London’s Women and the World International Film Festival will wrap its second edition on November 12 with the screening of “Eleanor the Great,” Scarlett Johansson’s first feature as a director. The film stars Erin Kellyman, who will participate in a post-screening Q&A session. This event is organized in partnership with Sony Pictures Classics and will be moderated by Victoria Emslie, the British actor-producer behind the series *Primetime* and a member of the festival jury.
Emslie shared insights about the film, stating, “The film invites us to confront and sit in the messiness of loneliness, both in the present moment and through an intergenerational lens; and challenges the perceived risks of connection by letting ourselves be truly seen and known by others.”
The festival jury also includes notable industry professionals such as screenwriter Peter Straughan (“Conclave,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), actors Daniel Ings (“The Crown”), Tamara Lawrance (“The Silent Twins”), Diem Camille (“Alien”), and festival co-founder Ksenia Bugrimova.
Competition categories at the festival cover documentary, feature, short film, performance, and director awards. Additionally, the Women of Global Impact Awards honor filmmakers who address conflict and social change through their work.
Co-founder Mariia Vynogradova, who also hosts the Eurovision Song Contest, expressed her passion for the festival: “We truly love this festival with all our hearts because it’s about youth, sensuality, possibility, and social meaning. It reminds us why women’s voices in cinema matter more than ever.”
The event, held from November 6 to 12, began with the screening of Gar O’Rourke’s *Sanatorium*, Ireland’s Oscar entry. During the opening night, Lady Sophie Windsor presented the Women of Global Impact Award to Nicole Ansari-Cox for her advocacy work supporting displaced women around the world.
Ansari-Cox emphasized the importance of continued support for refugee women and filmmakers globally, stating, “We must continue to support refugee women and filmmakers everywhere, Iranian, Palestinian, Ukrainian, or any other. Whenever women rise, communities heal. This festival proves that art can be a bridge between pain and hope.”
Established in 2022 by Ukrainian producers through Talented U Limited—a London-based nonprofit connecting creative professionals across more than 12 countries—the Women and the World International Film Festival continues to celebrate and elevate female voices in cinema worldwide.
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/scarlett-johansson-eleanor-the-great-women-and-the-world-film-festival-1236573877/