CAREERS TRAILBLAZERS
TRAILBLAZERS GIRLS IN FILM’S NIKOLA VASAKOVA
“THERE’S A LOT OF UNCONSCIOUS BIAS THAT women, working-class people and people of colour HAVE TO DEAL WITH. IT DOESN’T ALWAYS SHOW, but it’s there ”
G irls in Film (GiF) is a production company run by women, for women. Founded by Nikola Vasakova in 2016, GiF links women, non-binary and transgender people in the film industry, with chapters in London, New York City, New Zealand, South Africa and Prague. What’s now an international network began as a simple idea: “To create a space where we could all connect,” says Vasakova. ALL THE WAY UP Vasakova’s own career began in 2012. “I started in production and worked my way up the ladder, from interning through to producing, in a fairly traditional way,” she explains, with production secretary, coordinator, manager and producer all listed on her CV. Despite her success, she often felt like the odd one out. “I worked on some sets where I was the only woman in a crew of 30+ males, and those experiences definitely stuck with me.” A few years later, Vasakova noticed two trends: “The rise of digital publishing and the democratisation of filmmaking,” as cameras became more widely accessible. “I set up Girls in Film because I suddenly saw more people coming into the industry – not just in traditional roles,” she explains. “I saw more women in
Definition hears from producer Nikola Vasakova about founding Girls in Film, championing young creatives and eradicating gender bias, one woman at a time WORDS Katie Kasperson
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