Leslie Ann Coles

By Karolina Bialkowska

Leslie Ann Coles navigates her busy life with almost mythical success. A dancer, choreographer, theatre and television actress, director, writer, producer (the list goes on), Coles has raised three children and established herself as an industry expert. Where concerned friends and family once doubted her ability to juggle multiple roles, they now look on with wonder and pride at her resounding success. This level of success has translated itself into a ripple effect on other female artists, directors, and fans around her. She has lead, inspired, and driven women to achieve their own personal dreams.

A decade ago, Ms. Coles took note of a strong gender bias in our modern world: the direction and production of movies. In 2001, she did something about it. Over one weekend at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto – with no money, no reputation, and no idea how the whole thing would pan out – she screened 42 films written, produced, directed by women. Now in its 10th year, the Female Eye Film Festival isn’t about “chick flicks” and romances – it appeals to mixed gender audiences – but about opportunity. It’s about recognizing and giving accolades to the women directors that are so often belittled and subject to doubt in the world of film makers.

Historically, men have been the dominant sex of the film world. Consequently, they have enjoyed a higher frequency of awards, positive attention for their work, and esteemed social status or cult relevance. Women’s work was often not even given funding to be produced, let alone given recognition for its artistic merit. Since Coles has given the world FeFF – a priceless avenue of expression and dissemination for women’s work – the number of women making their own films has sky-rocketed. 

Q: Do you think it’s still more difficult for women to succeed in the film industry than men?

I do think it’s more difficult. Women still have to fight, even Katherine Bigelow. We still have to fight harder in a way to get financing for films. More than 90 percent of women write their own films. They’ve written and directed entire films themselves.

Q: Why did you start the FeFF?

There seems to be a need. That’s not to say that women want their films to be seen as chick flicks. I certainly hope that it dispels the myth that female directors work for female centric audiences; they work for the sake of creating great films for general audiences. The festival serves to dispel a lot of stereotypes.

Q: How are women director’s films different?

They do tend to feature female protagonist, and that’s great, because often women are seen as gratuitous characters. Women tend to write women characters that are rich, full, and complex. Believable, flawed, heroines. In that regard there is a unique perspective.

Q: Did you find it to be difficult to break into the film industry as a female?

When I was aiming to direct my film - which I was also starring in and co-producing - getting funding for it was difficult. I met with a lot of, not necessarily resistance but, concern. I received advice, requests, from male directors that I knew that said I should scale it down. A lot of people told me I can’t write/direct/produce my first film. They say you can’t do it, it’s too much. There was always that resistance.

Q: Did you find it difficult to balance being a mother and so heavily involved in the artistic community?

It’s a funny thing, because I’m freelance and independent. I work out of my home for the most part. In that regard, and even back in the day when I was a dance theatre artist, I would take my kids to work with me when they were babies, take them to rehearsals. I always had tremendous support from my in-laws. It is always a juggling act. When you do work out of your home there has to be a real discipline when you can pry yourself away from overworking. You can become a slave to that and end up working 14, 16 hours a day.

Q: What piece of advice would you give to young girls aspiring to be artists (directors, writers, actors, etc.)?

Take the leap, have a leap of faith and follow your passion. Some of these things don’t happen exactly in the order, manner, timing we want them to. If you’re true in your vision, passion, it will come to fruition and make it happen.

Leslie Ann Coles is more than an inspiration. She’s a kind-hearted vigilante for women artists everywhere.