They Will Not Silence Our Voices

Source: 16 Days 16 Films

‘They Will Not Silence Our Voices’

16 Days 16 Films – the competition aimed at creating content that discusses violence against women and campaigns against gender-based violence – is returning for its 2022 edition, with submissions from UK, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico and the US.

All of the short films are directed by a female-identifying filmmaker, with the initiative running online from November 25 to December 10.    

The winner will be selected by a jury and announced on December 15, with first place getting the opportunity to create a new public service announcement for UK Says No More, a national campaign focused on raising awareness and preventing domestic abuse and sexual violence in the UK. 

This year’s jury features Top Boy star Adwoa Aboah, Everything I Know About Love actor Emma Appleton, Creature producer Uzma Hasan and Bad Sisters star Eva Birthistle.

“The catalytic effect of Roe V Wade’s reversal earlier this year, alongside the alarming increase in femicides in countries including Mexico and France and recent protests in Iran, have shown how precarious women’s rights are on a global scale,” said a statement from the initiative.  ”Filmmakers, now more than ever, are needed to use their platform to create safe spaces for open discussion on these difficult issues around gender-equality.”

16 Days 16 Films was launched in 2018 by female-led UK film production and distribution company, Modern Films, in association with UK Says No More, a national campaign focused on raising awareness and preventing domestic abuse and sexual violence in the UK.

16 Days 16 Films finalists 

Before Dawn, Kabul Time (US) dir. Tara Motamedi

Bertie Mi Ha Scritto Una Poesia (It) dir. Vittoria Rizzardi Peñalosa

Bruise (Ire) dir. Mo O’Connell

Candy (UK) dir. Sarah Grant

Entitled (US) dir. Kelsey Fordham

Hair Uncovered (UK) dir. Cathy Heffernan

Home Safe (UK) dirs. Ellie Hodgetts, Aymeric Nicolet

Honesty (UK) dir. Roxy Rezvany

Lola (Fr) dir. Silvia Staderoli

Malevolence (UK) dir. Eugenia Hamilton

Morgane (Fr) dir. Lilou Massouty

Nice To Meet You All (UK) dir. Guen Murroni

The Violence Between Us (UK) dir. Camila Guerreiro

They Will Not Silence Our Voices (Mex) dir. Yennué Zárate Valderrama

Visceral (Fr) dir. Alexandra Mignien

Whale (Ire) dir. Lorna Fitzsimons