Underwire’s founders Gabriella Apicella and Gemma Mitchell launched the festival in 2010 with the belief that women working in the UK film industry needed more encouragement and a bigger platform for their work. The fact remains that women still make up a small proportion of film creatives, and Underwire looks to recognise the best short work made by women across a range of crafts – from director to cinematographer; screenwriter to editor. Underwire believes that a more gender balanced industry will benefit everyone by creating a diversity of perspectives, stories and experiences for audiences