Sometimes the film industry opens doors, and sometimes you have to build the door yourself. On today’s episode, we welcome Melanie Wise, an actress, producer, and founder of the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival. Standing six feet tall, Melanie discovered early that Hollywood wasn’t built for women who didn’t fit its narrow mold. Struggling to land traditional roles and tired of being typecast, she turned to producing her own projects, determined to tell stories where women weren’t victims but warriors.
Her breakthrough came with Hannah’s Gift, a horror-action film she produced and starred in, which won multiple festival awards. But the road wasn’t easy. Technical setbacks destroyed the original masters, forcing her team to reshoot the film entirely. Instead of breaking her, the challenge sharpened her skills as both a producer and post-production powerhouse. She carried those lessons into her larger mission: creating a platform where strong female leads could thrive without compromise.
That vision led to the launch of the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival, a global event dedicated to celebrating badass women on screen and in real life. From honoring icons like Zoë Bell, Nichelle Nichols, and Paul Feig, to spotlighting stuntwomen who risk it all for unforgettable scenes, the festival has become a beacon for action storytelling with women at the center. As Melanie put it, the festival proves there’s a massive audience hungry for female-driven action, and the worldwide submissions—from places as unexpected as Iran—show that this movement is not limited by borders.
Beyond screenings, Artemis has uncovered hidden histories of women in sports, the military, and aviation, stories too often left untold. Panels have featured pioneers like WWII’s WASP pilots, reminding audiences that women have always been forces of action both on and off screen. With fans crowdfunding the festival year after year, Melanie sees undeniable proof that people want to see empowered women in leading roles — and are willing to back it with their wallets.
For Melanie, the work is both personal and universal. She knows firsthand the obstacles women face in Hollywood, but she also knows the thrill of defying them by creating your own path. With Artemis, she’s not just producing a festival; she’s building a movement that challenges outdated industry narratives and showcases the limitless potential of women in film.
