BRADIFF @ WOMEN X 2025

In 2025 I had the incredible opportunity to attend Women X Film Festival in Darlington. Read below to find out more about Women X and my favourite film festival picks!

About Women X

Women X Film Festival is a celebration of bold, original storytelling by women and non-binary filmmakers. Across 3 days in Darlington, we’ll host film screenings, Q&As, workshops, and panel discussions all designed to inspire, connect, and entertain. Nestled in the North of England, we're all about spotlighting the incredible talents of women and gender nonconforming filmmakers, bringing their diverse and groundbreaking stories to the big screen.

Women X was such an incredible festival to attend, the atmosphere throughout the weekend was so joyful! Seeing the carefully curated programmes and the passionate teams that put them together made each screening unique and interesting. The festival team have created such a welcoming environment, from the craft activities, quizzes and engaging q&a sessions. I can’t wait to see the future iterations of Women X, consider it pencilled into my diary for the foreseeable future!

Festival Highlights:

In Conversation with Women of the Lens Festival

Caris Rianne (Women X Festival Director) led such an interesting industry talk with Jennifer G. Robinson (Women of the Lens Festival Director) and Laurelle Jones (Women of the Lens Festival Producer). As someone starting out in the film festival world, this was such an interesting talk to attend, where they offered advice for both filmmakers submitting to film festivals, as well as event planners who want to curate their own festivals! Both Women X and Women of the Lens are wonderful creative environments for filmmakers to showcase their work, and I can’t wait to follow their work!

Favourite Films:

Hot Mess

Director: Tortor Smith | Writer: Tortor Smith | Producer: Tortor Smith

“An insight into ADHD in a compact and creative way, highlighting the damage and anxiety that can be caused by a well-meaning, but ultimately toxic, parent”.

The Pilgrimage

Director: Chakira Alin | Writer: Chakira Alin | Producer: Hannah Samuel-Ogbu, Maya Nurmohamed

“A group of Muslim teens from London have to pose as Christian when they sign up for the local church’s annual Bible study camping trip to Devon”.

The Eating of an Orange

Director: May Kindred-Boothby | Writer: May Kindred-Boothby

“In a large manor house identical figures eat the same, move the same, look the same. But everything will change for one woman when she gets given an orange by an unknown figure”.

Laura Atkinson

BRADIFF Festival Coordinator