In this episode of The Reel Girl's Club, I sit down with Writer & Director Rosie May Bird Smith to talk about her brilliantly surreal short film Egg Timer - a dark comedy that turns the pressure of the biological clock into a bold, hilarious, and chaotic cinematic experience.

Rosie shares how the idea came to life, her process for creating eye-catching practical effects, and how she used humour and absurdity to explore deeper personal themes about womanhood and fertility.

We also dive into her beginnings as a director of commercials, writing to briefs and creating treatments for brands such as Andrex, Asda, Durex and Muller Light, finding your creative voice as a filmmaker and much more.

In this episode:

• The inspiration behind Egg Timer
• Why surrealism and comedy are powerful tools for female storytelling
• Behind-the-scenes details from the film's production
• How to use your creative voice while working to a brief for huge brands

Whether you're an emerging filmmaker, a film lover, or just someone who's ever felt "the clock ticking", this conversation, and Rosie's film Egg Timer is just for you.

For more information, find Rosie's website here: Rosie May Bird Smith

Production company: Biscuit Filmworks - Rosie May Bird Smith

Rosie's Instagram: Rosie May Bird Smith (@rosiemaybirdsmith) • Instagram photos and videos

Egg Timer Instagram: Egg Timer (@eggtimerfilm) • Instagram photos and videos

Rosie's Vimeo: Rosie May Bird Smith - Director & Screenwriter

Rosie's IMDb: Rosie May Bird Smith - IMDb

Rosie's LinkedIn: Sign Up | LinkedIn

Directors Notes: Egg Timer by Rosie May Bird Smith // Comedy // Directors Notes

In this episode of The Reel Girls Club, I'm joined by Swiss/French Writer & Director, Julie Magnaudet, whose work shines a light on the complexities of women's lives. With a background in both writing and filmmaking, Julie brings a sharp eye for storytelling that blends intimate character work with broader social themes,

Her latest short film, The Contraception Fair - produced by Candid Broads Productions - offers a witty yet poignant look at contraception, autonomy, and the cultural narratives that shape women's choices.

In honor of World Contraception Day, Julie shares the inspiration behind the project, her creative process as a writer and director, and the importance of telling stories that challenge stigma and spark conversation.

It's an engaging discussion about cinema, reproductive rights, and the power of women behind the camera,

Learn more about Julie's work here: juliemagnaudet.com

Watch The Contraception Fair trailer here; The Contraception Fair — Candid Broads Productions

In this episode of The Reel Girl's Club, I'm joined by Canadian-Italian, filmmaker, writer and creative producer Issabella Orlando, to explore her stunning short film, Topos - a poetic reflection on place, heritage, and the archeology of identity.

Blending ancient myth with visual storytelling, Topos meditates on what it means to be rooted in a place, to inherit memory, and to make art that honors cultural lineage.

Issabella and I discuss how material culture, language and sound shape narrative - and how a short film can carry deep emotional and historical weight. We also touch on Issabella's background in Classics and archeology, and her broader vision for storytelling that bridges the past with the present, and much more.

You can discover more of Issabella's work here and here.

In this special bonus episode, I'm joined by Oscar-nominated (The Edge Of Democracy) filmmaker Petra Costa to discuss her powerful new documentary Apocalypse In The Tropics, now streaming on Netflix.

The film explores the rise of evangelical power in Brazilian politics and the erosion of democracy through a deeply personal lens. Petra shares the story behind the making of the film, her creative process, and what it means to document history in real time.

A short but essential conversation with one of the most fearless voices in contemporary documentary filmmaking today.

Watch Apocalypse In The Tropics on Netflix here

Disclaimer: This conversation includes discussion of religion and its role in politics.

In this episode, I sit down with multidisciplinary talent, Ella Dorman-Gajic, English-Serbian writer, performer, and filmmaker - to explore her powerful short film Back of the Net, a multi-award-winning short film directed by Klara Kaliger and written by Ella Dorman-Gajic.

Back of the Net is more than just a sports film - it's a moving portrait of girlhood, power, and persistence and is the perfect film to see right now as excitement builds in the run up to the Women's Euros in July!

Synopsis: 'Maya, a passionate young footballer, is given an opportunity that could offer her the future she’s always dreamed of. But now, the one person who inspired her pursuit of this dream, her grandmother, is the only thing holding her back. A heartfelt, bitingly human story of care, female aspiration and the evolution of women’s football in a male-dominated world.'

It has been selected for 20+ film festivals globally (including BAFTA and BIFA-accredited festivals) and picked up 5 awards, including ‘Best Screenplay’ (at Healdsburg International Festival, judged by Tom Waits) and ‘Youth Jury Prize’ (at Women X Festival).

It stars Ella herself, and Maureen Casey alongside Emmy-nominee Tom Goodman-Hill. It is Executive Produced by Lewes Depot Cinema, Declan Lowney (director of TED LASSO), Sandro Monetti, Football scholar Jean Williams, Rob MacDonald, Sushant Sharma Bhattarai, Ella Dorman-Gajic.

We dive into the inspirations behind the project, the creative process from script to screen, and the deeply personal themes it tackles - from identity and belonging to resilience on and off the pitch.

Ella shares insights into her journey as a storyteller, the importance of platforming underrepresented voices in British film and advice for aspiring writers and creatives alike. We also unpack the challenges and joys of blending poetry, performance, and activism through visual storytelling.

You can review Back of the Net on Letterboxd HERE.

For more information about Ella's work, visit her website HERE.

KEY DATES mentioned in the podcast:

4th-6th July: 'Off The Chest' poetry performance during the 'Love Supreme Festival'

7th July: Poetry headline performance at 'Everything Poetry Night'

19th July: LA Premiere, Lumiere Cinema Beverly Hills

27th July: Screening at Lewes FC, including match and screening of Women's Euro Finals

In July (TBA): Online premiere of Back of the Net during the Women's Euro Finals

In this special bonus episode, I'm joined by directors and writers, Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, from the US, to discuss their powerful new documentary 'COMPARSA', which will be premiering at the Sheffield DocFest 2025.

Set in Ciudad Peronia, Guatemela, the film follows sisters Lesli and Lupe, whose activism is ignited by the 2017 fire at a state-run children's home that killed 41 girls - a tragedy emblematic of Guatemala's wider crisis of gender-based violence. Told through the eyes of young women who have survived and endured, Comparsa captures a powerful journey of healing and resistance. Through music, dance, and collective protest, Lesli & Lupe lead their community in reclaiming space, voice, and dignity.

The filmmakers share how they approached this deeply sensitive story, the role of creative collaboration, and what it means to bear witness to the strength of girls rising up.

Comparsa premieres at the upcoming Sheffield DocFest on the following dates:

Sat 21 June 20:45 - 22:24

Curzon - Screen 1

English Subtitles Throughout

Q&A with directors Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, and protagonists Marta Chicoj, Lesli and Lupe Perez. Moderated by Mathy Selvakumaran.

Sun 22 June 12:45 - 14:24

The Light - Screen 9

English Subtitles Throughout

Q&A with directors Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, and protagonists Marta Chicoj, Lesli and Lupe Perez. Moderated by Amy Bryant.

To book your tickets, follow the link HERE.

Disclaimer: the sound drops out at 1:44 (the word intended was 'teenagers'), at 3:18 (word: seamstress) and again at 8:11.

In this special bonus episode for the Sheffield DocFest, I sit down with UK-based filmmaker and writer, Jessi Gutch to talk about her deeply personal and beautifully crafted documentary, Blue Has No Borders.

Set in the port town of Folkestone, the film explores themes of migration, identity, and community through a hybrid documentary style that blurs the lines between filmmaker and subject, observer and participant. Jessi reflects on the power of collaborative storytelling, the emotional complexity of borders - visible and invisible - and the importance of vulnerability and humour in her creative process.

Synopsis: 'A young filmmaker is determined to know her neighbours in the port town of Folkestone. But in the aftermath of Brexit, building new relationships isn’t easy. In Folkestone, which refugees attempt to reach from France on a daily basis, tensions are rife. Old traditions die hard, voices struggle to be heard and the notion of British identity is regularly asserted and contested. In the face of mounting pressure, Jessi Gutch sets out to do the unthinkable: seek common ground. Honest conversations with six people, grappling the divisions surrounding race, class and politics, give way to a rumination on how make sense of our present moment, in spite of all the uncertainty and fear. An ode to participatory filmmaking and forging messy friendships in your own backyard, Blue Has No Borders illustrates how spending time with people from all walks of life is in itself an act of hope.'

Blues Has No Borders will be screening for the Sheffield Doc Fest on the following dates:

Fri 20 June 21:00 - 22:47

Showroom - Bertha DocHouse Screen 3

Audio Description (AD)

Q&A with director Jessi Gutch, and protagonists Heba Arab and Neil Jones. Moderated by Joan Parsons.

Sat 21 June 10:15 - 12:02

Curzon - Screen 3

Audio Description (AD), Descriptive Subtitles (Open Captions)

Q&A with director Jessi Gutch, and protagonists Dita Garbo and Josie Carter. Moderated by Dan Weldon.

Sun 22 June 15:30 - 17:17

Curzon - Screen 2

Audio Description (AD)

Q&A with director Jessi Gutch. Moderated by Hope Cook.

Don't miss your chance to experience this powerful documentary film on the big screen!

To book your tickets, click HERE

You can follow Jessi on Instagram @jessi_gutch

Please subscribe, share and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode and follow @reelgirlsclub on Instagram for updates, behind-the-scenes content and more.

Disclaimer: Apologies for the imperfect sound, all is recorded over Zoom. Furthermore, I mention the Sheffield Doc Fest screenings in the interview, which had actually not yet happened at time of recording :)

From Cosmopolitan to the Cutting Room: Louise Ford on Editing Robert Egger's Vision

In this episode, I sit down with UK-born, NYC-based, Louise Ford, A.C.E., a dynamic creative force whose career journey has taken her from the fast-paced world of magazine journalism as a former Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan UK to the immersive realm of film editing - where she's become a trusted collaborator of visionary director Robert Eggers (Nosferatu, The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman).

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Louise transitioned from print media to film post-production
• What it's like editing for a filmmaker known for his atmospheric intensity and historical precision
• The creative and technical challenges of cutting films like Nosferatu
• Her approach to storytelling through editing - and why rhythm, intuition, and trust are everything
• How she collaborates with directors and maintains her creative voice
• Advice for aspiring editors and her own inspirations in film editing
• ... and so much more!

Whether you're a filmmaker, editor, or just a lover of behind-the-scenes movie magic, Louise offers insight, honesty, and wisdom about the art of shaping a story frame by frame.

Tune in and be inspired by a career that proves reinvention is not only possible - it can lead to your most fulfilling work!

In today's episode of the podcast, I'm joined by Oscar, BAFTA, Critics Choice & Emmy nominated (and Emmy winning!) set decorator, Regina Graves, the creative mind behind the richly detailed world of A Complete Unknown, The Irishman, Fallout and other major film productions. Regina is US-born & NYC-based.

From her early days as an interior design student, to becoming a set decorator on one of the biggest films in the awards circuit this year, Regina shares her fascinating journey, the craft behind recreating historically authentic sets, and how she goes about finding the perfect pieces to decorate a film set.

In this episode, you'll learn;

• How Regina & her team recreated Bob Dylan's NYC apartment in A Complete Unknown
• The behind-the-scenes stories of sourcing authentic furniture, props, and materials
• How she builds a visual narrative across different time periods
• The inspiration and influences behind the sets of The Irishman
• ...and much more!

Whether you're a film buff, a budding set decorator or production designer, or just curious about what makes a movie come to life, this episode offers a rare look into the behind the scenes of set decorating.

Disclaimer: I keep referring to decorating as designing in this episode, so just know the majority of the time, I meant decorating! ;)

In this bonus episode of The Reel Girls Club, I dive into the hauntingly beautiful short film Diary of a Ghost, directed by Caroline Hajny and written by Maren Koenigs. The film, which stars Genevieve Chenneour, Mia Rodgers, and Alfie Noble, explores love, loss, and grief with a deeply atmospheric and evocative approach.

I'm joined by director Caroline Hajny and actor Alfie Noble for an insightful conversation about the creative process behind bringing this poignant story to life. They discuss how they captured the film's unique atmosphere, the challenges of telling such an intimate and emotional story, and what makes Diary of a Ghost such an important story to tell.

You'll learn about:

• How Caroline Hajny and Maren Koenigs found the perfect cast for the film.
• The process behind capturing the film’s rich atmosphere, and the artistic decisions made to evoke such a strong emotional response.
• Insights from Alfie Noble on his role in the film and the experience of working on such a moving project.

Tune in to hear all about this incredible short film and the talented women leading the charge behind it.

CherryPick Presents:

Event: Screening & Panel Discussion: Actors On Acting

An intimate screening of the short film Diary Of A Ghost followed by a Q&A with SAG-nominated actress Genevieve Chenneour (Bridgerton), Alfie Noble (Witness For The Prosecution) and Mia Rodgers (The Sex Lives Of College Girls) hosted by presenter and actress Zainab Jiwa.

07 April 2025

Clos Up Cinema London

doors: 5.30pm

start: 6pm

Follow @ReelGirlsClub on Instagram for more updates & content.