Five incredible women from around the world who are boldly breaking glass ceilings in the male-dominated world of orchestral conducting take center stage in Maestra, filmmaker Maggie Contreras’ directorial debut. These women gathered in Paris for ‘La Maestra’, the only competition in the world for female conductors, to show the world the singular talent that unites them and which, for far too long, has been considered the pursuit of only men. Mothers, daughters, rebels, leaders – over four days, each took to the stage to compete: a mother of young twins from Athens, determined to show her kids anything is possible; a Ukrainian doing all she can to focus on her art and the competition in front of her while Russia invades; a Polish student just starting out; a newlywed American grappling with the decision to start a family; and a French immigrant returning to the city that closed its doors to her many years ago. Personal stories of survival, passion and perseverance are woven together with the drama and excitement of this one-of-a-kind event.

The struggles and triumphs of the gifted artists in Maestra offer a microcosm for the challenges faced by women in every industry and in every walk of life today, while also providing valuable insights into how we may conduct ourselves as we create a new movement for a more equitable future.

Runtime: 88min • NR

PRAISE FOR MAESTRA

New Hampshire Film Festival – Best Documentary Feature

Shot with an 80% female crew (a staggering statistic and an all-too-rare one), Maestra is earnest, authentic, and wholehearted in its attempts to capture the life, passion, and spirit of women in a cutthroat field. -Oscars Central

Even when it chooses to put the rosiest gloss on things… the film is bracing and inspiring, giving some talented conductors much-deserved visibility. -Hollywood Reporter

Watching people dear to us not make it can be heartbreaking, but by the end the movie proves a paean to the resilience and hard work of this vibrant collection of brilliant musicians. They all deserve a standing ovation. -Film Festival Today

An engrossing look at a select group of women at the top of their profession, MAESTRA soars not just on its music but in the details. -awfl.org