Being a woman means a lot of things (trust me; it’s been a smooth quarter century since I turned 18). It means independence and career development, real love and reality checks, responsibilities and reckonings, heartbreak and hard truths. In short, it often involves being a tough broad.
So we couldn’t help but show a little love to the Lower Eastside Girls Club, who are producing a “Tough Broads Film Festival” from October 11-14, free to the public at The Lower Eastside Girls Club, 402 East 8th Street (off Avenue D), in New York City.
That’s right; the organization that was founded in 1996 “to address the historic lack of services available to girls and young women on the Lower East Side” is hosting three days of screenings, panels, special events, food and fun—including the presentation of the first annual “Tough Broad Award” to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
The Tough Broads Film Festival will include films featuring feminist icons whose lives’ work demonstrate a commitment to social justice, impacting changes that have created the world as we know it. The full screening schedule is available here, and tickets can be purchased here. But if you’re not a New Yorker, don’t be deterred; you can recreate this experience from afar (at least in part).
The festival will open with a Friday evening screening of RBG, the acclaimed documentary on the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as a panel discussion on the persistent role of sexism and ageism in American film and culture. Saturday’s screenings will include The Rest I Make Up, Dolores, and BadddDDD Sonia Sanchez. Sunday’s screening will be What Happened Miss Simone? and Chavela.
What’s even more remarkable? Each screening will open with a documentary short produced by a Girls Club member, called “Meet My Grandmother.” No doubt there will be some tough broads there.
The Glow Up tip: To find out more, get involved or donate to The Lower Eastside Girls Club, you can visit their website.