16 DAYS 16 FILMS today announces its jury line-up for this year’s short film festival.
The Jury includes actress/writer Zawe Ashton, Tabitha Morton (Executive Director at UN Women UK), EVP, Head of Creative at Maven Screen Med Jenny Halper, Juliet Kirby (Producer for Aluna Entertainment), actress/writer and activist Sarah Solemani, Liza Marshall (Producer for Hera Pictures), Yarit Dor (Intimacy Coordinator and Movement Coach), Director Soudade Kadaan, Koye Adeboye (UN Spotlight Initiative), and writer, broadcaster and host of Sex Talks, Emma-Louise Boynton.
On joining the 2024 jury, Zawe Ashton commented “Cinema has the unique ability to foster empathy, raise awareness, and catalyze important conversations. I’m honored to be a part of an event that aims to leverage this transformative medium to drive progress on critical issues facing women. By showcasing this powerful and impactful work, we can inspire change, challenge societal norms, and take meaningful steps towards ending the epidemic of violence against women.”
The initiative was launched in 2018 by founding directors Johanna von Fischer and Ginta Gelvan and continues with the support of UN Women, UK Says No More, Equimundo, Voice of Change, the Geena Davis Institute, and Times Up UK. This year, global communications agency DDA have joined as a key supporter of the programme alongside these returning ambassadors. The following filmmakers and works make up the 2024 festival programme:
‘261’ – Juliette Henry (France) / ‘Nine Days in August’ – Ella Knorz (Germany) / ‘Bathsheba’ – Myah Asha Jeffers (UK) / ‘Grown’ – Jamila Meloche (USA) / ‘Homesick’ – Maja Bresink (Germany) / ‘Liminal Roots’ – Aliyah Harfoot (UK) / ‘Na Savi’ – Sofia Ayerdi (Mexico) / ‘Peripeteia’ – Tracy Kiryango (UK) / ‘Safe’ – Debbie Howard (UK) / ‘Ser Semilla’ – Julia Granillo Tostado (Mexico) / ‘She Came to Me’ – Saffron Burrows (USA) / ‘Swim and Float’ – Janina Lutter (Germany) / ‘Three Wishes. One Truth.’ – Cecilia Petrujno (Argentina) / ‘To Hold My Love’ – Elettra Giunta, Adam Othman (UK) / ‘We Did Not Consent’ – Dorothy Allen-Pickard (UK) / ‘Winds of Silence’ – Radha Mehta (USA)
16 DAYS 16 FILMS raises awareness for ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence’ and runs from 25th November to 10th December, between International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and International Human Rights Day. It looks to platform female filmmakers and their films which explore, emote and educate on all forms of violence against women.
“I am honoured to support 16 DAYS 16 FILMS, an initiative that aligns so profoundly with UN Women UK’s mission to end violence against women and girls in all its forms. The stories told through these films, whether they educate, provoke, or inspire, are vital in driving cultural and social change. We are championing the talent of women in film while also rallying global audiences to join the fight for equality and justice. The statistics alone should motivate us but we know storytelling has the power to move hearts and drive change, telling stories of women too often forgotten or dismissed. Together, we can create a future free from gendered violence”. Tabitha Morton, Executive Director UN Women UK
‘Now is the time to do more in the space of gender-based violence and discrimination. As, despite its pervasive nature, only a fraction of philanthropic funding is directed toward women and girls with even less than 1% going to organisations working to eradicate gender-based violence. We hope by giving these amazing female filmmakers and their powerful stories a platform, we can contribute to raising awareness and push for a much needed shift cultural shift.’ – Ginta Gelvan and Johanna von Fischer – Founding Directors 16 Days 16 Films
The festival takes in submissions from female identifying filmmakers from the UK, Ireland, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, USA and for the first time in the festival’s history, Argentina and Nigeria. Sixteen films were selected by a nomination panel, with one film released each day of the 16 Days of Activism, and a winner will be chosen by the independent jury with an Audience Award open to a public vote.
Previous finalists of 16 DAYS 16 FILMS short film festival include BAFTA nominated Molly Manning Walker, Director of How To Have Sex, and Adura Onashile, Director of Girl.
