To better celebrate women’s accomplishments, the 2024 nonprofit Worldwide Women’s Film Festival has moved its festival dates to March 8-10, to be part of the International Women’s Day holiday on March 8.

“We want to celebrate women and their achievements,” said event founder and WWFF President Kim A. Huenecke. “As time passed, it was more important to move the festival to March and be part of International Women's Day.”

IWD is a focal point in the women's rights movement, giving focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights and violence and abuse against women.

From 117 films submitted from around the world, WWFF will screen 53 short films, documentary films, features, documentary features and music videos during its sixth annual festival at the Harkins Shea 14 Theatres, 7354 E. Shea Blvd.

One highlight of this year’s festival is the inclusion of “The Virgin of Highland Park” starring Penelope Ann Miller and Dermot Mulroney.

This year the films will be shown in DCP, or digital cinema package, which is the standard delivery format for film screenings at a digital cinema like Harkins.

“Most major movie theatres today are digital cinemas,” Huenecke explains. “The image resolution is better and the soundtracking is much better.”

In addition, the festival is hosting two free workshops for the public to attend, with speakers and topics to be announced.

Panavision, a camera and optics technology for the film and television industry, will again donate a camera rental package valued at $60,000 to the winner of the “Best Cinematography” award.

Other sponsors include Harkins, The Megaw Theatre & Actors Studio Inc., Chronic Behavior, Arizona Commission on the Arts, with partners il Capo Pizzeria, Instaprint, Phx Entertainers - Empowering Entertainers and Inktip.

The WWFF panel of judges screen all submitted films, and each is rated in many categories.

“Films are rated based on a judging rubric created to rate films as objectively, and with as little personal subjectivity as possible,” said WWFF Judging Coordinator Roxanne Ruane. “WWFF is extremely proud of its judging system as it allows for a very balanced and fair rating system.”

The film submission time frame lasts six months with three different film submission deadlines: early bird, regular and late, adds Ruane. A judge can expect to have films assigned throughout the entire six-month volunteer timeframe from June through mid-November and may average no less than about 20 hours of viewing time a month.

The festival needs volunteers as ushers, ticket takers, film programming, registration, poster distribution, help with after-party set up and tear down and a host of other tasks, and volunteers get to see one free film.  Contact Volunteer Coordinator Jennifer Younghans at eastvalleyaznotary@outlook.com.

Tickets are on sale now, and range from $15 for specific film blocks and day passes for $40-100, to an all festival VIP pass and filmmaker breakfast for $230.  Purchase tickets at Film Freeway at Worldwide Women's Film Festival or filmfreeway.com/WorldwideWomensFilmFestival.

Those interested in being a judge for the 2024-25 festival season can email Ruane at wwff.roxanne.ruane@gmail.com.

For information and updates, visit wwfilmfestival.org, email worldwidewomensfilmfestival@gmail.com or direct messagefFestival organizations via Facebook at Worldwide Women’s Film Festival.