Girls On Film

In this bumper episode, Anna speaks to four film heavyweights from across the globe. From the head of a renowned London film studio to a top Hollywood magazine publisher, these women are leaders in their respective fields and join us to discuss their remarkable career trajectories.

Anna catches up with Dea Lawrence, the Publisher and Co-President of Variety, about how she is shaping the iconic publication’s future. She also welcomes Jen Smith, the CEO of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, to talk about improving the safety of creative working environments. And she takes a trip down memory lane with old friends Rebecca Hawkes and JoJo Dye, who are brimming with rollicking stories from their early years in Cannes. They also just happen to be Head of Elstree Studios and Director of the Global Entertainment Awards, respectively.

Get ready for a masterclass in film business as each of our guests offers golden advice, taken from illustrious, decades-long careers. They also discuss the importance of female friendships and name the legendary on-screen women that inspire them.

CIISA: https://ciisa.org.uk/

Elstree Studios: https://www.elstreestudios.co.uk/

JoJo Dye: https://jjdconsultancy.com/

Variety: https://variety.com/

Marilyn Monroe’s article, recommended by Jen Smith: https://www.marilynrememberedfanclub.com/article-marilyn-monroe-wolves-i-have-known/

Films mentioned: Imitation of Life (1959), Hello Dolly, St Trinian’s, The Misfits, Mommie Dearest, Gone with the Wind

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast

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Follow us on socials:
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/
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www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno

Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production.
Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Producer & Audio Editor: Elliana Jay Hamer
Social Media Producer: Dr Jade Evans
Production Assistant: Ruby Rose Bradshaw
House Band: MX Tyrants
Principle Partners: Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith
Thank you to Lilac Grove Entertainment for partnering with us on this episode.

© HLA Agency

This episode takes you right to the heart of the Girls On Film Awards 2026. The prestigious awards attract a glittering array of guests and shine a light on the remarkable achievements of women and non‑binary creatives across the film industry.
Hosted by Girls On Film co‑founders Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold, the evening unfolds with inspiring speeches, and conversations with standout guests, showing us once more what brilliant things we can achieve if we stand together and lift each other up.

Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: eepurl.com/iEKaM-/

Thanks to our wonderful presenters Ronni Ancona, Teanne Andrews, Sarah Niles, Lesley Sharp, Priya Kansara, Kerry Fox, Dame Twiggy Lawson, Hannah Onslow, Ita O’Brien, Col Needham, Maïwenn le Mouée, Blair Barnette, Meera Syal and Sally Phillips.

This episode also features Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, Autumn Durald Arkapaw ASC, Zoe Mutter, Andrea Riseborough, Idil Ahmed, Posy Sterling, Daisy-May Hudson, Nadia Fall, Suhayla El-Bushra, Nicky Bentham, Geeta Gandbhir, Jessie Buckley, Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́, Ann Akinjirin, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, John Maclean, Jon M. Chu, Tamara Deverell, Pippa Harris and Liza Marshall.

Thanks especially to the sponsors and partners who made the event possible:

CrewHQ
DISAUTHORITY
EON Productions
IMDb
Intimacy on Set

Andrew Jose Salon
Astella Jewellers
Curzon
Elstree Studios
Lilac Grove Entertainment
Netflix
Papa Salt Gin
Stephen Webster Jewellers

Deadline
British Cinematographer magazine
DDA Global

Ask Mummy & Daddy Gourmet Confectionery
Girls on Tops
WorkWise for Screen

Thanks to our production team:
Oli Fyne - Awards producer
Charlotte Homeshaw - Sound Recordist
Claudia Vyvyan - Digital Assets Designer
Richard Gay - Videographer
Adam Southgate - Videographer
Ciaran O'Brien - Gaffer
Joanne Davidson - Photographer

Thanks to each and every one of the volunteers who helped pull it all together on the night:

Anna Penney
Blair Barnette
Elliana Hamer
Hattie Morris
Heather Dempsey
Jade Evans
Jo Rogers
Ruby Rose Bradshaw
Tallulah Treadaway
Tom Oliver Tew
Yvonne Potter

Winners in order of appearance on the podcast:

Best Composer: Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch – H is for Hawk
Best Cinematography Sponsored by CrewHQ: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC – Sinners
Best Editing Sponsored by DISAUTHORITY: Olivia Neergaard-Holm – The Chronology of Water
Best Ensemble Cast: Goodbye June
Best Female Friendship on Screen: Brides and Lollipop
Best Documentary: The Perfect Neighbor (Geeta Gandbhir)
Best Performance in a Supporting Role: Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
Best Performance in a Leading Role: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Intimacy Award Sponsored by Intimacy On Set: Dreamers (Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́, Ann Akinjirin, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor)
Ally Award Sponsored by IMDb: Jon M. Chu – Wicked: For Good
Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell – Frankenstein
Best Director: Chloe Zhao – Hamnet
Best Feature Film Sponsored by EON productions: Hamnet
Activist Impact Award: Daisy-May Hudson

Commendations:
Best Composer – Nala Sinephro – The Smashing Machine
Best Documentary – Sadie Frost – Twiggy
Ally Award – John Maclean – Tornado

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
Follow us on socials:
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod
www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno
Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Credits:

Girls On Film is an HLA production.
Host: Anna Smith and Hedda Lornie Archbold
Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Awards Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold and Oli Fyne
Social Media Producer: Dr Jade Evans
Intern: Ruby Rose Bradshaw
Sound Recordist: Charlotte Homeshaw
Audio Editor Extraordinaire: Benjamin Cook
House Band: MX Tyrants
Principal Partners: Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith
Episode Sponsor: Lilac Grove Entertainment

© HLA Agency

In today’s on Girls On Film we’re unpacking The Perfect Neighbor - a powerful Netflix documentary that’s up for an Oscar and a BAFTA.

It investigates the shooting of Ajike Owens, a mother of four who was beloved in her tight-knit community in Florida. Owen’s neighbour shot her in 2023, after a years-long campaign of harassment that sewed division in their shared neighbourhood. Using police body-cam footage, the documentary pieces together the events that led to this tragedy and asks important questions about what enabled it to happen.

Anna sits down with its director and producer Geeta Gandbhir to talk about the making of this tough and urgent film, why its story needs to be brought to the screen, and how filmmaking like this can be a tool for social change.

This episode is in partnership with Netflix.

The Perfect Neighbor is on Netflix now.

Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email [email protected] to be signed up.

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
Visit https://www.girlsonfilm.org.uk/ for more information about the podcast.

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast

Follow us on socials:
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast

Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production.

Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Producer: Heather Dempsey
Intern: Ruby Bradshaw
Audio editor: Alex Jones
Host: Anna Smith
© HLA Agency

On today's Girls on Film we’re getting conspiratorial with COVER-UP - a BAFTA-nominated documentary following the career of investigative journalist Seymour Hirsch. He was an expert at exposing government corruption and scandal in the United States, and this documentary has exclusive access to him. Co-director Laura Poitras will be giving Anna the story behind the story of this thrilling film.

Laura has been three times Oscar nominated for My Country, My Country, All The Beauty and The Bloodshed, and Citizenfour—for which she won. Alongside her co-director Mark Obenhaus, she's putting another gripping story onscreen here. We talk career inspirations, the art of the expose, and how being underestimated can be a woman's secret weapon.

This episode is in partnership with Netflix.

Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email [email protected] to be signed up.

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast

Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno

Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production.
Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Producer: Heather Dempsey
Intern: Ruby Bradshaw
Audio editor: Alex Jones
Host: Anna Smith
© HLA Agency

This episode of Girls on Film is all about Frankenstein – and we’re ‘a-live’ onstage from our special Q&A screening of Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation with its Production Designer Tamara Deverell and costume designer Kate Hawley. Our host Anna Smith sits down with these two exceptionally talented female heads of department – both of whom have been BAFTA and Oscar nominated for their work on the film – to find out how they created this movie’s extraordinary visuals. It’s based on a classic tale, over 200 years old and first written by a teenage girl – the 18-year-old Mary Shelley. Del Toro’s new take has garnered 9 Oscar nominations and 8 BAFTA nominations. We’re giving you the low down from the women who helped bring it to life and up-to-date on the big screen. Plus they answer questions from you lovely Girls On Film listeners in our audience Q&A.

Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email [email protected] to be signed up.
Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno
Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
This episode of Girls On Film is in partnership with Netflix.
Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
Follow us on socials:
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod
www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno

Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production.
Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Producer: Heather Dempsey
Intern: Ruby Bradshaw
Audio editor: Jack Howard
Host: Anna Smith
© HLA Agency