Third Annual Lois Weber Film Festival Celebrated Female Voices

The ripple effect of a single conversation causes amazing things.

The third annual Lois Weber Film Festival took place at Arlington’s 100-year-old Capital Theater. Attending for the first time, the festival was a remarkable and inspiring celebration of an influential female filmmaker and a new generation of aspiring filmmakers.

Founded by Gabrielle Rosson, the festival celebrated underappreciated women in cinema history. The event had a great turnout. The festival takes place every March, and this year it just so happened to fall on International Women’s Day. It made the occasion all the more significant.

Rosson is an independent filmmaker of her own who was inspired by Lois Weber. “Never piss a woman off. We don’t get mad, we change the world,” Rosson declared. She wanted more people to learn about Weber and give recognition that’s been deprived. I love learning about films and filmmakers, but I am surprised that I knew very little about Lois Weber.

Shelley Stamp presented a lesson on the filmmaker in a well-crafted presentation. “Weber would be so delighted about this festival,” Stamp remarked. Weber was a filmmaker in the early 1900s who was ahead of her time and saw ideas in a different light, especially from the male perspective.

However, history has often overlooked her achievements. Her films tackled subjects concerning drug addiction, sexual assault, and abortion, conversations that were avoided at a conservative time. She was unafraid to use filmmaking for social change, demonstrating her ambitious mind.

I highly recommend that you research more about Lois Weber. Many people haven’t heard of Weber. There were female filmmakers at this time, but Weber was one of the first to begin a new generation of filmmaking. She has an exciting and inspiring story. Weber was a real leader who sparked inspiration for other female filmmakers.

Hypocrites, one of Lois Weber’s 1915 films was screened. Watching this film was like taking a step back in time. The film follows a preacher who unveils the truth about human duplicity (AKA The Naked Truth). In an era that didn’t depend on technology yet, the special effects and editing are very impressive. Weber used rare intricate techniques, like multiple exposures. I couldn’t stop saying ‘wow.’

This film was also controversial due to its nudity. Hypocrites was banned, sparking backlash in Ohio, New York, and, of course, Boston. This negative outlook on her film didn’t stop Weber from filmmaking. This ambitious film cemented Weber’s filmmaking career, helping her take it more seriously.

During the screening, Jeff Rapsis, a musician accompanied the film with a live piano performance. In its day, silent films didn’t have music. “Silent films are about big emotions,” he explained. “Without music, it’s not an experience.” His music heightened the film’s impact, drawing impeccable scores on the spot.

“Does (Weber) seem like the filmmaker we should forget?” Rossen announced to the crowd when the film concluded. An ovation of applause answered that question. “Let’s not forget!”

Beyond celebrating Weber, the film festival also dedicated time to showcasing short films in three separate blocks made by independent filmmakers.

This is what I love about film festivals. It’s a time for filmmakers to share their diverse array of styles, genres, and stories. Filmmakers shared the lightbulbs that motivated their inspiration. Audiences marveled at the films, laughing, applauding, and enjoying the stories. Films can be about anything.

The Lois Weber Film Festival was a day dedicated to the future of storytelling. It shined a light on Weber’s legacy and provided a space for emerging voices. It was an unforgettable day that I cannot wait to return to in years to come.