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ConnectHER Film Festival

An international short film competition and scholarship program for filmmakers ages 13 to 25, run by the Austin nonprofit ConnectHER and its founder, Lila Igram. Entrants make three- to six-minute narrative, documentary or animated films about issues affecting women and girls, such as education, health, work, poverty and the environment, with an emphasis on BIPOC voices. Finalist films go into an online gallery for public voting, and cash scholarships of $2,500 to $5,000 are awarded. The program began at Harvard in 2013 as the Girls Impact the World Film Festival, moved to Austin in 2017 and took its current name in 2021. The 2027 awards event is listed for April 17, 2027, at the State Theatre.

Festival · Austin · Since 2013 · Active

Next
Apr 17, 2027
State Theatre (awards event); Online gallery
ConnectHER (founder and executive director Lila Igram)
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Website ↗︎
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Categories
Short films (3–6 minutes) on issues affecting women and girls: education, global health, women and work, women and health, women and the environment, Stand Up Men, global impact (narrative, documentary or animation)
Prizes
Cash scholarships: Judges' Choice $5,000 (winner) and $2,500 (runner-up); $2,500 each for best documentary, narrative and animation, People's Choice, Global Impact, Stand Up Men and theme awards

Notable

Launched in 2013 as the Girls Impact the World Film Festival at Harvard University, moved to Austin in 2017 and was renamed the ConnectHER Film Festival in 2021; the site reports $345,000 awarded ↗︎
A first showcase outside Austin was set for October 29, 2026, at TIFF Lightbox in Toronto; the CHFF27 entry deadline was October 15 and the online gallery goes live December 1 ↗︎
Open to filmmakers ages 13 to 25, with an emphasis on BIPOC voices; FilmFreeway lists the April 17, 2027, event at the State Theatre on Congress Avenue; entries must be submitted on the festival's website and are free ↗︎
Sources
  1. ConnectHER Film Festival ConnectHER
  2. Our Story ConnectHER
  3. ConnectHER Film Festival FilmFreeway
  4. connectherfilmfest.org connectherfilmfest.org

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