Stephens College : Fem Film

Fem Film Directors Bios

Kerri Yost, a Stephens College professor, is a documentary filmmaker who consciously focuses on documenting her local community in the belief that Midwest towns often reveal fascinating stories. In her documentary “Neither Here Nor There,” she chronicles the struggles of the Selimovic family, whom she met as their case worker. She previously taught ESL to Bosnian refugees in London during the Balkan War, and worked for the Soros Foundation as an educational consultant.

Barbara Wiener, president of TVbyGIRLS, has worked 24 years in film, television, theater and education. Her award-winning work has been seen throughout the world in film festivals, international and American Public television broadcasts, and educational venues. She won a Midwest Emmy for her film “Delafield,” a documentary that follows the closing of a church in Delafield, Minn., and the changing lives of farming communities. Her documentary “Hun Qiao: Bridge of Souls” was created in collaboration with the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota and examines issues of remembrance and reconciliation around World War II in Asia.

Tricia Brock, a Columbia, Mo., native, has directed for such network television programs as “The L Word,” “Huff” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” She wrote and directed the independent film “Killer Diller,” which was shot in mid-Missouri and released last year. During her more than 20-year career, Brock has produced and written for “Family Law” and “Twin Peaks.”

Jennie Livingston directed the award-winning feature-length documentary “Paris Is Burning,” a fascinating and moving look into the world of New York African-American and Latino homosexuals who express their feelings about being forced to live on the fringe of society, by holding elaborately staged drag balls and “vogue,” a stylized dance rivalry. The film earned “Best Documentary” awards at the Sundance Festival and from the Los Angeles Film Critics. Her recent work includes the short films “Who’s The Top?” and “Through The Ice.” “Who's the Top?” premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2005, and has since played at 70 film festivals worldwide. It stars Marin Hinkle (of the TV shows “Two and Half Men” and “Once and Again”), Shelly Mars (“Virgin Machine,” “The Dark Matter of Mars”) and Steve Buscemi (“Fargo,” “Big Fish”) and features the choreography of Tony-nominee John Carrafa. “Through the Ice” was made for the WNET-New York show Reel New York and premiered on that PBS station last June. In January, its film festival premiere occurred at Sundance.

Jennifer Farmer led a successful 10-year career as a script supervisor in film and network television before beginning her career as a film and television director. Her debut film, “Pumpkin Man,” is a charming and meaningful coming-of-age story. Through the mystery and magic of Halloween, a young man discovers that his world is not going to come to an end simply because his parents are going through a divorce. “Pumpkin Man” has won numerous awards and certificates of honor including the prestigious Dove Award for excellence in family programming. Farmer co-directed the award-winning feature length film “Naturally Native,” which follows the lives of three present-day Native-American sisters, each with her own identity issues and very different career journeys. They come together to start a Native cosmetic business and find themselves facing their pasts, each other and the business world on their path to success.