“16 DAYS 16 FILMS”

THE ANNUAL ONLINE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL AND COMPETITION, EMPOWERING FEMALE FILMMAKERS AND ADDRESSING ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS FOR THE 2023 EDITION

LORENA R. VALENCIA’S “DANDELION” (Cuanacaquilitl) (Mexico) WINS THE TOP PRIZE

WITH CIARA KERR’S “HOMEMAKER” (UK) AND JO SMYTH’S “SMILE” (UK) RECEIVING THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNER-UP PRIZES

THE AUDIENCE AWARD GOES TO ALICE JOHANNESSEN’S “BARRICADE” (UK)

The finalist films are available to watch now on the online platform 16 Days, 16 Films until 24th December 2023.

Embargoed until 7.00pm GMT, London 14th December 2023: The annual short film initiative 16 DAYS 16 FILMS has today announced the winning films from the 2023 edition.

Taking the top prize is Writer/Director Lorena R. Valencia with Dandelion (Cuanacaquilitl) from Mexico. Valencia’s film tells the story of Ingrid, a teenage girl who lives in a small town in Mexico and is helped by her best friend in her search for home remedies to stop an unwanted pregnancy, undeterred by the health risks that she may face. Together they discover that in spite of the vulnerable situations society places women in, sisterhood can help them flourish.

“Around the entire world, people are still fighting for basic rights such as making choices over their own bodies. My short film “Cuanacaquilitl” (Dandelion), aims to keep having conversations about the dangerous conditions that thousands of people with a capacity for pregnancy face practicing clandestine abortions. This film portrays, through a fiction scenario, the lives of many females around the world who lack the resources to decide over their own bodies but it’s also a film that honours the power of hope, resilience and sisterhood. “Cuanacaquilitl” comes from the Nahuatl language, venerating my roots and my ancestry, and it means “Dandelion” in English. This narrative short film is written in honour to my grandmothers who despite living in tough conditions, showed strength and resilience raising a large number of children, and it’s dedicated to all the people with a capacity for pregnancy who feel overwhelmed during these uncertain times.” Lorena R. Valencia

The first runner-up prize is awarded to Ciara Kerr’s animated musical short Homemaker, the story of Renee who loses herself in a controlling relationship, featuring Rosalie Craig. The second runner-up prize is awarded to Jo Smyth’s Smile, the story of Sue, a woman in her fifties who has to navigate the murky world of misogyny and everyday sexism, and how she fights back.

An independent jury selected the winners from 16 finalist films which were released each day between November 25th December 10th on 16days16films.com. This year’s independent jury included Kalliope Mingeirou, the Chief of the Ending Violence against Women Section at UN-Women in New York; Madeline Di Nonno – CEO Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media; Daniel Guinness, Managing Director at Beyond Equality; Golda Rosheuvel, Actor (Bridgerton); Saffron Burrows, Actor (Enigma, Circle of Friends); Emily Atef, Director (More Than Ever, 3 Days in Quiberon); Isabella Odoffin, Casting Director (How To Have Sex); Sarah McCaffrey, Founder Solas Mind; Patsy Stevenson, women’s rights campaigner, writer and public speaker.

Kalliopi Mingeirou, the Chief of the Ending Violence against Women Section at UN Women said:"UN Women is proud to stand with the 16 Days 16 Films initiative, leveraging the transformative power of film to spotlight the diverse manifestations of violence against women and girls. Through the lens of these 16 short films, we are hoping to engage a wider audience about the devastating impacts of violence against women, to convey the strength of survivors and to foster empathy. Violence against women can be prevented and we all have a role to play. We celebrate the invaluable contributions of these talented female filmmakers to shaping narratives that inspire action and change."

Jury member and star of “Bridgerton” Actor Golda Rosheuval, said :“Watching these films, you definitely get a sense it's crucial to speak out and be brave in order to address the horrors of domestic violence and violence against women. Creating films that shed light on these issues can be a powerful way to raise awareness and initiate change. The 16 days 16 films festival provides a platform for women to share their stories, giving them space and empowerment to come forward. Art has the ability to challenge and provoke, and sometimes discomfort and is necessary to drive meaningful transformation. Pushing back against social norms and advocating for change is essential in creating a safer and equitable world for everyone.”

This year’s Audience Award, is presented to Alice Johannessen’s Barricade.

In the days leading up to the Awards Announcement, Audience members were able to vote for the film which they felt stood out as a result of its high quality, strength of storytelling and impactful resonance. In Barricade, after experiencing a traumatic event on her school bus, Aleena bottles up her anger until a chance connection triggers a small act of rebellion.

The finalist films are available to watch now on the online platform 16 Days, 16 Films until 24th December 2023 GMT.

With the support of UN Women, UK Says No More, Voice of Change, the Geena Davis Institute, and the BFIInclusion, 16 Days 16 Films is a short film competition platforming female filmmakers and their films, which explore, emote, and educate on all forms of violence against women. The 16 Days 16 Films initiative is presented by Founding Directors Johanna von Fischer and Ginta Gelvan.

This year’s 16 DAYS 16 FILMS finalists were:

Day 1 BARRICADE (UK) Alice Johannessen After experiencing a traumatic event on her school bus, Aleena bottles up her anger until a chance connection triggers a small act of rebellion. (10 mins)

Day 2 - AFTER FRED (UK) - Rachel Meyrick Charlotta’s violent marriage was brought to an abrupt end after 40 years when a shop assistant witnessed her being attacked and called it out.  Two years on she is free and, aged 82, is blossoming as a warrior advocate, supporting women decades younger than her to face the court system after making their own escapes from domestic violence. (20 mins)

Day 3 - A VERY NICE GUY (Mexico) - Minerva R. Bolaños Rodrigo Fierro, a renowned film director, is accused of rape on social media by a woman who was a member of his crew. Seeing that his future may be in danger due to the complaint, he makes a documentary to tell his version of events, trying to prove his innocence. (21 mins)

Day 4 - CERES (UK) - Amelia SearsThe story of a daughter seeking refuge from her emotionally abusive partner at the home of her estranged mother. Stars Juliet Stevenson. (15 mins)

Day 5 - WINN (USA) -  Erica Tanamachi & Joseph East After miscarrying her baby in prison due to shackling, Pamela Winn becomes an activist, leading thousands to support the Dignity Bill. "Winn" exposes the horrifying experience that incarcerated pregnant women endure and documents Pamela's mission to end shackling and ultimately prison birth. (17 mins)

Day 6 - TÃM (Australia) - Noora NiasariTâm wakes up in a strange hotel room. As she pieces together the night before, she realizes she is not alone. (12 mins)

Day 7 - DANDELION (Mexico) - Lorena R. Valencia Ingrid, a teenage girl who lives in a small town in Mexico, is helped by her best friend in her search for home remedies to stop an unwanted pregnancy, undeterred by the health risks that she may face. (17 mins)

Day 8 - MY BLONDE GF (UK) - Rosie MorrisAn awful discovery turns Helen’s life upside down. Sexually explicit deepfake images appear on a porn site, with her own face edited onto another woman’s body. (19 mins)

Day 9 - MOSQUITO LADY (USA) - Kristine GerolagaFearing the consequences of revealing her pregnancy to her parents and facing limited options amidst increasingly restrictive abortion regulations, a teenager turns to a neighbor her parents warned her about in her desperation for assistance. This decision sets off a chain of events with horrifying consequences. (14 mins)

Day 10 - …ESPERANZA (Mexico) - Mayra VelizAn elderly woman narrates how she was deceived, robbed and forced to marry her captor at the age of 19 and how, many years later, she found her freedom. (21 mins)

Day 11 - HOMEMAKER (UK) - Ciara Kerr Renee loses herself in a controlling relationship and the abuse she suffers gets worse until she is utterly trapped. (9 mins)

Day 12 - HER LAST DAY (USA) - Jiacheng Wang A woman "Meizi" with her child who has lived in domestic violence for years travels back to her past wedding with her abusive husband while facing the decision to change her marriage. (13 mins)

Day 13 - THE SKY AFTER RAIN (Australia) -  Blame the Shadows CollectiveThe story of Shaya. a queer member of the Iranian diaspora told through recorded audio interviews, spoken word poetry, and choreographed dance.

Day 14 - SMILE (UK) - Jo SmythSmile is about Sue, a woman in her fifties who has to navigate the murky world of misogyny and everyday sexism, and how she fights back. (14 mins)

Day 15 - STILL WATERS (USA) - Aurora Brachman Aurora Brachman’s touching short features her mother as she shares an unexpected and difficult moment in her childhood. (12 mins)

Day 16 - BLACKWOOL (UK) Eubha Akilade  On her first day at a high school in rural Scotland, a London teenager is targeted for her Afro hair by cocksure class bully and must harness her inner power. (15 mins)

16 Days 16 Films was launched in 2018 in partnership with female-led UK film production and distribution company, Modern Films, and UK Says No More.

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About 16 Days 16 Films Founders

Ginta Gelvan is co-founding director and producer of the yearly 16 Days 16 Films short film competition. Ginta co-launched the film company Modern Films highlighting female filmmakers and social issues driven stories.

Ginta comes from the fashion, luxury and entertainment world. Her expertise covers branding, PR and marketing for global brands such as Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger and Agent Provocateur.

Johanna von Fischer is co-founding director and producer of the yearly 16 Days 16 Films short film competition. Johanna has been director of the acclaimed British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) with over 15 years experience of producing the Film Awards.

Johanna began her career as an actor in independent films and theatre, now working as a creative event consultant. For Modern Films, Johanna ran Impact Campaigns for their film releases.

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 on https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism

About Our Partners

UK SAYS NO MORE is the national awareness and prevention campaign for Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence across the U.K. The campaign was launched by London charity Hestia in 2016. UK Says NO MORE seeks to unite and strengthen a diverse community of members of the public and organisations nationwide to actively take a stand against domestic abuse and sexual violence under one powerful, visual symbol.

UN WOMEN is the UN organisation delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold women’s human rights, and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential. UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls, and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life.

VOICE OF CHANGE 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.

The GEENA DAVIS INSTITUTE was founded in 2004 by two-time Academy Award winning actor Geena Davis, and 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.

The BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image. Their mission is to support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers; to grow and care for the BFI National Archive; to offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through programmes and festivals (online and in venue); to use their knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding of film and the moving image; and to work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries.