Ep 220: The queer feminist horror hit of Cannes + talking gender & body image with Parno Mittra

This episode of Girls On Film comes to you from the French Riviera. We’re here for the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Anna welcomes five guests who talk about films and feminism amid the glamour that is Cannes.

First up, Anna discusses the gender balance in some of the festival’s stand out films with film critic Sucharita Tyagi. Their discussion ranges from feminism and trans rights in the darkly comic Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma to the healing power of a canine friend in Chilean dog movie La Perra (Winner of the Palm Dog Award).

Next Anna is joined by writer-director Katharina Rivilis in Cannes with her first feature, I’ll Be Gone In June, a semi-autobiographical film in which a young woman’s exchange year in New Mexico is set against the backdrop of 9/11.

Film critic and journalist Tomris Laffly joins Anna to talk about her festival highlights including Palme D’Or Winner, Fjord, Marie Kreutzer’s Gentle Monster and comedy drama A Woman’s Life.

Finally Anna welcomes Shrimoyee Chakraborti and Parno Mittra to talk about female friendship, their passion for film and their documentary feature, Spirit Of The Wildflower, directed by Shrimoyee and exec produced by Parno. Set in rural India this film follows the lives of two siblings who unite to form a business marketing the traditional tribal drink, mahua. The film explores themes including family, community, feminism and transgender identity.

Films mentioned in this episode:

I’ll Be Gone In June

Spirit Of The Wildflower

Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma (release date Aug 21 2026)

Elephants In The Fog (Winner of Un Certain Regard Jury Prize)

Clarissa

Hope