It is Toronto’s only international film festival geared specifically for women directors.

In 2005, the tagline "Always Honest, Not Always Pretty" was coined, when Coles was asked to describe the festival offering.

[citation needed] The inaugural festival took place a year later, at which 42 films were screened, mostly by local directors.

Later, a photo exhibition and Experimental Film Program were also introduced, as well as opening and closing galas.

It has been voted as one of the "top 50 film festivals in the world worthy the entry fee" by the independent Movie Maker magazine six times (2013-2018).