For its landmark 200th episode, Girls On Film celebrates with a very special discussion on the future of film criticism and the vital role of diverse voices.

The episode begins with heartfelt, celebratory words from listeners, past guests, and colleagues, reflecting on the journey of the podcast since its launch.

Host Anna Smith then unveils The Critical Gap, a ground-breaking new survey commissioned by Girls On Film and conducted by Louisa Livingston and her team at Forward Thought. Inspired by the 2018 Annenberg Inclusion Initiative research that sparked the creation of this podcast, this UK-focused study surveyed over 100 critics of all genders, addressing issues of access, diversity and pay.

The findings reveal stark inequalities: women film critics earn over 19% less than men—one of the worst gender pay gaps in UK culture. The report also highlights systemic barriers and ongoing challenges faced by underrepresented groups. The full report is now available on the Girls On Film website.

To discuss the findings, Anna is joined by two leading voices in film criticism: Jane Crowther, Chair of the Critics’ Circle Film Section, and Akua Gyamfi, founder of The British Blacklist. Together, they reflect on the survey, progress made, the spaces still needed for meaningful conversation, and the steps towards a more inclusive future for film criticism.

Anna is also joined by Hanna Flint, co-founder of the LFF Critics Support Fund, the crowdfunded initiative offering financial aid to critics from low-income backgrounds so they can attend the BFI London Film Festival.

Special thanks to Lilac Grove Entertainment for sponsoring this celebratory episode.
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Girls On Film is an HLA production.
Host: Anna Smith
Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold
Producer: Negin Nia
Intern: Ruby Bradshaw
Audio Editor: Emma Butt
Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer

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