Girls On Film
Ep 220: The queer feminist horror hit of Cannes + talking gender & body image with Parno Mittra
Published: 27 May 2026 at 13:18 Europe/London
Listen on
Episode notes
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 I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning (Winner of the Palm Dog Grand Jury Prize) L’Affaire Marie-Clare (Women On Trial) La Perra (Winner of the Palm Dog Award) Once Upon A Time In Harlem Fjord (Winner of the Palme D’Or) Garance Gentle Monster Thelma and Louise (1991) A Woman’s Life Minotaure (Winner of the Grand Prix) Girls On Film would like to thank our fabulous sponsors for their support in Cannes: Astella Jewellery; DISAUTHORITY; Elstree Studios; Hech Nutrition; HLA Agency; IMDb; Jane Owen PR; JJDConsultancy; Lilac Grove Entertainment; Strike Media; The Members Club In Cannes; Variety. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.5patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email [email protected] to be signed up. Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Nicki Glossop Audio Editor: Benjamin Cook Social Media: Dr Jade Evans and Ruby Rose Bradshaw Principal Partners: Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith Sponsors: Lilac Grove Entertainment © HLA Agency #girlsonfilmpodcast #annasmith #womeninfilm #womenfilmcritics #cannesfilmfestival #PalmedOr #festivaldecannes #cannes2026 #diversityincannes #parnomittra #su4ita #shrimoyeec #katharina_rivilis #AstellaJewellery #disauthority #IMDb #jopr #JJDConsultancy #elstreestudios #LilacGroveEnt #hlaagency #HechNutrition #strikemedia #variety #themembersclubincannes
