Birds Eye View began in 2002 as an antidote to the disheartening fact that only around 6% of filmmakers are women. Since then, the BEV festival has greatly expanded -- but that slender statistic has remained pretty static. But while they may be only 6%, those filmmakers are 100% fabulous.To hell with housework; instead the girls have been hoovering up awards at festivals internationally -- Berlinale 2009 (Golden and Silver Bears), Sundance 2010 (Grand Jury Prize), Bafta 2010 (Best Film, Best Director) and of course the Oscars this weekend... a historic first just may be upon us in the shape of Kathryn Bigelow (not to mention that four of the five nominated documentaries have female directors or producers). Viewing things from that angle, that's a pretty chunky 6% indeed. BEV 2010 highlights include Rough Aunties (07/03 and 09/03), Kim Longinotto's new award winner; a masterclass (08/03) with Danish director Susanne Bier (Things We Lost In The Fire) and a Sound And Silents screening (09/03) of the original 1927 Cecil B DeMille production of Chicago which introduced bad-girl Roxie Hart (the story that eventually morphed into the 2003 Oscar winning musical) with live music by Patti Plinko.

NB: runs from 04/03 till 12/03.