We recently connected with Macee Binns and have shared our conversation below.
Macee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
Amidst the daily hustle of my full-time role as a Casting Director and Writer, I’ve authored several female-driven screenplays which garnered awards at various film festivals throughout the years. Yet, despite the glittering trophies, I couldn’t shake the feeling that a piece of this puzzle was missing, as these projects often faltered in securing funding and advancing into the development phase. After a considerable amount of reflection on the festival process, I quickly pinpointed the issue: the absence of credible industry representatives at these events genuinely committed to effecting change and seeking fresh projects for development in the film and television arena.
Harnessing my extensive network of Directors, Producers, and Studio Executives, cultivated through my casting career, the seed of launching my own women’s film festival began to take root. This vague notion, that sat tucked in the recesses of my mind, began to gain momentum during the recent writers’ and actors’ strikes, as I reflected on the systemic disparities within the entertainment industry. Determined to play my part as a catalyst for change in the industry, I vowed to create an inclusive and protected space, within the festival circuit, where underrepresented voices could thrive and expand their careers beyond mere accolades and trophies. A place where like-minded creatives can come together to foster working connections, celebrate their work, and advance their careers in a bold, fresh, unapologetic way.
With this mindset and a considerable amount of blood, sweat, and tears, the B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest was born. Fueled by determination and countless hours of dedication, B!tchFest emerged—a testament to resilience and the power of community. The festival promises to spotlight authentic minority-driven storytelling while providing a launchpad for underrepresented creatives to captivate industry professionals’ attention and propel their projects to new heights.
I initially envisioned a raw, edgy, and uniquely unapologetic festival for Women and LGBTQIA+ creators that would serve to fill a void in the market for underrepresented communities—a festival that refuses to play by the rules. And the response? Overwhelming!
What started as a leap of faith swiftly gained momentum, exceeding all of my expectations. With a stellar lineup of industry judges and media buzz, the inaugural B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest is now in full swing. And the submissions? Pouring in by the hundreds, affirming the need for such a groundbreaking event.
Join us on November 24th for a celebration like no other—the first annual B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest. It’s not just a festival; it’s a movement, a declaration of empowerment and solidarity. B!tchFest will continue to accept new submissions through July 15th, 2024, on the FilmFreeway platform. So please mark your calendars, submit your projects, and let’s make history together! 🎬✨
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Welcome to the 1st annual B!tchFest! At B!tchfest we’re not just breaking glass ceilings; we’re shattering them into a million pieces by unleashing the Power of Female and LGBTQIA+ Voices in Film and Television! Get ready for a cinematic celebration that’s more than just a festival; it’s a movement.
B!tchFest is an International Film Festival & Screenplay Contest on a mission to redefine the narrative by proudly showcasing the BEST Independent Films, Feature Films, Short Films, Documentaries, Animated Films, Music Videos, Pilots, Web Series, Screenplays, TV Scripts, and Stage Plays crafted by the most Badass Women and LGBTQIA+ Creators in the industry.
In a world where only 26% of key production roles belong to women and a mere 16% of major studio films feature LGBTQIA+ characters, B!tchFest is determined to rewrite the script. Join us for a whirlwind in-person Film Festival in the heart of Los Angeles, featuring empowering stories, fierce creativity, and unapologetic voices at the forefront of cinema.
By providing a platform for recognition, awards, and promotion, we aim to break barriers, amplify voices, and pave the way for a more inclusive entertainment industry for us all. Join us for a festival that goes beyond screenings—immerse yourself in panels, flaunt your creations to cheering audiences, walk the red carpet, and forge connections with leading industry trailblazers who share our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
B!tchFest is now open for submission on FilmFreeway, where filmmakers and writers can upload their work directly through the online portal and become part of a revolution that refuses to be silent. Welcome to B!tchFest—where Badass B!tches reign supreme!
Save the Date: November 24th – Can’t wait to see and celebrate with you there! 🎬✨
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Absolutely! My creative journey is deeply rooted in a passionate commitment to advancing the careers of women and the LGBTQIA+ community within the entertainment industry. I believe in the power of storytelling as a means of representation and empowerment. Throughout my career as a Casting Director, Writer, and Actress, I’ve witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers and inequalities faced by underrepresented voices and I have personally experienced imbalance as a female screenwriter trying to forge my own path in the industry. This realization fueled my determination to create meaningful change by launching the B!tchFest Film Festival & Screenplay Contest.
My ultimate goal is to provide a platform where these voices can thrive, where their stories can be celebrated, and where opportunities for career advancement are accessible to all. Through initiatives like the B!tchFest, I aim to foster a supportive and inclusive environment where filmmakers and screenwriters from diverse backgrounds can connect, collaborate, and showcase their talents on a global stage.
By amplifying the voices of women and the LGBTQIA+ community, I hope to challenge existing norms, break down barriers, and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable entertainment industry. This mission is not just a personal ambition; it’s a collective effort to redefine the narrative, empower marginalized voices, and create a more representative and diverse landscape for future generations of storytellers.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
When I was in the process of developing B!tchFest, I spent a lot of time debating the name and how it would be received by the general public. I worried that perhaps the name was too edgy and might deter some people from submitting to the festival. I asked several of my friends what they thought about the festival name, and they provided me with some pretty mixed reviews, to be honest. However, when I spoke to my dear friend, Director Brittany Falardeau, she gave me the best advice: not to care about what other people think because you’ll never be able to please everyone. She emphasized that the name perfectly matched my personality, my mission in life, and the festival strategy I’d initially envisioned when I first felt called to create a groundbreaking new film festival space. She encouraged me by reassuring me that the kinds of people who create the types of projects I’m looking for would love the concept, and those who find it offensive are NOT the type of people that I’d want to submit anyway. Ultimately, I wanted to create an empowering film festival for all the badass women and LGBTQIA+ creators in the industry to celebrate their achievements, so the B!tchFest name just felt like the perfect fit for me. Since assertive women in the workforce are often labeled as “bitches,” I decided to reclaim the derogatory term and use it as a tool of solidarity, support, and inclusion.
I’m so grateful that I took Brittany’s advice and went with the name and marketing plan for B!tchFest because I can’t tell you the number of women who have emailed, thanking me for creating a platform like this, where women and the LGBTQIA+ community can actively celebrate being the Badass B!tches that they are! Of course, I have also received my fair share of hateful emails, mostly from heterosexual men, expressing their disgust with the name. But it’s true, you can’t please everyone, and in the end, I’m thrilled to have created a platform for people who understand the overall mission of the festival to feel valued and celebrated.
It’s like what America Ferrera said in her now-famous Barbie monologue: “It is literally impossible to be a woman…You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men’s bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don’t even know.”
But here at B!tchFest, you can be the biggest badass b!tch of them all, and we will applaud you for it! I feel very fortunate to have been given a platform and the ability to create a space for just that – B!tches celebrating B!tches!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bitchfestla.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitchfestla/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554133202945
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/macee-binns
- Other: B!tchFest FilmFreeway Website: https://filmfreeway.com/BtchFestFilmFestivalandScreenplayContest