By-Laws
Welcome to Women and Film History International!
Ratified: 26 June 2010, Bologna, Italy.
Article I. Name
The name of this organization is and shall be Women and Film History International, hereinafter referred to as WFHI or “the organization.”
Article II. Purpose
[Amended via electronic vote 30 October 2025]
WFHI is a registered 501(c)(3) U.S. based non-profit existing to: promote and support the research, preservation, and exhibition of, as well as creative engagement with, all periods of women’s global film history; encourage public awareness of women’s participation in historical cinema industries and cultures worldwide; and further historical, theoretical, political, and/or aesthetic evaluations of film culture that understand women’s participation as a defining feature.
WFHI sustains an expanding network of international scholars, students, archivists, curators, programmers, filmmakers, and artists; encourages collaborations with other organizations; supports film programs, exhibitions, festivals, congresses, conferences, and symposia as well as organizes and hosts its own relevant events; and maintains and circulates to its members information relevant to its mission.
WFHI is a gender diverse and trans inclusive organization. WFHI strives to intervene in relation to dominant historical narratives that have largely excluded women, LGBTQIA+ folks, and other people who have been historically marginalized. WFHI is committed to fostering and supporting scholarly, archival, and creative work that illuminates and expands our understanding of the past in order to better understand and meet the challenges of the present.
The organization developed through the 1999 Utrecht Gender and Silent Cinema conference and subsequent Women and the Silent Screen Conferences.
Article III. Membership
[Ratified by the membership via electronic vote 2 October 2018; amended via electronic vote 30 October 2025]
Membership is open to any individual or organization subscribing to WFHI’s aims.
Membership dues shall be paid to the WFHI Treasurer. With rare exceptions subject to Steering Committee approval, dues are valid for a two-year period, beginning in January and ending in December of the following year.
Biennial dues shall be determined by the Steering Committee. Dues increases shall not occur more frequently than once in two (2) years. Dues structures cannot be changed without a vote of the membership.
Membership will be divided into three classes: Regular Members, and Honorary Members, and Institutional Members.
a. A “Regular Member” is defined as an individual member. All Regular Members are entitled to one (1) vote on any matter presented to the membership.
Regular Members are eligible (i) to participate in the annual meetings of the membership; (ii) to vote on and be elected as representatives to the Steering Committee and to be appointed to any WFHI officer position; (iii) to be appointed to subcommittees and advisory panels by the Steering Committee; and (v) to access any membership benefits designated by the organization.
Regular membership dues will be divided into scales according to financial abilities. In addition to the Regular Membership rate, a reduced Regular Member fee is available for students and unwaged and precarious workers. A higher Angel Member fee is available for Regular Members who are in a position to pay more. The amount of these dues at any time will be clearly posted on the WFHI website.
b. An Honorary Member is defined as an individual who has been recognized by the Steering Committee as having made an outstanding contribution to the field of global women’s film history over a substantial period of time. Honorary Members will be named by the Steering Committee and will hold membership for life or until surrender. Honorary members can be nominated by any member in good standing, and will be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of the Steering Committee. All Honorary Members are entitled to one (1) vote on any matter presented to all the membership. Honorary Members will not be asked to pay membership dues.
Honorary members are eligible (i) to participate in the annual meetings of the membership; (ii) to vote on and be elected as representatives to the Steering Committee and to be appointed to any WFHI officer position; (iii) to be appointed to subcommittees or advisory panels by the Steering Committee; and (v) to access any membership benefits designated by the organization.
c. An Institutional Member is defined as a group (e.g., an association, festival, foundation) or organization (e.g., library, archive, college, university, or other similar institution) ascribing to WFHI’s goals and mission.
An Institutional Member can designate one (1) representative who is eligible (i) to attend or participate in the general meetings of the membership; (ii) to be appointed to subcommittees and advisory panels by the Steering Committee; and (iii) to access any membership benefits designated by the organization. A group or institutional member, if it so wishes, may change its representative in the course of the membership period. If so, it must inform the Treasurer.
The Treasurer will ensure that all Regular and Institutional Members receive a receipt for payment of dues following payment. They can provide Honorary Members with a receipt if requested. The Treasurer shall also be entrusted with the responsibility of dues waivers and will have the power to waive dues for members whose circumstances prevent them from paying.
Paid Membership will be required for all presenters at Women and the Silent Screen conferences.
Article IV: Executive Committee
Amended via electronic vote 30 October 2025]
WFHI shall have the following officers: President, Treasurer, Steering Committee Chair, and Membership Secretary.
a. The Steering Committee Chair shall be responsible for scheduling, convening, and directing physical and electronic meetings of the Steering Committee in collaboration with the President and taking meeting minutes.
b. The President shall be responsible for convening and directing physical and electronic meetings of the Steering Committee in collaboration with the Steering Committee Chair; implementing decisions of the Steering Committee, convening and presiding over meetings of the membership; communicating decisions of the Steering Committee to the membership; maintaining the archives of the organization (including meeting minutes); and for public communications of the organization as directed and approved by the Steering Committee. The President serves as WFHI’s liaison to other organizations..
c. The Membership Secretary shall maintain a current list of members; assist the Chair and President in communicating with the membership on behalf of the Steering Committee; and help coordinate membership benefits.
d. The Treasurer shall, at the direction of the Steering Committee, collect and disburse funds acquired from dues and other sources, maintain the organization’s financial records for reporting and accounting purposes, and, in collaboration with the Membership Secretary, maintain a current list of members.
The Steering Committee may elect or appoint two (2) persons to hold one Officer role concurrently at its discretion.
No person may hold more than one (1) office.
Officers shall serve for at least two (2) years. All terms shall commence on January 1 of the fiscal year immediately following the election related to such term and shall expire on December 31 of the following year or until their resignation or removal.
No officer shall serve in their position for more than three (3) consecutive terms.
Officers must be Members of WFHI and be over eighteen years of age.
Officers of the Steering Committee are appointed by and from the body of elected Steering Committee members.
Officers may be removed from office at any time for failure to carry out their responsibilities or for disrupting or otherwise impeding the work of the organization.
The procedure for removing an officer shall be as follows:
a. A majority of Steering Committee member shall sign a written notice to the officer in question explaining the reason for removal and the timetable outlined herein.
b. The officer shall have 2 weeks from the date of the notice to respond in writing.
c. After two weeks, a vote of all members of the Steering Committee (excluding the person being removed) shall be held on the question of removal.
d. A unanimous vote will be required to remove the officer in question.Should an officer resign or be removed from office, the Steering Committee shall ratify by majority vote an interim appointment from among the membership.
Article V: Steering Committee
[Amended via electronic vote 30 October 2025]
The First Steering Committee shall comprise organizers of Women and the Silent Screen Conferences and others instrumental in the establishment of the organization: Kay Armatage, Sofia Bull, Mark Cooper, Monica Dall’Asta, Bryony Dixon, Annette Förster, Jane Gaines, Christine Gledhill, Amelie Hastie, Itzia Fernandez, Joanne Hershfield, Jennifer Horne, Cristina Jandelli, Antonia Lant, Mariann Lewinsky, Rosanna Maule, Giuliana Muscio, Elif Rongen-Kaynakçi, Catherine Russell, Astrid Söderberg Widding, Shelley Stamp. Kim Tomadjouglou, Patricia Torres San Martin, Eva Warth.
Subsequent Steering Committees shall comprise: the officers as described in Article IV; and seven (7) additional at-large members elected from the membership.
Members-at-large will participate on various subcommittees and carry out assigned tasks/jobs as directed by and decided upon by the entire Steering Committee.
Members-at-large will serve for at least two (2) years. All terms shall commence on January 1 of the fiscal year immediately following the election related to such term and shall expire on December 31 of the following year or until their resignation or removal.
No at-large Steering Committee member shall serve in that capacity for more than three (3) consecutive terms.
An at-large Steering Committee member may be removed from office at any time for failure to carry out their responsibilities or for disrupting or otherwise impeding the work of the organization. Removal from office shall follow only upon a unanimous vote of all members of the Steering Committee (excluding the person being removed).
Should an at-large Steering Committee member resign or be removed from office, the Steering Committee shall ratify by majority vote an interim appointment from among the membership.
The Steering Committee shall include members from no fewer than three (3) different nations. The Steering Committee shall also be committed to many other forms of diversity, including region, race, gender, ability, career stage, and areas of expertise, among other things.
The entire Steering Committee shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses made for the organization with pre-approval from the President and Treasurer. Compensation for employees and agents of WFHI shall be fixed by the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee shall have the authority and responsibility to oversee the administration of all aspects of WFHI including:
a._defining and administering policies concerning WFHI's sponsorship of conferences, symposia, congresses, screenings, festivals, exhibitions, and other public events as well as its participation in publication projects and grants.
b. fostering affiliations with other learned societies
c. collecting and disbursing funds acquired from dues and other sources
d. organizing events related to the organization’s mission
e. defining and administering member benefits
f. nominating candidates for office and for the Steering Committee and appointing elected members to the Officer positions.
g. creating ad hoc or standing committees and advisory panels as necessary
h. communicating with members via the electronic lists and the website
i. developing guidelines and requirements for membership, including the schedule of dues, subject to approval by the membership
k. proposing and revising nomination and election procedures, subject to approval by the membership
l. proposing amendments to the bylaws, subject to approval by the membership
m. soliciting and evaluating proposals for hosting the Women and the Silent Screen conferences, and choosing the conference host, in accordance with the organization’s mission and core values .
The Steering Committee may make decisions on behalf of WFHI regarding issues requiring resolution, but not requiring a vote from the membership as specified elsewhere in these bylaws.
The Steering Committee may deliberate in person or via electronic communications. No decision of the Steering Committee may be considered binding unless all members of the Steering Committee are given two weeks (14 days) in which to participate in it.
All members of the Steering Committee, including Officers, are expected to attend a certain number of meetings as set by the Steering Committee and dedicate a certain percentage of time outside of these meetings to fulfill assigned duties and tasks.
Members of the Steering Committee shall be selected as follows:
a._No fewer than one (1) month in advance of the next election, the Steering Committee shall solicit from the membership nominations for positions to be filled. The Steering Committee may also invite particular individuals to volunteer their candidature. The committee shall attempt to ensure that nominations represent the intellectual and demographic diversity of the organization, including graduate student representation.
b. A list of candidates will then be sent to all members electronically with a ballot form and a designated response date. If the number of candidates equals the number of open positions, then no election need be held and the candidates are named to the Steering Committee.
c. In the event of a contested election, another vote will be called.
Article VI: Meetings and Voting
[Amended via electronic vote 30 October 2025]
A vote is normally cast electronically, but a vote may also be called at a meeting (remote or in person) when circumstances permit or require it.
The regular annual business meeting will take place online.
The membership will be given one (1) months advance notice of the time of the meeting.
In addition, WFHI convenes informational meetings online and at conferences, festivals, congresses, symposia, and other public fora of interest to its membership, including at Le Giornate del Cinema Muto and each Women and the Silent Screen conference.
The Steering Committee may call a special vote at any time and place it decides necessary. In this case, the Steering Committee shall provide the membership no fewer than one (1) months advance notice..
Twenty (20) members in full in addition to Steering Committee members present shall constitute a quorum for voting, both electronically and in person.
Article VII. Amendments
[Amended via electronic vote 30 October 2025]
Recommendations for amendments to these by-laws may be submitted by any member at any time to the Steering Committee Chair, who may or may not submit the matter at any time to the whole Committee for consideration. Recommendations for amendments may also be submitted by petition of twenty (20) members or more to the Steering Committee as a whole. Such petitions must be submitted to an officer whereupon such petitions shall be forwarded immediately to all members of the Steering Committee for consideration as a ballot issue.
The Steering Committee shall forward all proposed amendments, along with its recommendation regarding such amendments, to the membership no later one (1) month prior to the scheduled vote. The Steering Committee may also convene a special vote for the purpose of amending the by-laws in accordance with Article VI.
The proposed changes shall be adopted upon the approval of the majority of votes cast by the voting members.