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.

Directors: Maggie Contreras
Runtime: 1h 28m

CINEMA ADMISSION:
Seating is General Admission. Tickets may be purchased online, over the phone, or in-person at our Box Office

REGULAR ADMISSION: $12
REAL ART WAYS MEMBERS: $7
SENIOR & STUDENT MEMBERS: $6
SENIORS (65+): $8
FULL-TIME STUDENTS (WITH ID): $8

Masks are recommended when attending Real Art Ways. (If you don’t have one with you, no worries - we have some on hand.)

REAL ART WAYS' FACILITIES ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. ASSISTED LISTENING DEVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CAFÉ.