Rebecca Martin Fagerholm

Dear friends of Cinema Femme,⁠ ⁠ The content we create has always been what I’m most proud of — from our interviews and reviews to the short films we showcase at our festival. Supporting bold, independent voices in film has always been at the heart of our mission.⁠ ⁠ We’ve now reached the midway point of our Kickstarter campaign, and without additional donations soon, we may not reach our goal.⁠ ⁠ If you believe in supporting physical media, independent film criticism, and emerging female and gender-expansive voices in cinema, we would deeply appreciate your support.⁠ ⁠ Please consider donating and learning more:⁠ /projects/rebeccafagerholm/cinema-femme-the-magazine⁠ or⁠ https://bit.ly/kickstartercinemafemme⁠ ⁠ Through this campaign, we are working to stabilize and expand Cinema Femme into a sustainable national platform. Our plans include:⁠ ⁠ ✨ A focused two-issue annual print model⁠ ✨ Stronger digital infrastructure⁠ ✨ Paid support for contributors⁠ ✨ Expanded membership growth⁠ ✨ Long-term distribution planning⁠ ⁠ Thank you so much for supporting independent film journalism and community-driven cinema spaces.⁠ ⁠ — Rebecca Martin Fagerholm⁠ Editor in Chief, Cinema Femme magazine⁠ Executive Director, Cinema Femme NFP⁠ ⁠ #CinemaFemme #IndependentFilm #FilmCriticism #FilmJournalism #PhysicalMedia

Something I learned from someone I met at @ebertfest is that when you speak in front of a group of people, don’t focus on what comes out of your mouth, focus on what you can give. It’s like an offering in a way. I feel so grateful to have shared a stage with talented actors who do that every day. Thank you @whitecitycinema for inviting me to moderate a discussion representing @cinemafemme_community , on your latest film, #Hekla, on opening night no less. Elizabeth Stam personifies exuberance and what it means to be an artist. The film is deeply moving and impactful. Truly such an amazing experience, and #Hekla is a very special film. @elizabethstam , you are my hero 💓 #IndependentFilm #actorslife #chicagofilm @brookelynhebert

Happy Mothers’ Day to all the mothers, and that includes the doggy and kitty mamas too 💓 @taryn_stickrath_hutt I need a photo of you and Marigold 🌼 and @jessobis with your pup for next year🐶 #mothersday

The 40th Birthday tour for @mattfagerholm continues with #SOI26 🎉 My childhood dreams come true 💓✨⛸️ Thank you Mike and Allison for the gift 💓

Took a much-needed retreat to Michigan to see my parents, plus a couple of days back home in Chicago 💓 Feeling so grateful for their love and support—and for my husband @mattfagerholm 💓 Spending time at my home away from home, @musicboxchicago , was especially healing—getting to see “The Adventures of Prince Achmed” (1926) by Lotte Reiniger, brought to life with live harp and guitar accompaniment by @isabelleoliviermusic and son ✨ Sometimes you just need to reset. It’s so important to pause when life throws a lot at you all at once 💓

Happy Birthday @haroularose 💓 Thank you for being such a great support to me and @cinemafemme_community 💓 Hope it’s a great day 🎉 🎂

It’s not too late to join us tomorrow—we still have a few spots left! @taryn_stickrath_hutt is an incredible workshop leader. I’ve been part of another group with her this year—GYST (aka Get Your Shit Together)—and it’s been such a motivating experience. I started the year thinking I might try playwriting, inspired by a performance at @rivendelltheatre , and now I’m halfway through my first play. If you’re an aspiring screenwriter or a filmmaker working on a new project, we’d love to have you join us. Check out the link below—address and details to follow! /schedule/69d816c46190f8f5c17781e2 #screenwriting #filmmaking #playwriting #creativecommunity #writersofinstagram

“There are films that ask you to watch, and there are films that ask you to listen—not just with your ears, but with your body. “More Beautiful Perversions” belongs firmly to the latter. It doesn’t unfold in a straight line so much as it seeps, roots, and breathes. You don’t follow it as much as you wander into it.” Happy 🌍 Day 😍 seek out @bubalala “More Beautiful Perversions” Read my review: /2026/04/16/femme-film-series-april-2026/ @futureoffilmisfemale #earthday2026

Grateful to @oldfilmsflicker for inviting me to speak (and yes, ramble a bit) about one of my all-time favorite films, @chronologyofwater 🎬✨ at @facetschicago today. Marya is doing a phenomenal job curating essential work to screen to at this venue, and you can catch “Chronology of Water” three more times during its run at Facets! Even more special to share space and amplify the incredible work of @cinemafemme_community 💓 Submissions are now open for our 8th edition—can’t wait to see your stories. Submit here: filmfreeway.com/cinemafemme #FilmCommunity #IndieFilm #cinemafemmeshortfilmfest #FilmFestival #CallForSubmissions

Last night was amazing 🤩 Grateful to @futureoffilmisfemale for bringing @bubalala ’s “More Beautiful Perversions,” to Chicago alongside Cinema Femme Short Film Fest alum Hannah Schierbeek’s (@primamateriapictures ) short “A Black Hole near Kent County. @cinemafemme_community was so happy to be a media partner! These films feel especially vital right now—reminding us of what’s natural, regenerative, and rooted in growth. Freedom is something we can take for granted, but this experience felt like a true expression of it. Thank you @thejenniferreeder for the thoughtful questions, and @mxleemoss for the introduction to Caryn 💓 🌎 💓💚 🌳 🌲 ✨ #FutureOfFilmIsFemale #CinemaFemme #WomenInFilm #IndependentFillm QueerCine

Creating space… I’m proud to share that I’m now working full-time as Executive Director of @cinemafemme_community Making the leap didn’t happen overnight. It took a weekend of slowing down—journaling, meditating, and yes, watching a few films—to really listen to myself. When you give yourself that kind of space, what’s holding you back starts to become clear. For me, it was the reality of trying to give my organization only half of my energy while balancing a day job and everything else life demands. It was exhausting—and it was impacting my ability to think critically and lead effectively. After a full year of running a nonprofit—making mistakes (necessary ones), learning constantly, and gaining a deeper empathy for fellow Executive Directors—I see things differently now. Leadership is complex, and meaningful change starts at the top (including me). I’m energized by what’s ahead. Coming up in April: • Kickstarter launch for Cinema Femme Magazine @taylorkshaw • Film submissions open for Cinema Femme Short Film Fest (April 3) • Partner event with @futureoffilmisfemale at @facetschicago (April 7) • Member meet-up (April 9) • Media partnership for @chronologyofwater screenings at @facetschicago (beginning April 11) @oldfilmsflicker • Webinar kickoff with @katietronlikesthis of @festivalformula (April 22, free for members) • SXSW coverage highlighting women and gender-expansive filmmakers #CinemaFemme #NonprofitLeadership #WomenInFilm #GenderExpansive #FilmCommunity

I won’t leave your cake in the rain 🎂 🌧️ Love you forever, can’t wait to share this new decade with you 💓 Happy 40 @mattfagerholm 🎉 Let’s #alysaliu it up today ⛸️✨🫶