4th Annual Lois Weber Film Festival Was A Hit
Mar 27, 2026
West Newton, MA | March 20–22, 2026
Women in film showed up, showed off, and asserted to the world why their stories matter at the 4th Annual Lois Weber Film Festival. Hosted for the first time this year at the amazing West Newton Cinema, the entire festival was nothing short of extraordinary.
Across three packed days, 18 official selections screened, representing an astonishing range of voices, genres, and visions. From a 105-year-old silent masterpiece to a World Premiere Documentary about a comedian and former Saturday Night Live star told in a hilarious and poignant way, this festival proved once again that women’s storytelling is simultaneously urgent, and absolutely stunning.
Here's a breakdown of the weekend:
Friday, March 20
Glamour, History, and a Community Experience that Binds Across a Century
Opening Night went HARD.
The night featured a truly elaborate Red Carpet celebration, including professional photography by Melanie Marhefka, Livestream Red Carpet Interviews by Yours Truly, a Networking Party, a special Board of Directors Showcase featuring the World Premiere of "Eviction" by Ashes Homon-Rahall and "Plasties" by Julia Tutko-Balena, and headlined by a rare silent film presentation of Lois Weber’s acclaimed feature "The Blot", with live music by talented accompanist Jeff Rapsis.
Guests arrived in stunning formal attire, toasted with champagne, and networked under the warm glow of a cinema that felt more like a home where film folks could nerd out freely and joyfully.
Festival President Gabrielle Rosson and Vice President Katie Killourhy introduced audiences to Lois Weber during "The Blot" screening, and one audience member described the experience as “like stepping back in time.” I couldn't agree more.
And what a time to step into!
Florence Lois Weber (June 13, 1879 – November 13, 1939) was an American director, screenwriter, producer and actress. She is identified in some historical references as among "the most important and prolific film directors in the era of silent films". Film historian Anthony Slide has also asserted, "Along with D. W. Griffith, Weber was the American cinema's first genuine auteur, a filmmaker involved in all aspects of production and one who utilized the motion picture to put across her own ideas and philosophies".
Weber produced a body of work which has been compared to Griffith's in both quantity and quality and brought to the screen her concerns for humanity and social justice in an estimated 200 to 400 films, of which as few as twenty have been preserved. She was among the first to experiment with sound in films, and one of the first directors to come to the attention of the censors in Hollywood's early years when she used full frontal nudity in one of her stories.
She was truly a very cool human.
You can read about her here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Weber
The entire night was a flurry of joy. This is a festival built by women who love film deeply and personally, not just professionally -- and it shows. (Pun intended.)
Saturday, March 21
Fresh Voices, Bold Stories, and a Shorts Block That Delivered
Saturday evening was a feast for the adventurous film lover. The Shorts Block (USA) opened at 5:00 PM with ten films spanning comedy, sci-fi, historical drama, documentary, experimental, and student work. The range was dazzling.
"Chore Wheel" by Rylie Field (Comedy, 5 min) kicked things off, followed by Sheila E. Schroeder’s "For All Humankind" (Comedy, 13 min), Sarey Martin’s "The Winemaker" (Sci-fi, 16 min), and Joy Shannon’s Rock Island Prison 1864 (Historical, 7 min). Then came "Over the Kitchen Table", a 22-minute documentary by Nisha Burton that clearly left an indelible mark on the audience (more on that in the awards section). Amanda Besl’s experimental "There Was" (5 min) and Lily Jones’ film noir student film "Veritas Obscura" (9 min) followed, with "BOT OR NOT" by Meghan Carrasquillo and Jadon Cal (Sci-fi, 20 min), Leslie Morris’ "Reminisce" (Drama, 12 min), and Christine Celozzi’s "FRANKSLIST" (Comedy, 14 min) rounding out the block.
“I couldn’t be happier to premiere my film Veritas Obscura at the LWFF,” said filmmaker Lily Jones. “I love how LWFF emphasizes collaboration and fellowship among women filmmakers, something that can be hard to find in the festival circuit.” That warmth and mutual support was palpable throughout the evening.
The Q&As after were exciting, as we're always eager to hear about how filmmakers made their projects and what geeky details they have to share :-)
The feature presentation block opened with "Queer Up The Details" by Anna Rose Ii-Epstein (LGBTQ, 8 min) before the night’s main event: "Riot in Bloom", directed by award-winning filmmaker Brett C. Levner of MTV and Comedy Central fame. Described as being made by a “female trifecta,” the film explores life after divorce with honesty and emotional depth that landed powerfully in the room. You can't have good comedy without a bit of drama, as life has both.
I loved the Q&A portion here, too, as we learned so much about how Levner made this amazing film with a razor-thin budget, friends, students, and a bunch of time. To know that something this good could be made with so few resources hopefully lights a fire of inspiration in all of us to get out there and use what we have instead of wishing for more.
Sunday, March 22
World Premieres, Local Talent, Panels, and Genuine Love
Sunday was pure electricity from the first frame to the final trophy.
The day opened at 1:00 PM with the world premiere of "Punkie", a raw, behind-the-scenes portrait of stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live star Punkie Johnson by Emmy-nominated producer Audrey Olsen.
Olsen’s black-and-white style pulled forward Punkie's multi-year journey in the comedy world, and the film earned a thunderous standing ovation. Olsen described the film as a personal exploration of identity, which resonated with the audience who definitely agreed with her. Olsen has every reason to be proud of its outcome. Johnson’s message to the crowd? “Stick to who you are and continue on. If you get lost, I hope you find your way.”
We are honored that we hosted the films World Premiere. And it's no wonder why the film won the Audience Favorite Award! (There was a QR code offered at every screening, and the votes were tallied right before the Awards Ceremony.)
The Massachusetts Shorts Block followed at 2:30 PM, and had five films representing the best of New England independent filmmaking: Sue Farina’s "Steeped In Denial" (Mockumentary, 7 min) (which was a 48 project!), Bridgette Cannell’s "Shift" (Horror, 8 min), "The Red Reina" by Nick Pithis and Sophia Ciampaglia (Western, 20 min), Rachel Thomas-Medwid’s "Dissection Day" (Thriller, 15 min), and "The Rewind" by Mikel Wisler and Diana Porter (Sci-Fi, 11 min). The range here — from horror to western to sci-fi — was a thrilling demonstration that Massachusetts filmmakers are kicking major butt when it comes to storytelling.
The Women in Film Panel Discussion at 3:30 PM featured filmmakers Michele Meek, Jodi Purdy, and Alecia Orsini, who shared insights into their careers and offered advice on how anyone can get started in filmmaking, moderated by Kim Douglas of Boston’s "Bold Like Her" podcast (which I actually was a fan of before this!)
The advice these career professionals offered to the crowd was practical, generous, and galvanizing. “Focus on what you want to create,” said Purdy. “If you don’t know what your passion is, go find it! Pursue your goals.”
Heck yes.
Then came the Genie Lamp Award Ceremony.
The festival’s awards span a range of categories — from Best Short Film and Best Feature, to Best Comedy, Best Documentary, Best New England Short, and the honor chosen by the Audience throughout the weekend -- the Lois Weber Spirit Award (which went to "Punkie" like I said).
The atmosphere was supportive and excited and genuinely fun.
The full list of winners is here:
Three days.
Eighteen films.
Live Interviews.
Networking Events.
And one resounding message: Women’s stories are essential, powerful, and worth celebrating.
The 4th Annual Lois Weber Film Festival isn't just honoring a legacy — it's building one.
Submissions for the 5th Annual LWFF open September 1, 2026 on FilmFreeway. Mark your calendars.
Sources
This blog post used my own personal experiences as well as information gracefully stolen from the following sources:
- "Why the Lois Weber Film Festival Matters More Than Ever" by Marielle Sabbag, published on Vocal Media (https://vocal.media/geeks/why-the-lois-weber-film-festival-matters-more-than-ever);
- the official Wikipedia entry for Lois Weber: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Weber
- the official Lois Weber Film Festival website, including the full 2026 festival schedule, film lineup, and awards page (https://loisweberfilmfestival.org);
- and the LWFF FilmFreeway page, where submissions for the 5th Annual LWFF will open September 1, 2026 (https://filmfreeway.com/LoisWeberFilmFestival).
