Girls On Film

About Girls On Film

Girls On Film is a film review podcast from a female perspective, hosted by film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith and produced by co-founder Hedda Archbold at HLA Agency

Publisher

Anna Smith

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Oct 2018

Latest episode

25 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

225 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Aug 2026

   Ep 225: Sally Phillips, Ebada Hassan & Jeanie Finlay talk docs, women and activism at Latitude 2026

   Girls On Film returns to Latitude for a fourth year, celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary with a fabulous panel of women from film and TV, chaired by host Anna Smith. First up, Anna welcomes actor, comedian, producer and director Sally Phillips, who talks about recent television and film roles (VIRGINIA WOOLF’S NIGHT & DAY, THE HAIRDRESSER MYSTERIES) as well as a current project working with people with learning difficulties. Next Anna is joined by Girls On Film award-winner, Ebada Hassan, star of BRIDES and PROPER LADIES who talks about claiming space for women of colour and Muslim creative talent. Finally, documentary filmmaker Jeanie Finlay joins the panel to talk about her work, including latest feature ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA, a wryly humorous account of the plight of Teesside fishers who forge a pathway through grief and loss to finding power in community. All three guests discuss the last 20 years in comedy, drama and documentary, reflecting on the progress made by women in the industry, in particular the legacy of industry trailblazer Jess Search, co-founder of Doc Society, Good Pitch and Shooting People. Sally also opens up about her challenging experience making the BBC documentary A WORLD WITHOUT DOWN'S SYNDROME?. This episode was recorded at The Listening Post at Latitude Festival on Saturday 25th July 2026. Special thanks to Latitude for having us, and to our principal sponsors Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith. VIRGINIA WOOLF’S NIGHT & DAY is currently screening at select UK cinemas. You can watch THE HAIRDRESSER MYSTERIES on BBC iPlayer. PROPER LADIES is available on BBC iPlayer. BRIDES is available on BFI Player and Amazon Prime Video. ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA will screen in cinemas nationwide from October 23rd 2026. More information about the film here: https://www.glimmerama.com/allriversspill Other films and television series mentioned in this episode: BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY (2025) AUSTIN (2024) GREEN WING (2004-7) FRENCH & SAUNDERS (2005) SMACK THE PONY (1999-2003) I’M ALAN PARTRIDGE (1997-2002) OBSESSION (2026) BACKROOMS (2026) CHEWING GUM (2015-17) YOUR FAT FRIEND (2023) SEAHORSE (2019) THE GREAT HIP HOP HOAX (2013) SOUND IT OUT (2011) A WORLD WITHOUT DOWN’S SYNDROME? (2016) AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (2006) WHILE WE WATCHED (2022) VIRUNGA (2014) GRAND THEFT HAMLET (2024) You can also listen to Sally Phillips in ep 100, ep 148 and most recently ep 216 at the Girls On Film Awards. You can hear from Jeanie Finlay in ep 184 and her film SEAHORSE is reviewed in ep 20. You can hear more about BRIDES in ep 202. Photo credits: Sally Phillips by Pip Jeanie Phillips by Jo Irvine #girlsonfilmpodcast #annasmith #womeninfilm #latitudefestival #sallysmack #ebadahassan #jeaniefinlay #hairdressermysteries #NightAndDayFilm #VirginiaWoolfsNightandDay #smackthepony #bridesfilm #allriversspilltheirstoriestothesea #thedocsociety #goodpitch #shootingpeople 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 Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA Agency production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producers: Nicki Glossop and Charlotte Matheson Audio Editor: Heather Dempsey Social Media Producers: Dr Jade Evans and Ruby Rose Bradshaw Intern: Lucy Johnson Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer © HLA Agency

2. 

   18 Aug 2026

   Ep224: EIFF live – Molly Manners & Sophie Heldman on EXTRA GEOGRAPHY & THE EDUCATION OF JANE CUMMING

   This episode was recorded live with an audience at Monkey Barrel as part of Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026, where host Anna Smith welcomed two directors whose films are both set at girls’ boarding school, though the stories they tell could hardly be more different. Anna's first guest is Molly Manners, director of EXTRA GEOGRAPHY, a hit at Sundance which received its UK premiere at EIFF in a screening presented in partnership with Girls On Film. Manners is also known for the BAFTA-winning TV series ONE DAY. She talks about her route into directing, how she recognises a good take, the leap from television to film, and the pull toward working with women collaborators, including EXTRA GEOGRAPHY writer Miriam Battye and producer Sarah Brocklehurst, both previous guests on the show. EXTRA GEOGRAPHY stars Marni Duggan, Galaxie Clear and Alice Englert. Anna's second guest is Sophie Heldman, director of THE EDUCATION OF JANE CUMMING, presented at EIFF in partnership with Reclaim The Frame. Set in Edinburgh, the film explores sexuality and prejudice in ways that prove strikingly relevant to the present day. Heldman discusses the story's origins, working with an all-women crew, and filming in Edinburgh. THE EDUCATION OF JANE CUMMING stars Clare Dunne, Flora Nicholson, Mia Tharia and Fiona Shaw. Together with Anna, Molly and Sophie compare notes on why the intensity of boarding school life lends itself so well to drama, and share their own favourite films from the genre. Where to watch EXTRA GEOGRAPHY opens in UK cinemas on 2 October. THE EDUCATION OF JANE CUMMING opens in UK cinemas early in 2027. More from EIFF Anna's picks from this year's festival: COMING HOME, the classic starring Jane Fonda PRETTY BABIES, the directorial debut of Tyler-Marie Evans, exploring sex work and exploitation with a mostly female cast SNAPSHOT, on a Victorian, all-female ghost-hunting society taking on misinformation and fake news Stay in touch: Subscribe to the newsletter at GirlsOnFilm.org.uk for film recommendations, updates and invites to special events. For partnership enquiries, email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com. Details on joining our Patreon are in the show notes. Tune in soon for our new episode from Latitude Festival 2026. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. 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 Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z Girls On Film is an HLA Agency production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producers: Nicki Glossop & Hedda Lornie Archbold Audio Editor: Alex Jones Social Media Producers: Dr Jade Evans and Ruby Rose Bradshaw Intern: Lucy Johnson Principal Partners: Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith This episode is in partnership with Edinburgh International Film Festival. © HLA Agency

3. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Ep 223: Sian Clifford on her hilarious leading role in LADY & why FLEABAG will be with her forever

   This week Anna talks with actors Sian Clifford and Laurie Kynaston, and with director Samuel Abrahams about their new film LADY, a mockumentary about a lonely aristocrat who invites a documentary crew into her home, with events taking a surreal turn as her desire to be seen spirals out of control. The episode opens with a lively conversation recorded live at BFI Southbank, where Sian, Sam and Laurie discuss how a real life YouTuber inspired the writers, the 15 day shoot at Somerleyton Hall in Suffolk, the improvisational freedom of shooting in documentary style, and the joy of working with a tiny, trusted crew. Questions from the audience touch on class, Britishness and the film's surreal turn into invisibility. Anna then sits down with Sian Clifford one-on-one, for a more in-depth conversation, about her leap of faith in taking on the role, the emotional afterglow of the BFI screening, FLEABAG’s lasting legacy, and her recent run of releases including MOTHER MARY and THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND, and what it means to carry a film as a lead after playing mainly supporting roles. LADY is in UK cinemas from Friday 14th August 2026. This episode was made in partnership with LADY. Sign up to our newsletter at girlsonfilm.org.uk, and keep an eye on our socials for news of our upcoming show at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Other films and TV series mentioned in this episode: Fleabag The Ballad of Wallis Island Mother Mary Ludwig Season 2 Life After Life 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 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 Producers: Nicki Glossop and Hedda Lornie Archbold Audio Editor: Elliana Jay Hamer Social Media Producers: Dr Jade Evans and Ruby Rose Bradshaw Intern: Lucy Johnson Principal partners Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith This episode is in partnership with LADY © HLA Agency

Who has been a guest on Girls On Film

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Susan Simnett
• Barbie Ferreira
• Monica Dolan
• Wendy Ide
• Liza van der Smissen

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.1 / 5

13 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

28 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

90

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

92

Contact Girls On Film

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Girls On Film