Margy Kinmonth’s latest feature documentary, War Paint – Women at War, will be released on DVD on September 23, bringing its urgent message about the role of women war artists to a wider audience. The film, which premiered in UK and Irish cinemas on March 28, 2025, has already sparked conversation for its bold focus on a perspective that has long been overlooked in the history of war art.
At the heart of Kinmonth’s documentary lies a powerful question: when the stakes are life and death, what do women see that men don’t? Traditionally dominated by men, the field of war art has rarely acknowledged the female gaze. This film changes that narrative by placing women at the forefront, both in subject matter and in storytelling, offering an entirely new lens on the realities of conflict.
War Paint – Women at War features some of the most celebrated contemporary and historical female artists whose work has redefined how war is documented through art. From established figures to trailblazing voices of today, the documentary highlights the courage and creativity of women who have confronted the devastation of battle and translated it into enduring works of truth. The project is further distinguished by the fact that it was made with an entirely female cast of contributors, reinforcing the strength and necessity of the female perspective in times of turmoil.
The documentary also forms the concluding chapter of Kinmonth’s trilogy on war and art, following her acclaimed films Eric Ravilious – Drawn to War and War Art with Eddie Redmayne. Like its predecessors, War Paint weaves history, culture, and artistry into a compelling narrative, but this time it shifts the focus to a previously neglected dimension of war’s visual record.
Watch the War Paint – Women at War Trailer
The DVD release adds further depth with exclusive extras. Viewers will find a gallery of artworks featured in the film, behind-the-scenes photography that offers insight into the making of the documentary, and the original theatrical trailer. Produced by Foxtrot Films under the direction of BAFTA Award-winner Margy Kinmonth and supported by Emmy Award-winning producer Maureen Murray, the project also carries the involvement of industry veterans David Trotter, David Verey, and Sky UK executive producer Jack Oliver.
Available from September 23, the DVD can be pre-ordered through Conic Film’s official website or directly via Foxtrot Films. It will also be stocked in selected art gallery shops, making the film accessible not only to cinephiles but also to those who engage with art and culture as part of their daily lives.
By confronting conflict through a female lens, War Paint – Women at War doesn’t just expand the canon of war art—it reshapes it entirely.
