Dear Friends of Cinema Femme,

We are raising $5,000 to help launch our Fall Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre. Your support will directly fund festival staff, theater rental, and marketing materials, making this year's event possible.

This fall marks the 8th edition of our festival, and we're excited to continue championing underrepresented voices and breaking down barriers in the film industry. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, every contribution helps us expand our impact and create meaningful opportunities for filmmakers and audiences alike.

You'll find more information about our organization and this year's festival below. Thank you for being part of our community and for supporting our mission.

With gratitude,

Rebecca and the Cinema Femme Team

Our Mission

Cinema Femme is dedicated to championing female and gender-expansive filmmakers through our mentorship initiative, a vibrant community, and our flagship annual film festival at the historic Music Box Theatre. We empower the next generation of creatives by bridging the gap between emerging talent and industry professionals, utilizing our online and print publications to provide the validation and resources essential for building sustainable careers in film.

Our Festival

The Cinema Femme Short Film Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival emphasizing the importance of supporting emerging female and gender-expansive filmmakers and their voices. This year's edition of the film festival will take place October 11 - 13, 2026, at Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre, which was recently ranked among the top 10 greatest movie theaters in the world.

Our Team

Rebecca Martin Fagerholm - Executive Director

Rebecca Martin Fagerholm is the founder of Cinema Femme, and now holds the position of Executive Director NFP (June 2024). She founded Cinema Femme Magazine in 2018 with the purpose of shining a light on filmmakers and other artists in the industry who are underrepresented in our mainstream media, specifically women and gender-expansive people.

Over the years, she has hosted film screenings in Chicago, led panel discussions and Q&As, and as a film journalist has covered festivals like Sundance, Tribeca, the Chicago International Film Festival, and the Bentonville Film Festival.

Allison Torem - Programmer / Moderator

Allison Torem (she/her) is a filmmaker and actor from Chicago. As a writer-director, short film credits include the absurd satirical dark comedy Don’t Come Home Before Midnight, the grotesque, absurdist dark comedy ROAD HEAD, and the dramedy Essentials starring Austin Pendleton. Allison is inspired by artfully imagined, existential film and television in which the comedic value and elements of the ridiculous are inextricable from the vulnerability of the performances.

Aja Essex - Programmer / Moderator

Aja Essex is an eclectic arts manager, film programmer, and musician based in the Chicago area. She is a dedicated advocate for underseen cinema, an established event producer, and an active performing artist in the independent music scene.

Emily Jacobson - Programmer / Moderator

Emily Jacobson is a Chicago-based video editor and film critic. She has been passionate about movies since her mom first took her to an anniversary screening of E.T., which may have also kickstarted her fear of aliens. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s either watching basketball or looking for the best tacos in the city. Her favorite Chicago based film is Go Fish.

Cortlyn Kelly - Programmer

Cortlyn Kelly, Chicago-born and based, is a film and culture writer and avid baseball fan. Since the first grade, her approach to all endeavors is: “There is so much to learn.” During her time at the University of Chicago, she created The Art Idiot, which now lives on as an experimental criticism indie publication. In addition to regular contributions to RogerEbert.com and the Chicago Reader, she sits as the Co-Chair for the Black Harvest Film Festival Community Council, produces creative events and projects, goes for walks around Chicago, and giggles with her friends and family.

2026 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival

Help us make Cinema Femme's 8th Edition the best yet!