“16 DAYS 16 FILMS” ANNOUNCES 2024 FESTIVAL WINNERS
The short film festival committed to addressing violence against women returned for its seventh edition from Nov 25 - Dec 10th this year.
(London, UK, Monday 16th December 2024) – 16 DAYS 16 FILMS today announces the winners for this year’s short film festival.
The winning film ‘We Did Not Consent’, directed by Dorothy Allen-Pickard (UK), with first runner up prize going to ‘Nine Days in August’ by Ella Knorz (Germany). The second runner up prize has been awarded to ‘Batsheba’, directed by Myah Asha Jeffers (UK) and the winner of the Audience Award, voted for by the public, goes to ‘Safe’, directed by Debbie Howard (UK).
Ginta Gelvan and Johanna von Fischer - Founding Directors 16 Days 16 Films commented, ‘We are proud to present this year's winners chosen from an extraordinary and diverse list of finalists. Each of these films show a powerful story, told from a unique point of view, by an original voice. We hope our platform continues to widen the audience for these stories and the talent behind them; and we can't wait to see what each of these filmmakers do next.’
This year’s Jury included 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.”
Tabitha Morton, Executive Director UN Women UK commented, “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”.
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 made 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.
Each year, 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 is 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.
You can find out more about 16 DAYS 16 FILMS at www.16days16films.com
@16days16films
#EndVAW #16daysofactivisim #16days16films
For further press information please contact: vicky.tupper@ddapr.com
NOTES TO EDITORS:
ABOUT 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence is an annual campaign, which has run since 1991, and has 164 countries and 3,700 organisations involved. It uses the 16 days between International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25th November) and International Human Rights Day (10th December) to reinforce that eliminating all forms of violence against women is a human rights issue, and that the act of perpetrating violence against women is a human rights violation.
Find out more at https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism
ABOUT THE DDA GROUP
DDA is the leading global entertainment communications agency, with offices in Los Angeles and London, offering a bespoke service and truly global reach for festivals, networks, platforms, producers, distributors, financiers, government organisations, and brands.
DDA’s unrivalled knowledge of the entertainment industry adds undisputed value as a trusted partner for its clients. With deep-rooted industry and media contacts, as well as dedicated teams on the ground at all major industry markets, festivals, and conventions worldwide, DDA’s international reach and experience in publicity is unparalleled. We provide creative and insightful strategies, tailored campaign solutions, and a ‘round-the-clock’ service across all the agency’s lines of business, which includes International Publicity, Corporate Communications, Festival Publicity, Digital/Social, Design, Event Management, and Awards & Special Projects. For more info visit https://www.theddagroup.com/
ABOUT UN WOMEN
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide.
ABOUT UN WOMEN UK
UN Women UK is a National Committee for UN Women they are an independent non-profit, non-governmental organisation that support the mission of UN Women by conducting fundraising activities (individual giving, corporate giving, foundations) to support UN Women programmes worldwide, raising public awareness and advocacy initiatives on UN Women, UK and global women’s issues, as well as supporting UN Women’s relations with the Government in the UK.
Their mission is to accelerate progress on gender equality, both in the UK and globally, through awareness campaigns, educational programs, and impactful partnerships. UN Women UK mobilises resources, influences policy, and fosters community engagement to ensure a safer, fairer, and more inclusive society for all.
ABOUT EQUIMUNDO
Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice has worked internationally and in the US since 2011 to engage men and boys as allies in gender equality, promote healthy manhood, and prevent violence. Equimundo works to achieve gender equality and social justice by transforming intergenerational patterns of harm and promoting patterns of care, empathy, and accountability among boys and men throughout their lives
ABOUT GEENA DAVIS INSTITUTE
GEENA DAVIS INSTITUTE - Founded in 2004 by Two-Time Academy Award Winning Actor Geena Davis, the Institute is the only global research-based organisation working collaboratively within the entertainment industry to create gender balance, foster inclusion and reduce negative stereotyping family entertainment media.
ABOUT UK SAYS NO MORE
UK SAYS NO MORE seeks to unite and strengthen a diverse community of members and organisations nationwide to actively take a stand against domestic abuse and sexual violence under one powerful, visual symbol. UK Says No More is home to Safe Spaces and Online Safe Spaces.
HESTIA is one of the largest providers of domestic abuse refuges in London and the Southeast and is the main organisation supporting victims of modern slavery in the capital. It is the home of domestic abuse and sexual violence campaign UK SAYS NO MORE and developed the Bright Sky domestic abuse app in partnership with Vodafone.
ABOUT VOICE OF CHANGE
VOICE OF CHANGE (Australia) supports art-based projects that champion meaningful education about - and action against - family violence. They believe that everyone has a role to play in preventing family violence, and that conversation and education is key. Their commissioned content serves as a therapeutic creative outlet for survivors, and as educational materials that can be used to highlight abusive behaviours, address patriarchal masculinity, and promote behavioural change.
ABOUT TIMES UP UK
TIME’S UP UK is an organisation that insists on safe, fair and dignified work for everyone. We do this by identifying, creating and implementing significant and impactful interventions for lasting change amplifying the work of our partners and friends, by creative connections and advocacy. Our very first red carpet when we launched back in February 2018 saw us walk with activists to share the stage as we began our campaign against bullying, harassment, and abuse, which has so long been part of the DNA of our industry. From the casting couch to ‘sex sells’, women have been mistreated in front and behind the camera.
Our work from the outset has always been one of collaboration and shared purpose, with allies, women’s organisations, and grass roots campaigns. We have acted as a convenor and partner to join forces with others to shift the dial together. No grand gestures and policy statements, but practical and meaningful intervention to push cultural change. We launched the Justice & Equality Fund in 2018 from a hugely successful crowdfund campaign which raised nearly £3m, to fund projects with one common aim, to bring an end to the culture of sexual harassment, abuse and impunity that exists in the UK by resourcing a network of advice, support, and advocacy organisations. Through the Justice & Equality Fund we were able to set up the UK’s first and only free legal advice line for women who have experienced sexual harassment delivered by Rights of Women, working with Fawcett Society and partners, Chwarae Teg, the Women’s Resource and Development Agency, and Close the Gap, we launched the Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Toolkit, a free resource to help employers create workplaces where women are safe to report incidents of sexual harassment and support employers to respond appropriately – creating environments where sexual harassment does not happen in the first place and much more: www.timesupuk.org.
