The Circuit

by N'neka Hite
Films made by women for everyone was the theme for the LA Femme Film Fest which took place last week in Los Angeles. The fest honored celebrity icons last night during the closing Awards Ceremony Sunday night, at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills.

Tippi Hedren’s breakout role in “The Birds" made her an icon. While accepting the Thespian Award, she gave special thanks to Jessica Tandy, her co-star in the 1963 Hitchcock pic. She recalled a scene that she shot with Tandy, where Hitchcock directed her to be “bitchy.” After Tandy and Hitchcock watched the scene together, Tandy advised the helmer, "Nobody’s going to like that girl." Hendren said Hitchcock took that advice and they re-shot the scene.

“That showed me how differently you can play a character,” Hendren said. She believes that the newer “softer” scene saved her Hollywood career before it even started.

In the lobby Hendren posed for pics. A fan was overheard congratulating her and adding, "I saw 'The Birds.' I didn’t even know you were still alive." Hendren reacted with a burst of laughter.

The lobby of the theatre was where most of the action went down. Fest Founder Leslie La Page greeted and posed with the winners and ran back to her seat to be present as other honorees accepted their awards.

Vivica A. Fox accepted the Image Award for her work as an actress and producer.

“The moment you become a woman in this town people expect you to sit down,” Fox said. “When I turned 40 I became a producer.”

Erica Gimpel ("Fame") walked away with the Innovative Award and Daphne Zuniga took home the New Establishment Award.

The after party was held at the Nirvana, where guests enjoyed cocktails and live acoustic music while lounging on indoor cabanas.