She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) takes you on a rollicking ride through 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where lucha libre meets superheroes meets The Creature from the Black Lagoon. In picturesque Acapulco, a series of wrestler murders prompts the enigmatic Bat Woman, played by Maura Monti, to investigate. A deranged scientist is behind the mayhem, capturing wrestlers for his twisted experiments, and it’s up to Batwoman, who is also a coral diver, a wrestler, a markswoman, and super spy, to stop him. Clad in a cape, cowl, and bikini, Monti delivers high-octane action and epic car chases.

As Warner has shelved their recent Batwoman film, this remains the only big-screen Batlady to date. The Bat Woman delivers a uniquely thrilling, action-packed blend of suspense, intrigue and camp, with Monti’s unforgettable performance as the one and only Batwoman, stealing the show.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las Mujeres Panteras) plunges into the wild world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where (brilliantly named) fierce female wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubi find themselves caught in a whirlwind of dark magic. The pair wind up pitted against the Panther Women, a glamorous and satanic cult of were panthers waging relentless war against the descendants of the druid who once killed their ancient leader.

With the mesmerizing exotic dancer and vedette Tongolele adding to the intrigue, The Panther Women serves up a heady dose of pulp thrills and high-energy action. This film delightfully blends gothic horror with the world of lucha libre, featuring a knock-off version of El Santo and a bevy of bloodthirsty, impeccably made-up wrestlers.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las mujeres panteras) and The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) both feature powerful women in high-octane adventures. In The Panther Women, wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubí face off against a glamorous, satanic cult of werepanthers in a thrilling blend of gothic horror and lucha libre. Meanwhile, The Bat Woman delivers a rollicking ride where lucha libre meets superheroines and a splash of The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Both films offer a captivating blend of suspense, camp, and action, celebrating the fearless heroines who dominate the screen.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

+ introduced by Invisible Women’s Camilla Baier

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las mujeres panteras) and The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) both feature powerful women in high-octane adventures. In The Panther Women, wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubí face off against a glamorous, satanic cult of werepanthers in a thrilling blend of gothic horror and lucha libre. Meanwhile, The Bat Woman delivers a rollicking ride where lucha libre meets superheroines and a splash of The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Both films offer a captivating blend of suspense, camp, and action, celebrating the fearless heroines who dominate the screen.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las mujeres panteras) and The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) both feature powerful women in high-octane adventures. In The Panther Women, wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubí face off against a glamorous, satanic cult of werepanthers in a thrilling blend of gothic horror and lucha libre. Meanwhile, The Bat Woman delivers a rollicking ride where lucha libre meets superheroines and a splash of The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Both films offer a captivating blend of suspense, camp, and action, celebrating the fearless heroines who dominate the screen.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) takes you on a rollicking ride through 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where lucha libre meets superheroes meets The Creature from the Black Lagoon. In picturesque Acapulco, a series of wrestler murders prompts the enigmatic Bat Woman, played by Maura Monti, to investigate. A deranged scientist is behind the mayhem, capturing wrestlers for his twisted experiments, and it’s up to Batwoman, who is also a coral diver, a wrestler, a markswoman, and super spy, to stop him. Clad in a cape, cowl, and bikini, Monti delivers high-octane action and epic car chases.

As Warner has shelved their recent Batwoman film, this remains the only big-screen Batlady to date. The Bat Woman delivers a uniquely thrilling, action-packed blend of suspense, intrigue and camp, with Monti’s unforgettable performance as the one and only Batwoman stealing the show.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

+ recorded introduction

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las Mujeres Panteras) plunges into the wild world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where (brilliantly named) fierce female wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubi find themselves caught in a whirlwind of dark magic. The pair wind up pitted against the Panther Women, a glamorous and satanic cult of were panthers waging relentless war against the descendants of the druid who once killed their ancient leader.

With the mesmerizing exotic dancer and vedette Tongolele adding to the intrigue, The Panther Women serves up a heady dose of pulp thrills and high-energy action. This film delightfully blends gothic horror with the world of lucha libre, featuring a knock-off version of El Santo and a bevy of bloodthirsty, impeccably made-up wrestlers.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

+ recorded introduction

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) takes you on a rollicking ride through 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where lucha libre meets superheroes meets The Creature from the Black Lagoon. In picturesque Acapulco, a series of wrestler murders prompts the enigmatic Bat Woman, played by Maura Monti, to investigate. A deranged scientist is behind the mayhem, capturing wrestlers for his twisted experiments, and it’s up to Batwoman, who is also a coral diver, a wrestler, a markswoman, and super spy, to stop him. Clad in a cape, cowl, and bikini, Monti delivers high-octane action and epic car chases.

As Warner has shelved their recent Batwoman film, this remains the only big-screen Batlady to date. The Bat Woman delivers a uniquely thrilling, action-packed blend of suspense, intrigue and camp, with Monti’s unforgettable performance as the one and only Batwoman stealing the show.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) takes you on a rollicking ride through 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where lucha libre meets superheroes meets The Creature from the Black Lagoon. In picturesque Acapulco, a series of wrestler murders prompts the enigmatic Bat Woman, played by Maura Monti, to investigate. A deranged scientist is behind the mayhem, capturing wrestlers for his twisted experiments, and it’s up to Batwoman, who is also a coral diver, a wrestler, a markswoman, and super spy, to stop him. Clad in a cape, cowl, and bikini, Monti delivers high-octane action and epic car chases.

As Warner has shelved their recent Batwoman film, this remains the only big-screen Batlady to date. The Bat Woman delivers a uniquely thrilling, action-packed blend of suspense, intrigue and camp, with Monti’s unforgettable performance as the one and only Batwoman stealing the show.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

+ introduced by Invisible Women’s Camilla Baier

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las Mujeres Panteras) plunges into the wild world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where (brilliantly named) fierce female wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubi find themselves caught in a whirlwind of dark magic. The pair wind up pitted against the Panther Women, a glamorous and satanic cult of were panthers waging relentless war against the descendants of the druid who once killed their ancient leader.

With the mesmerizing exotic dancer and vedette Tongolele adding to the intrigue, The Panther Women serves up a heady dose of pulp thrills and high-energy action. This film delightfully blends gothic horror with the world of lucha libre, featuring a knock-off version of El Santo and a bevy of bloodthirsty, impeccably made-up wrestlers.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

+ introduced by Invisible Women’s Camilla Baier

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las Mujeres Panteras) plunges into the wild world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema, where (brilliantly named) fierce female wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubi find themselves caught in a whirlwind of dark magic. The pair wind up pitted against the Panther Women, a glamorous and satanic cult of were panthers waging relentless war against the descendants of the druid who once killed their ancient leader.

With the mesmerizing exotic dancer and vedette Tongolele adding to the intrigue, The Panther Women serves up a heady dose of pulp thrills and high-energy action. This film delightfully blends gothic horror with the world of lucha libre, featuring a knock-off version of El Santo and a bevy of bloodthirsty, impeccably made-up wrestlers.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las mujeres panteras) and The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) both feature powerful women in high-octane adventures. In The Panther Women, wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubí face off against a glamorous, satanic cult of werepanthers in a thrilling blend of gothic horror and lucha libre. Meanwhile, The Bat Woman delivers a rollicking ride where lucha libre meets superheroines and a splash of The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Both films offer a captivating blend of suspense, camp, and action, celebrating the fearless heroines who dominate the screen.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Special thanks to Viviana García Besné from Permanencia Voluntaria.

Set in past and present South Africa, MILISUTHANDO is a poetic coming-of-age personal essay documentary on love and what it means to become human in the context of race, explored through the memories of Milisuthando herself – who grew up during apartheid but didn't know it was happening until it was over.

Follow by intro by Rōgan Graham

Rōgan Graham is a writer and programmer from South London. Working broadly in film exhibition, her areas of interest are works by Women and Black filmmakers. When she isn’t writing or hosting events, she can be found on a soapbox talking about Mariah Carey.

Part of SNAPSHOT, T A P E Collective’s programme capturing and celebrating the multi-faceted experiences of Black girlhood. Read more about SNAPSHOT. 

She Packs a Punch celebrates the action-laden, camp and curious world of 1960s Mexican pulp cinema with two recently restored films from director René Cardona. Showcasing his flair for action, spectacle and lucha libre, they highlight some of the most captivating female action stars of the era.

The Panther Women (Las mujeres panteras) and The Bat Woman (La mujer murciélago) both feature powerful women in high-octane adventures. In The Panther Women, wrestlers Loreta Venus and The Golden Rubí face off against a glamorous, satanic cult of werepanthers in a thrilling blend of gothic horror and lucha libre. Meanwhile, The Bat Woman delivers a rollicking ride where lucha libre meets superheroines and a splash of The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Both films offer a captivating blend of suspense, camp, and action, celebrating the fearless heroines who dominate the screen.

Presented by feminist film collective Invisible Women and T A P E collective, She Packs a Punch highlights the important contribution of female action stars to Mexican cinema. While these titles do lean into the exploitation genre, they also serve a crucial role in bringing luchadoras—who were not allowed to compete in the ring at the time—onto the screen and into the spotlight that they deserved. These films offer a chance to rediscover and appreciate the powerful women who, as Batwomen, as werepanthers, or as wrestlers, were at the heart of the action in films that will find their place in the pulp cult canon.

In partnership with CinemaAttic. There will also be food available at the event, courtesy of Sabor al Toque, a family business offering the best of traditional Colombian food.

Artist-turned-filmmaker Milisuthando Bongela's personal essay traces her childhood in South Africa during apartheid - though she didn't know it was happening until it was over.

She lived in the Republic of Transkei, an unrecognised Black independent region established by the apartheid regime, creating the illusion for Black South Africans that separate could be equal. The fall of apartheid ushered in a new life, one that included – for the first time – whiteness.

A deeply intimate portrait of past, present and future South Africa, blending poetry, film, and photography into a striking cinematic essay, Milisuthando explores love, friendship, and belonging in a South Africa stratified by racism – proving that only if we understand its tentacles, can we begin to extricate ourselves from its clutches.

Followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Milisuthando Bongela, hosted by Guy Lodge.

Part of SNAPSHOT, T A P E Collective’s programme capturing and celebrating the multi-faceted experiences of Black girlhood. Read more about SNAPSHOT. 

Artist-turned-filmmaker Milisuthando Bongela grew up in South Africa during apartheid but didn’t know it was happening until it was over.

Set in past and present South Africa, Milisuthando is a poetic coming-of-age personal essay documentary about what it means to become human in the context of race. Told through the memories of its writer-director, a millennial Black woman who only began reckoning with apartheid after its end, Bongela takes us on a searching journey, interrogating her youth spent variously in the all-Black Xhosa homeland of Transkei, London and the new South Africa, her adult life in Johannesburg, and her slivered sense of identity, driven by her thoughtful narrative voice and a cast of her family, friends, foes and historical figures. 

Spanning 30 years in a non-linear style and utilising some extraordinary archive footage, this inventive film is a meditation on the sociological concept of race, a poetic reflection on a nation born from the violence and inhumanity of apartheid, and a deeply affecting look at its lingering effects on South Africa’s national psyche. 

Part of SNAPSHOT, T A P E Collective’s programme capturing and celebrating the multi-faceted experiences of Black girlhood. Read more about SNAPSHOT. 

Premiering at Cinema Rediscovered Alma’s Rainbow is a A coming-of-age comedy-drama about three African American women living in Brooklyn, Alma's Rainbow explores the life of teenager Rainbow Gold (Victoria Gabrielle Platt) as she enters womanhood and navigates standards of beauty, self-image, and the rights women have over their bodies.

Ayoka "Ayo" Chenzira is an independent African-American director producer. She is the first African American woman animator and one of a handful of Black experimental filmmakers working since the late 1970s.

A new 4K restoration from Academy Film Archive, Film Foundation, and Milestone Films presented by T A P E Collective as part of SNAPSHOTS of Black Girlhood found in cinema, made possible with the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery.

Screening with short film Home Away From Home (Dir: Maureen Blackwood, 1993, 11 mins) Sankofa Film Collective's Maureen Blackwood renders the often unspoken experience of loneliness and sacrifice within migration stories. Her short was an official selection for Critics’ Week, Cannes Film Festival (1994) and Winner of Best European Short Film, Films des Femmes, France (1995).