FROM NOVEMBER 25 TO DECEMBER 10, 16 DAYS 16 FILMS EXPLORES THE COMPLEXITIES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

This article was published in November 2020.

This year, the Kering Foundation, together with its partner Modern Films, is launching the third edition of 16 Days 16 Films, the short film initiative that focuses on filmed content addressing violence against women.

Inspired by the UN Women campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, the initiative will run online from 25 November to 10 December, between the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and International Human Rights Day.

All films are directed by a female-identifying filmmaker, are 20 minutes or under, and speak powerfully to the many forms which gender-based violence and inequality and discrimination can take. 16 finalists have been chosen from over 350 submissions from the UK, Ireland, France, Italy and for the first
time, from Mexico and the United States.

One finalist short film will be released per day during the 16 days, on 16days16films.com. The films will also be shared by the Kering Foundation’s partner specialist non-profit organizations, supporting this campaign: Chayn Italia in Italy, En avant toute(s) in France, Fondo Semillas in Mexico, NNEDV in the U.S, as well as the UK Says No More campaign in the UK. The initiative will conclude with an awards ceremony and a special event screening of all 16 films on December 16th.

This year’s independent jury includes an array of people from various creative and socio-political backgrounds, including film producer Barbara Broccoli; actress, and social justice humanitarian Ashley Judd; social activist and psychotherapist Dr. Leyla Hussein; producer and writer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor; actress Stacy Martin; actress and producer Julie Gayet; actress Anna Friel; stunt performer and intimacy coordinator Teniece Divya Johnson; director Phyllida Lloyd; journalist and author Terri White; director Sarah Gavron; actress Jasmine Trinca; writer Abi Morgan; director and actress Tamara Yazbek Bernal; journalist Chiara Tronville; Promundo CEO Gary Barker; Kering Foundation Executive Director Céline Bonnaire; and UK Says No More Partnership Manager Sarah D’Angelis.

This year’s 16 DAYS 16 FILMS finalists are:

• Absent (UK) dir. Libby Burke Wilde
• Alejandra, I Love You (Mex) dir. Minerva R. Bolaños
• Backwards God (USA) dir. Natalie Cook
• Ballet After Dark (USA) dir. B.Monét
• Blossom (Fr) dirs. Lysa Lamorisse, Cannelle Anglade, Ethel Harnie-Coussau
• Expensive Shit (UK) dir. Adura Onashile
• Eyes Down (UK) dir. Charlotte Daniel
• Good Thanks, You? (UK) dir. Molly Manning Walker
• Halwa (USA) dirs. Gayatri Bajpai, Nirav Bhakta
• Heart Eyes and a World (UK) dir. Rosie Morris
• Her Song (Ire) dirs. Éabha Bortolozzo, Jack Kirwan
• Paperthin (USA) dir. Lucía Florez
• Reshma (US/Italy) dir. Livia Alcalde
• The Road is a Red Thread (Mex) dir. Melissa Elizondo Moreno
• Thread (USA) dir. Yuri Jang
• Time & Days (It) dir. Alessia Buiatti

For more information visit 16days16films.com

About Modern Films

Modern Films is a London-based, female-led film production, distribution and event cinema agency. Established by Eve Gabereau in 2017 with a mandate to work on stories that address social issues head-on through film and media content, they launched with the Event Cinema release of Manifesto starring Cate Blanchett and with Executive Production on the BAFTA-winning I am Not a Witch. They focus on A-list festival competitors, critically acclaimed titles and international award winners.