Ep 219: From Mexico to Cannes: a new film about Leonora Carrington + How to do PR at a film fest
Girls On FilmShow Notes
Anna speaks to three women with different perspectives on the film industry. First up, director Lena Vurma and actor Olivia Vinall discuss their new film Leonora in the Morning Light, a visually glorious exploration of the life and work of artist Leonora Carrington. Lena explains what drew her to make a film about one of surrealism’s lesser-known figures whilst Olivia shares the challenges and rewards of embodying a woman whose life spanned continents and who experienced war and mental illness alongside the difficulties and joys of a career as a female artist. They talk about the film’s extraordinary locations in Mexico and the South of France and the female friendship at the heart of Carrington’s story.
In the second half of the show, Anna is joined by Jane Owen who discusses her role as founder of award-winning Public Relations company, Jane Owen PR. Jane tells us how her PR team prepares for the parties, networking and deal-making opportunities at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. She also shares her PR highlights of the last few years, and her love of old movies and the stars who made them. Jane talks about positive changes in the industry, which present opportunities for smaller indie films and shares the skills essential for success in film PR.
Leonora in the Morning Light is on general release in UK cinemas from 29th May 2026. Find further details about the film and screenings here: https://www.modernfilms.com/leonora DIRECTORS Thor Klein & Lena Vurma CAST Olivia Vinall, Alexander Scheer, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Ryan Gage, Istvan Teglas, Luis Gerardo Mendez
Other films mentioned in this episode: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.5patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno
Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email [email protected] to be signed up.
Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z
Girls On Film is an HLA production. Host: Anna Smith Executive Producer: Hedda Lornie Archbold Producer: Nicki Glossop Audio Editor: Jack Howard Social Media: Dr Jade Evans and Ruby Rose Bradshaw
With thanks to Principal Partners Peter Brewer and Vanessa Smith, and our sponsors for this episode, Lilac Grove Entertainment
© HLA Agency
More from Girls On Film
In this episode of Girls On Film, we celebrate our 8th birthday with a special panel discussion held at the BFI LFF for Free strand, recorded live at the BFI Southbank on Tuesday 13th October 2026.
Girls On Film returns to Latitude for a fourth year, celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary with a fabulous panel of women from film and TV, chaired by host Anna Smith.
This episode was recorded live with an audience at Monkey Barrel as part of Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026, where host Anna Smith welcomed two directors whose films are both set at girls’ boarding school, though the stories they tell could hardly be more different.
This week Anna talks with actors Sian Clifford and Laurie Kynaston, and with director Samuel Abrahams about their new film LADY, a mockumentary about a lonely aristocrat who invites a documentary crew into her home, with events taking a surreal turn as her desire to be seen spirals out of control.
Anna is at Italian Global Series, a festival which transforms two Northern Italian cities into the meeting place for the world’s leading television creatives.