Over the last twenty years, women have increasingly come to occupy a good number of creative and responsible posts in all fields of film production, and they have moved beyond the traditional "female" genres. However, the old rule of thumb still applies: the higher the budget and the higher the financial risk associated with the production – and these are usually the full-length feature films – the less frequently there will be a woman in the Director's Chair. The same applies for film distribution where the amount of movies made by women directors is still disproportionately low - whether on TV or at a cinema near you or in the programmes of major film festivals.

It is for this reason that the International Dortmund|Cologne Women's Film Festival runs two separate competitions to highlight the work of women film directors — one for women film-makers who have already arrived on the scene and one for the next generation. On an alternating biennial basis the International Best Debut Feature Film Competition for young talents is held in Cologne, and the International Feature Film Competition for experienced women film directors takes place in Dortmund.

Both festivals offer two awards each: the Dortmund Festival awards the International Feature Film Award of 25,000 Euro and the National Directors of Photography Award of 5,000 Euro, while the Cologne Festival offers the International Debut Feature Film Award endowed with 10,000 Euro and the Audience Award of International Debut Feature Film Competition endowed with 1,000 Euro. This years' festival in Cologne will screen 95 films from 30 different countries, featuring the production of movies by women worldwide. The special programme FOCUS : CHINA programme will present the works of Chinese women film directors. A special Film education Section offers a film week for school kids with programmes for children and a practical media workshop for girls aged 14 to 18.

The International Dortmund|Cologne Women's Film Festival 2008 takes pace in Cologne from April 23 to 27.