VIVO Media Arts Centre Archive > Isis Women and Film
Twenty women pose in front of the Isis film festival touring van on 4th Avenue, Vancouver, 1974. Photographer: Kathleen Shannon.

Isis Women and Film

About

Isis was a women’s media production and distribution centre operating in Vancouver from 1973-1977. Inspired by 70s second wave feminism, the founders chose Isis, the ancient goddess of life, as a woman-positive symbol for their organization.

Having previously worked with Metro Media (community-based social activist media) the founders were galvanized by the 1973 International Women & Film Festival that toured 18 cities across Canada to an overwhelming positive response. Women were encouraged and motivated by the creative force of women in the history of visual media and felt supported when they watched films that reflected some of their own struggles.

It became clear from the enthusiasm coming from rural communities that women audiences in outlying areas were eager for similar events. Isis Women and Film stepped up to meet this demand.

In the fall of 1974, Isis organizaed a provincial women’s film and art festival: a tour of rural towns throughout BC. The Isis women travelled from town to town in a large van loaned by a car dealership. “In keeping with Women & Film’s ideology of collectivism, each town had its own organization and contributed to their festival.” (Bociurkiw, 2016). The tour included films, videotapes, slideshows, a woman’s art exhibit, books and puppets. The festivals were a great success.

After the tour, members of the Isis collective continued working together. They created video and slide/sound productions, provided a darkroom and taught photographic skills to women, and became a busy women’s media distribution centre to Vancouver and rural communities throughout BC. Isis lost its funding in 1976 after the Social Credit provincial government was elected. The women said goodby to the centre and distribution was discontinued. They forged ahead, however, working from their homes as a media production group for a few more years, notably producing a film titled Emigranté about racism in Canada.

The founding members of Isis Women and Film were Moira Simpson, Liz Walker, Mary Jane Cowan, Barbara Etches, and Ann Bishop. Other members joining after the initial tour included Marian Penner Bancroft, Leigh Deering, and Barbara Tranter.

 

Custodial History

The Isis Women & Film fonds was acquired November 4, 2021.

The materials were held by Isis collective members. They were assembled and donated by Isis co-founders and members Moira Simpson, Liz Walker, Mary Jane Cowan, Barbara Etches and Marian Penner Bancroft with the support of Chris McDowell.

 

Scope and Content

The archive includes a mix of original materials and copies of documents, publications,and photos related to the Isis film festivals and centre activities as well as rare 70s feminist ephemera. This fonds does not contain video or film. The Douglas College Library acquired this collection for circulation in 1976 when distribution was forced to close due to political funding decisions. 

 

Box 1 – Isis Archive Folders

Folder 1: Introduction and Master List of Archive Contents
Folder 2: International Women and Film Festival (1974)
Folder 3: Isis BC Women and Film Festival (1974)
Folder 4: Isis Women’s Festival Tour (1974)
Folder 5: Isis Women’s Media Distribution and Production Centre (1974-1977)
Folder 6: Isis photographs
Folder 7: News Clippings
Folder 8: Handwritten minutes
Folder 9: Decades later

Box 2 – Original Cloth Banner

“Isis Women’s Media”, canvas and felt, 7’3″ x 37.5″

Box 3 – Isis wooden street sign

“Isis Women & Film Distribution”, Particleboard, hand-painted with original logo for the 1973 Women and Film International Festival, W 16″ x H 16.25″ x D 0.75″.

 

Finding Aid

The fonds is currently being catalogued.

 

Access

Please contact us at library@vivomediaarts.com