A new festival wants equality for women in extreme sports
- Text by Biju Belinky
If asked to imagine a skater, your mind would probably go to the one image that has been reproduced over and over again: A lanky American dude in his early 20s, clad in Thrasher and a pair of Vans. Unfortunately, hardly ever would your mind immediately veer towards the image of a girl on a board. It’d probably be the same when asked to think of a surfer, snowboarder or climber.
This need to challenge the underrepresentation of women in extreme sports was exactly the reason why the Shextreme Film Festival started. The first festival of its kind, it looks to celebrate and highlight the participation of women in the scene and promote equality – something that is long overdue.
The festival, now entering its third year, is the natural a physical extension of shextreme.tv – a website founded by Dr. Ruth Farrar. A sound artist, filmmaker and adventurer herself, she created the platform after deciding to take matters of representation into her own hands, setting out to empower female filmmakers in a scene that is still painfully male-dominated.
Shextreme Film Festival will be hosted in Bristol on October the 5th and 6th. During the two-day long event, visitors will be able to attend a film school looking to train next generation female creators, meet people in the industry and participate in discussions and of course, watch films made by women, about women.
Shextreme Film Festival takes place in Bristol from October 5-6. More information can be found on the official website.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
In the ’60s and ’70s, Greenwich Village was the musical heart of New York
Talkin’ Greenwich Village — Author David Browne’s new book takes readers into the neighbourhood’s creative heyday, where a generation of artists and poets including Bob Dylan, Billie Holliday and Dave Van Ronk cut their teeth.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
How Labour Activism changed the landscape of post-war USA
American Job — A new exhibition revisits over 70 years of working class solidarity and struggle, its radical legacy, and the central role of photography throughout.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Analogue Appreciation: Emma-Jean Thackray
Weirdo — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, multi-instrumentalist and Brownswood affiliate Emma-Jean Thackray.
Written by: Emma-Jean Thackray
Meet the shop cats of Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district
Feline good — Traditionally adopted to keep away rats from expensive produce, the feline guardians have become part of the central neighbourhood’s fabric. Erica’s online series captures the local celebrities.
Written by: Isaac Muk
How trans rights activism and sex workers’ solidarity emerged in the ’70s and ’80s
Shoulder to Shoulder — In this extract from writer Jake Hall’s new book, which deep dives into the history of queer activism and coalition, they explore how anti-TERF and anti-SWERF campaigning developed from the same cloth.
Written by: Jake Hall
A behind the scenes look at the atomic wedgie community
Stretched out — Benjamin Fredrickson’s new project and photobook ‘Wedgies’ queers a time-old bullying act by exploring its erotic, extreme potential.
Written by: Isaac Muk