Skip to content

20 ways to make your screening event memorable

Hosting a Movie Screening of Pioneers in Skirts?

A screening of Pioneers in Skirts can inspire personal ambition and foster supportive teams by offering practical ways to advance careers, champion others, and pave the way for future leaders.

  • For students, the film inspires students to pursue their career goals and move beyond self-doubt.
  • For professionals, it provides a practical framework for improving retention, strengthening teamwork, and creating a culture of active allyship where everyone feels valued.
Drawing on years of in-person and virtual screenings, we have learned how to integrate the film’s central themes into the venue, pre-show activities, and post-screening discussions to create a memorable, immersive event.
red carpet event
Pioneers in Skirts Props

Curate an experience

Ensure the film’s message resonates and inspires real action.

Invite the Pioneers in Skirts filmmakers to speak at your event.

Inviting a filmmaker to speak turns a screening into a memorable event.

In schools, direct dialogue inspires aspiring talent—especially young women in STEM or male-dominated fields—to persevere. For companies, live Q&As provide professional development and help leaders and allies identify workplace cultural gaps.
Invite a Filmmaker

Provide popcorn, themed drinks, snacks.

A true cinema experience.

Pairing nostalgic candy, gourmet nachos, themed cupcakes, or custom popcorn buckets can be fun!
Themed Drink Ideas

Create photo props and custom selfie frames.

Lasting memories.

Watch your guests light up interactive photo corner!
Photo Station Ideas

Recruit sponsors to host contests, door prizes, food, and fun movie giveaways.

Inviting a filmmaker to speak turns a screening into a memorable event.

In schools, direct dialogue inspires aspiring talent—especially young women in STEM or male-dominated fields—to persevere. For companies, live Q&As provide professional development and help leaders and allies identify workplace cultural gaps.
Invite a Filmmaker

Create a drive-in theater experience in a parking lot or in the auditorium.

Inviting a filmmaker to speak turns a screening into a memorable event.

In schools, direct dialogue inspires aspiring talent—especially young women in STEM or male-dominated fields—to persevere. For companies, live Q&As provide professional development and help leaders and allies identify workplace cultural gaps.
Invite a Filmmaker

Create an awesome step-and-repeat as a backdrop for selfies and group photos.

Inviting a filmmaker to speak turns a screening into a memorable event.

In schools, direct dialogue inspires aspiring talent—especially young women in STEM or male-dominated fields—to persevere. For companies, live Q&As provide professional development and help leaders and allies identify workplace cultural gaps.
Invite a Filmmaker

Choose a theme and tell your audience to dress up to meet that theme. Make sure everything else blends in: music, the food, decorations, etc.

Inviting a filmmaker to speak turns a screening into a memorable event.

In schools, direct dialogue inspires aspiring talent—especially young women in STEM or male-dominated fields—to persevere. For companies, live Q&As provide professional development and help leaders and allies identify workplace cultural gaps.
Invite a Filmmaker

Get your audience pumped up before your movie event! As the audience arrives and sits in their seats, crank the Pioneer-on play list on Spotify. 

Inviting a filmmaker to speak turns a screening into a memorable event.

In schools, direct dialogue inspires aspiring talent—especially young women in STEM or male-dominated fields—to persevere. For companies, live Q&As provide professional development and help leaders and allies identify workplace cultural gaps.
Invite a Filmmaker

Just before you walk out to welcome everyone to your event, play the movie theme song, “Freeway,” ! 

Inviting a filmmaker to speak turns a screening into a memorable event.

In schools, direct dialogue inspires aspiring talent—especially young women in STEM or male-dominated fields—to persevere. For companies, live Q&As provide professional development and help leaders and allies identify workplace cultural gaps.
Invite a Filmmaker

Create an awesome step-and-repeat as a backdrop for selfies and group photos.

Inviting a filmmaker to speak turns a screening into a memorable event.

In schools, direct dialogue inspires aspiring talent—especially young women in STEM or male-dominated fields—to persevere. For companies, live Q&As provide professional development and help leaders and allies identify workplace cultural gaps.
Invite a Filmmaker
red carpet event
Pioneers in Skirts Props

Curate an experience

Ensure the film’s message resonates and inspires real action.

1.  Invite the filmmakers to attend your event.

2.  Provide popcorn, drinks, snacks.

3.  Recruit sponsors to host contests, door prizes, food, and fun movie giveaways.

4.  Create a drive-in theater experience in a parking lot or in the auditorium.

5.  Create an awesome step-and-repeat as a backdrop for selfies and group photos.

6.  Create photo props and custom selfie frames.

7.  Choose a theme and tell your audience to dress up to meet that theme. Make sure everything else blends in: music, the food, decorations, etc.

8. Get your audience pumped up before your movie event! As the audience arrives and sits in their seats, crank the Pioneer-on play list on Spotify. 

9. Just before you walk out to welcome everyone to your event, play the movie theme song, “Freeway,” ! 

Hand out useful and memorable content

10. Give away inspiring and purposeful Pioneers Group Swag or Pioneers Individual Swag!

11. Provide parental resources and learning activities. Like a small ‘Take Action’ poster to hang on their wall as a reminder of the event! Here are a few ideas:

    • “We ALL Have A Role to Play” — ideas for what YOU can do to advance equity in the world
    • “Are YOU A Pioneer?” — ideas for how YOU can be a changemaker & change the world, every day
    • “THIS Is What Inclusion Feels Like” — ideas for how diverse populations feel welcome; a sense of belonging
    • “The POWER dynamics” — ideas for how to look at privilege, and understanding the power you have in a room.

⇑ These are great ideas for a video contest too! ⇑

Engage with your community

12. Invite the school/company/association newspaper to interview the filmmakers or panelists.

13. Inspire industry publications to write a story about your movie event and tell them why a movie like this is needed (like this: ACTE).

14. Help audiences members to explore their role in the solution and develop actionable steps by writing an action plan (these could be personal, professional, or both).

15. Invite community leaders, advocates, and local celebrities to be part of your event: Community groups, university faculties, middle school/high school/university students, school administrators, teachers, and elected officials who could help lead to positive change for women and girls at the intersections of marginalized identities—from K-12 through career.

16. Send event registrants a profile frame so they can show their Pioneering spirit (we’ve created a free Canva template for you to make your own!).

17. Conduct photo or video contests. Use a # (hashtag) for participants to tag their entry, then feature the winners in social media & blog posts.

Take a survey before the movie screening18. Take a poll before and after the screening to gauge feelings and perspectives.

19. Create a dedicated social media hashtag to increase attendee engagement before, during, and after your event.

20. Book a standard hosting package — which is HYBRID, and invite families to watch the film at home!

Discover more from Ashley Maria Productions

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading