Ep 226: 8th Birthday Special: Sandy Powell, Carol Morley, Olive Nwosu & Xenia Patricia at BFI LFF

In this episode of Girls On Film, we celebrate our 8th birthday with a special panel discussion held at the BFI LFF for Free strand, recorded live at the BFI Southbank on Tuesday 13th October 2026. Content Warning: The first interview in this episode contains mentions of suicide at 7:39 and from 8:28 to 8:33. Host Anna Smith speaks to some of the brilliant women behind this year’s LFF films about their work, journeys and inspirations. First up is returning guest Carol Morley, writer/director of 7 MILES OUT, a coming-of-age feature adapted from her acclaimed semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. Next Anna talks to Olive Nwosu, writer and director of award-winning feature debut LADY, a love letter to Lagos and to the women who call it home. Xenia Patricia, Cinematographer of FILIPIÑANA, the Philippines’ official Oscar entry, joins next. Last but not least, returning guest Sandy Powell, the legendary Oscar and BAFTA-winning costume designer, who talk about her new departure as Executive Producer, on QUEER EDWARD II, the powerful documentary exploring the making of Derek Jarman’s 1991 feature EDWARD II, against the backdrop of the anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation in 1980s Britain. 7 MILES OUT and FILIPIÑANA screen at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival on Saturday 17th October. FILIPIÑANA is released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on 20 November. Keep your eyes out for release news for 7 MILES OUT, LADY and QUEER EDWARD II. To conclude this episode, Anna chats to Sandra Seeling Lipski, founder and director of Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, for a look ahead to Girls On Film’s annual Women in Leadership panel in Palma de Mallorca. This year the festival celebrates its 15th edition and has become an established meeting place for international cinema, championing emerging voices alongside established names in the industry. The Girls On Film Women in Leadership panel in Mallorca takes place on Sunday 1st November at the Es Baluard Museum of Contemporary Art, with guests to be announced soon. Learn more about the festival here: https://www.evolutionfilmfestival.com/ Other films mentioned in this episode: THE FALLING (2014) THE MADNESS OF THE DANCE (2006) THE TESTAMENTS TV series (2026) BLUE JEAN (2022) TYPIST ARTIST PIRATE KING (2022) TROUBLEMAKER (short 2019) EGÚNGÚN/MASQUERADE (short 2021) TRIANGLE OF SADNESS (2022) Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Girls On Film is an HLA production Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Anais Ferrato, Nicki Glossop Audio Editor: Emma Butt Social Media Producers: Dr Jade Evans and Ruby Rose Bradshaw Intern: Lucy Johnson Principal Partner: Peter Brewer Thumbnail photographer: Garry Carbon © HLA Agency