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What is ‘Ace Women’?

Ace Women is a 40-60 minute documentary film about the lives of women bikers in London as they navigate the highs and lows of the motorcycle world.

To outsiders the motorcycling community is viewed as a male only club. But the truth is women have always been riders too. From circuit racing to ride outs, women continue to do it all and their numbers are growing. 

What is it about?

Throughout the film we get to know four very different women, whose love of riding motorbikes has significantly shaped their lives and relationships. 

We meet Toni whose enthusiasm for bikes began when she was just twelve years old. The second she turned seventeen she bought her first motorcycle. Toni is hugely sociable and continues to expand her network of friends through biking. Now in her 50s with children and grandchildren of her own, she has made motorbikes an integral part of their family life.

Toni is also a photographer who has faithfully documented her biking experiences. These images are a window into the history of the biking world in London and beyond. They feature the legendary Ace Café, the hub for the biking community In London dating right back to the late 1950s. This is where male and female bikers of all ages meet to share their enthusiasm, stories and experience the supportive community they find there.

Lillie started riding bikes in her 20s. She grew up in the Lake District, envying the bikers who travelled there and longing to be a part of their community. She now rides a Yamaha MT009. Despite her family's fear of her riding such a 'dangerous machine' she relishes the independence and freedom it gives her.

Lillie belongs to a number of different biker groups. One of these, The Biker Chicks, is an all-female group who organise ride-outs and days on the racing circuit, testing themselves and their bikes to the limit. They are young, confident and happy to be very visible on social media.

Sarah got her first bike when she was 17, when she made sure her pedal bicycle was stolen so her mother would agree to buy her a motor one. For the past forty years Sarah's natural habitat is on her bike. She is on it at every opportunity -  from regular commutes to long trips abroad. As a reflective person who enjoys her own company Sarah relishes the autonomy and freedom a motorbike gives her as a woman. 

Josephine wanted a motorcycle from her childhood in the 1940s.  Like Sarah she bought her first motorcyle at 17  and started coming to the Ace Cafe in the 1950s.  She was riding with the rockers in the 1960s when the Ace Cafe was at the height of its notoriety as the hub for the bikers who lived fast and died young.  She put on her leathers and jumped on her bike at a time when women’s rights were still a dirty word.  Now in her 80s she still loves motorcylcing and plans to have her ashes scattered at the Ace, her spiritual home.

What makes this film unique?

This film presents the lives of ordinary women being extraordinary on their motorbikes. These are women whose priorities, stories and experiences that have, up until now, gone largely unrecognised.

Through them the vitality of the women’s biking community in London from the 1960s to the present day is brought to life.

This film spans generations of women and biking, from 1945 to the present day.  Their stories  give us an insight into the huge societal and cultural changes that continue to affect women’s choices.

What will be the film's impact?

Ace Women is  a film that flips the story of the macho motorcyclist and overturns gender stereotypes.  It demonstrates what becomes possible when women step away from the ordinary.  This film will be submitted to International Film Festivals, such as The Underwire Film Festival,  Raindance and the Motorcycle Film Festival in New York.

Who is behind the film?

Director/Producer: Jane Arnold-Forster

Jane has had a varied life, from racing a vintage Austin 7 to rallying in an Austin Healey and, more recently a 1925 Frazer Nash. She has travelled widely, taking her camera with her wherever she goes.

Jane worked in Information Technology in the City of London for nearly 30 years all the while indulging her love of theatre as an audience member. In 2009 she left the City to work as a theatre production manager in a wide range of London venues and productions. She now regularly volunteers at Questors Theatre in Ealing, performing many production and creative roles including show photographer.

Over the past year Jane has begun making documentary films, finding that her broad life experience and relatability helps her to draw out the stories of others. She studied Documentary Film at the MET Film School at Ealing Film Studios in London.

Editor: Michelle Deignan

Michelle Deignan is a film editor, filmmaker, lecturer and artist based in London. Since she began her film editing career back in 1998 she has been drawn to working on documentary films, enjoying the creative challenge of shaping stories from real life. She is particularly drawn to making films about women's experience of the world, especially those women who push the boundaries of expectations.

Michelle's documentary film credits include: Breaking Ground: The Story of the London Irish Women's Centre (Belfast Film Festival, Cork International Film Festival); Dispatches – Seven Days in Hell (Channel 4); Visionaries - Writers (BBC World); 9/11 – The Missed Opportunities (BBC World; The Arts Show - If (Channel 4); Murder Squad (ITV); The Making of Primate Cinema (Arts Catalyst).         

Director of Photography: Joe Ransom

Joe is a cinematographer working primarily in the commercial and branded world.

Specialising in gimbal and aerial work Joe is always looking for new and innovative ways to work with the camera.

As a director and DoP Joe brings a unique approach to his work. He’s a creative thinker and is adaptable to the everyday demands put before him.

His work has taken him around the world both directing and shooting for clients that include; Disney, Cartoon Network, Discovery, Nickelodeon, ITV, Playstation, Vodafone, Amazon and B & Q

Even if you cannot contribute money, anything you can do, from using the Indiegogo tools to put this film out there, to telling your friends and sharing the link, will be amazing.