic of Moldova, based in Romania. Lina is experienced in investigative and narrative journalism and new media. Her articles have been published in major national and international outlets, such as The Guardian, Al Jazeera, EU Observer, among many others, and her work has been nominated for the European Press Prize.

Lina started her filmmaking career producing news and documentaries for the national German television broadcaster ZDF. She was the screenwriter for the feature documentary ACASA MY HOME (Sundance 2020). TATA is her feature directorial debut.

Maria Brendle

is a multi-award-winning director and screenwriter. In 2022, she received an Academy Award® nomination for her short film ALA KACHUU - TAKE AND RUN and has since been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Maria holds a Bachelor's degree in Film from the Zurich University of the Arts, as well as a Master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from the Academy of Neuroscience (aon) in Cologne. She is also a graduate of the Munich Screenplay Workshop.

Her powerful, character-driven films, which tackle challenging societal issues and explore complex female characters, have been highly praised by critics and earned her numerous awards at major international film festivals. FRIEDA'S CASE is her feature film debut.

Valentina Castellani-Quinn

produced several Academy Awards candidate films, internationally recognized and distributed. She won the prestigious US CONGRESS AWARD, The HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD, the English WIFTS Award as a “Visionary Producer” together with Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel and actress Gal Gadot. Castellani has been a speaker at at many International Organizations, including, The US Congress, United Nations, UNESCO, The YPO/Young President Organization, and a number of International Universities. In 2022 seh was awarded with The Books for Peace/UNESCO Award, The International Academie Diplomatique Pax et Salus Award, and she received the Women Empowerment Global Forum Award, together with Mrs. Michelle Obama. Castellani received the English W.O.H.A Award in November 2023, London UK, for her leadership and achievements as an International Producer and spokesperson .Currently she is producing a Documentary about the meaning of Democracy now-days.

Waad Al-Kateab

is an acclaimed Syrian filmmaker, journalist, and activist, known for her powerful documentaries that explore the human toll of war, displacement, and resilience. She gained international recognition with her BAFTA-winning and Academy Award-nominated documentary For Sama (2019), which chronicled her life in Aleppo during the Syrian uprising.

Waad is also the co-founder of the "Action For Sama" campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Her second film, We Dare to Dream (2023), premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and spotlighted refugee athletes competing in the Olympic Refugee Team. Her latest documentary, Death Without Mercy (2024), premiered at Sheffield DocFest and examines the devastating impact of the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria. A refugee in London, Waad has been honored with numerous accolades, including a place in the 2020 Time100 list and the 2021 Academy Gold Fellowship for Women