The MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Paramount, today hosted an exclusive media launch for their latest exciting offering, an anthology of five short films titled ‘In Bloom’.
Focusing on gender equity, ‘In Bloom’ features five powerful films written and directed by emerging women filmmakers from Nigeria, Kenya, India, Brazil, and the United States.
“We know that television shows and films are thought-provoking media essential for encouraging meaningful conversations that can amplify diverse voices and inspire positive change. We’re excited to bring these powerful narratives to audiences with grant support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and distribution and marketing support from Paramount. This initiative presents the opportunity for us to produce game changing content that helps people take positive actions and make better decisions around gender equity related issues.” Wame Jallow, MTV Staying Alive Foundation’s Executive Director.
Launching, in celebration of International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8, the collection of films addresses a range of issues, including period poverty, child marriage, gender-based violence, HIV stigma, and women’s economic empowerment in various languages.
READ ALSO: Paramount announces new anthology in partnership with MTV Staying Alive Foundation
- In Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English, the drama ‘Aféfé’– written and directed by Dolapo LowlaDee Adeleke (Nigeria), confronts viewers with a staggering statistic: women and girls worldwide dedicate 12.5 billion hours to unpaid care work every day (Oxfam 2020).
- In Swahili and English, the psychological horror ‘Kifungo’– written and directed by Voline Ogutu(Kenya), addresses the alarming statistics that adolescent girls and young women in Sub-Saharan Africa are three times more likely to contract HIV than their male counterparts (UNAIDS 2022).
- The English comedy-drama‘Period’– written and directed by Nicole Teeny (U.S.), highlights the plight of the estimated 500 million people globally who lack access to menstrual products (UNFPA 2023).
- The drama ‘Alta’– written and directed by Priyanka Banerjee (India) in Bengali, sheds light on the plight of the 12 million girls married before the age of 18 annually (Girls Not Brides 2020).
- The Portuguese and English, drama ‘Maré’– written and directed by Giuliana Monteiro (Brazil), grapples with Brazil’s disturbing rise in femicide incidents, where nearly one woman is killed every six hours (AFP News 2022).
“This unique anthology represents a significant step towards promoting dialogue around gender equity through compelling storytelling. It not only showcases the phenomenal talent of the writers and actors but also offers a real-life glimpse into the lives of women around the world who, despite tremendous challenges, defy expectations and continuously challenge the status quo.” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Paramount Africa & Lead BET International.
The event was hosted by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Paramount Africa, with attendance by members of the media and influencers, featuring a lively panel discussion hosted by television presenter, actress, and co-chair of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Stephanie Ndlovu. Panellists included Folu Storms, actress, host, and voiceover artist who stars as Simi in ‘In Bloom’, Wame Jallow, Executive Director, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Monde Twala, SVP, GM Editorial & BET International Lead; and Lindi Dlamini, former CEO of GBVF Response Fund1 and current Executive Director, Rodean School. The panel served as a platform to raise awareness about the social disparities faced by women globally.
