2002 Great Lakes Independent Film Festival

Cowgirls

Category: Documentary Short  29min 45sec
Director: Sally Clark

Set in the province of Alberta, Canada's Texas, "Cowgirls" showcases the modern day gladiators and the revered rodeo queens of the corral. With their sequined silhouettes, daredevil stunts and executive skills, the gender outlaws of  "Cowgirls" push the frontiers of femininity, freedom and equality.  Yet tell these "frightfully independent" Annie Oakleys they∂re North America's first feminists and watch them buck. Sally Clark's debut documentary is an insider look at the extraordinary feats and contradictions of female rodeo stars, aged 18 to 78, as they compete in such breath-stopping categories as trick riding, barrel racing and cutting.  "Cowgirls" also reveals the big business side to rodeo that recently saw champion athlete Monica Wilson become the first woman in thirty years to rope the title of "Cowboy of the Year."  We learn about the life-threatening edge these performers court, where "the odd broken bone, a few concussions" are shrugged off as part of the job -- "really nothing serious."

Director: Sally Clark
Sally Clark was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  She graduated from l'Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris and from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism where she won the John M. Patterson Award for best documentary short. Before launching Cowgirl Productions, Inc. in July 2000, Sally spent four years in France working in documentary video production on a variety of topics--from the private lives of cult leaders to the environment's effect on human reproduction.  She has also worked for ABC News Turning Point, WNET's City Life, and CNN FN.