Lady Filmmakers Festival sets Beverly Hills lineup with premieres and panels

The 18th annual Lady Filmmakers Festival runs Sept. 23-28 in Beverly Hills with screenings, workshops, panels, networking and awards events. The lineup includes the West Coast premiere of AMERICA, the worldwide theatrical premiere of SHE SANG and the North American premiere of BE A GOOD GIRL, alongside films about intersex identity and abuse in classical music.

Why it matters: - The 18th annual Lady Filmmakers Festival is positioning female-driven stories, LGBTQ+ themes and survivor-focused documentaries in front of audiences, industry speakers and cast teams in Beverly Hills. - The festival gives several films premiere status, which can help drive publicity, audience interest and distribution attention. - The lineup also puts topical issues in the spotlight, including gun violence, country music history, intersex identity and abuse in classical music.

What happened: - The Lady Filmmakers Festival runs Sept. 23-28, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California. - The festival opens Wednesday, Sept. 23 with an intimate ceremony and closes Sept. 28 with an awards-night celebration. - Screenings will take place at the Fine Arts Theatre, with select virtual opportunities available. - The festival will feature parties, Q&As, panels, workshops and networking opportunities. - Tickets and passes are available at the official Lady Filmmakers website.

The details: - AMERICA, directed by Laura New and executive produced by Vanessa Hudgens, will have its West Coast premiere at the festival. - The film follows Valerie, a single mother who is trying to move her children, Daniel and Georgia, to the West Coast for a better life. - The story turns when a school shooting forces Valerie to confront whether her children are victims or perpetrators. - SHE SANG, directed by Dona Nichols, will celebrate its worldwide theatrical premiere. - SHE SANG features legendary women of country music, including Dolly Parton, The Chicks and Loretta Lynn. - The documentary examines the triumphs, struggles and cultural impact of women in country music. - The film also references the industry saying that women were treated like “tomatoes in a salad.” - BE A GOOD GIRL, directed by Louiza Zouzias, will make its North American premiere. - The film centers on a captive woman in a house in the mountains who must decide whether to protect a teenage girl or protect the life she has built to survive. - The festival lineup also includes MISTAKE, an LGBTQ+ feature directed by Honey Lauren and inspired by true events about being born intersex. - DEAR LARA, directed by Lara St. John, follows violinist Lara St. John as she publicly discusses abuse she experienced as a child at an elite music school. - DEAR LARA also explores what St. John says is a global pattern of abuse in the classical music world and the silence surrounding it. - The festival will include workshops and panel discussions with industry professionals from television and film.

Between the lines: - The festival is using premiere titles and issue-driven films to broaden its appeal beyond a traditional screening slate. - The mix of narrative features and documentaries suggests a deliberate focus on stories with social impact. - The emphasis on networking, panels and industry speakers signals that the event is trying to serve both audiences and filmmakers.

What's next: - The festival will continue through Sept. 28 with screenings, talks and awards programming. - Organizers say the full lineup is available on the festival website. - Additional guest speakers, cast members and crew are expected across the week.

The bottom line: - Lady Filmmakers is leaning into premieres, women-led storytelling and conversation-driven programming as it brings its 18th annual festival back to Beverly Hills.