16 Days 16 Films festival returns in 2024 to spotlight female filmmakers and global gender-based violence issues

The esteemed short film festival and competition, 16 Days 16 Films, is set to make its grand return in 2024, marking its seventh year of championing female filmmakers and shedding light on gender-based violence globally. This year’s edition is noteworthy for its association with the global communications agency, the DDA Group, which joins the initiative for the first time, alongside long-standing advocacy partners such as UN Women, Geena Davis Institute, UK Says NO MORE, Voice of Change and Time’s Up UK. The festival invites submissions from female-identifying filmmakers from an expanded list of countries, with the submission period opening on International Women’s Day, 8^th March 2024.

Johanna von Fischer and Ginta Gelvan, founders of 16 Days 16 Films, expressed their enthusiasm about the festival’s return, emphasising the significance of launching submissions on International Women’s Day. “We are excited to bring 16 Days 16 Films back again for 2024. It is incredibly apt that we open submissions with our special event on International Women’s Day as we continue to address the issue of violence against women on a global scale with the support of some incredible partners and organisations, including this year’s addition of the DDA Group,” they stated.

The festival has garnered praise for its impactful work over the years. Vicky Tupper, Director of Film at the DDA Group, lauded the initiative, “The work that 16 Days 16 Films has done over the last six iterations has been nothing short of ground-breaking and we are proud to be able to lend the full weight of DDA’s backing to enable Johanna, Ginta and the team to continue and grow their work in what is a vital vehicle for necessary change.”

Kalliopi Mingeirou, Chief of the Ending Violence against Women and Girls Section at UN Women, highlighted the importance of the festival in raising awareness of violence against women, describing it as a significant barrier to gender equality. “International Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate women’s achievements as well as to reflect upon the persisting barriers to global gender equality. UN Women is proud to partner with 16 Days 16 Films to champion female filmmakers whilst also highlighting the most pervasive violation of human rights, violence against women which is also the most significant barrier to gender equality,” Mingeirou noted.

Dame Heather Rabbatts, Chair of Time’s Up UK, also voiced strong support for the initiative, connecting it to the broader fight against gender-based violence. “Time’s Up UK have been proud supporters of 16 Days 16 Films for many years and shares its vision to champion female filmmakers and to tell stories that help shape a world free from violence. We know that violence against women in all its forms is one of the greatest violations of human rights that exists in the world today, and we stand together with the team at 16 Days 16 Films, with UN Women and the Geena Davis Institute on this International Women’s Day to call for an end to all forms of violence,” she stated.

The festival, which runs from 25^th November to 10^th December, coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, aims to showcase films that explore, emote, and educate on all forms of violence against women. This year, it expands its reach to include submissions from Argentina and Nigeria for the first time, alongside previous participating countries. The festival’s impact and significance continue to grow, attracting previous finalists such as BAFTA-nominated Molly Manning Walker and Adura Onashile, highlighting its role as a vital platform for female filmmakers and advocacy against gender-based violence.

The editorial unit

For more information on 16 Days 16 Films, visit the website here.