THE LIONESS - 225 FILM CLUB (2024
Background: The 225 Film Club was founded by Rita Osei, a London-born film director with a string of high profile credits to her name. Formed as a result of an email error copying in 225 female film directors, the 225 Film Club promotes female excellence in Film Direction.
The annual 225 Film Club Festival in December is a delightful celebration of female creative talent held at London's BFI on the Southbank; an evening screening of a shortlist of short films curated principally from open submissions.
An ArtCan Collaboration: Rita wanted to introduce a physical award into the annual festival; an award that would stand alone as a work of art. Enter Kate Enters, Rita's long term friend, female entrepreneur and founder of ArtCan, who are proud to sponsor the award. As an ArtCan artist with a catalogue of work showing the strength and power of the female form, I was privileged to be asked to meet with Rita to see if we could collaborate in the making of this work of art. It was a collaboration that was meant to be.
The Brief
The brief from Rita, as Festival Director, was clear but flexible enough to allow artistic interpretation.
The Lioness should celebrate excellence, divinity and the boldness of the female psyche.”
Steering away from a literal interpretation of the Lioness, I decided to use some of the qualities we might associate with that feline majesty.
A strong, female form, confident and sure in purpose, the stylised torso, which is rendered in copper and bronze, is akin to armour; a breast-plate for the army of women directors who, through the 225 Film Club, will be recognised for their outstanding vision and skill.
Look closer. The copper bronze tones and the textured surface take us back full circle to the pelt of our feline friend; the increased feathering of the lower limb suggesting that this torso might just be fluid in form, one leap away from landing her prey.
Our award went through various iterations and Rita's involvement and guidance in the making of this work was invaluable. Our final piece is a true celebration of the strength & power of the female form - a celebration of which I am proud to be a part.
Read more about the 225 Club, the award and the inaugural winner of the Best Short Film award, Yasmin Afifi in this article by Nina-Sophie Miralles in Forbes Magazine.