Drew Barrymore debut at Birds Eye View Fest

'Whip It' one of seven fictional movies in the lineup

By Stuart Kemp

Jan 20, 2010, 10:48 AM ET

LONDON -- Drew Barrymore's directorial debut "Whip It" is one of seven fictional movies in the lineup for this year's Birds Eye View Festival, an event dreamt up by women and designed to celebrate international female filmmakers.

Barrymore's movie, starring herself, Ellen Page and Juliette Lewis as roller derby girls will skate alongside Jessica Hausner's Golden Lion nominee "Lourdes" and Kim Longinotto's documentary "Rough Aunties" -- grand jury prize winner at last year's Sundance.

The event will also include a retrospective and masterclass from 2006 Oscar nominated Danish director Susanne Bier ("After The Wedding") whose film "Brothers" has had a Lionsgate-backed facelift with Jim Sheridan and starring Natalie Portman among the cast.

Other highlights include a strand of fashion films including work by Ruth Hogben and Wendy Bevan and the launch of an Animation Lab with Lotte Reineger's "The Adventure of Prince Achmed" -- claimed to be the first feature-length animated film made in 1926.

With support from the British Film Institute and the U.K. Film Council, the Birds Eye View Festival aims to be a positive response to the fact that women make up only 7% directors and 12% writers in what is the most powerful medium in the world. Organizers aim to promote women's creative vision in film from the festival.

Patrons include Mike Figgis, Mira Nair, Joanna Lumley, Juliet Stevenson, Martha Fiennes, Stephen Woolley and Gurinder Chadha.

The festival runs March 4 through 11 at venues across London.

Drew Barrymore debut at Birds Eye View Fest

'Whip It' one of seven fictional movies in the lineup

By Stuart Kemp

Jan 20, 2010, 10:48 AM ET