Birds Eye View Film Festival March 9, 2007

ActionAid premieres first film series
by women from developing world
at Birds Eye View Film Festival

Birds Eye View Film Festival
8-14th March 2007
National Film Theatre, ICA, Barbican
www.actionaid.org.uk and www.birds-eye-view.co.uk

‘Empower Women. End Poverty’ says ActionAid
for International Women’s Day

ActionAid is delighted to partner with Birds Eye View on this innovative series of films made by women from the developing world.

ActionAid’s brand new partnership with Birds Eye View brings a fresh new angle to a film festival which presents six days of inspiration and celebration, showcasing the very best work from women filmmakers.

Sue Bishop, ActionAid’s Director of Communications says: “ActionAid is delighted to present these innovative, powerful and thought provoking films made by women from the developing world for the first ActionAid series at the Birds Eye View Film Festival to mark International Women’s Day.

”ActionAid funds projects around the world which support women to claim their rights and campaign for change. These films are a new and original way to show a film-going audience the effects of poverty on the lives of millions of women and men worldwide and challenges those watching to get involved and make a difference.”

ActionAid in partnership with Birds Eye View Film Festival 8-14th March 2007

FILMS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
One of the new strands for 2007 at Birds Eye View film festival opening at the NFT on 8 March International Women’s Day is a partnership with ActionAid, featuring fascinating works from women filmmakers from the developing world.

This is a creatively innovative and exciting range of films, ranging from breathtaking animation through musical-dance film and drama to hard-hitting documentary, dealing with subjects as diverse as gum-tattooing in Senegal, the cost of democracy in poverty-striken India, and the dramatic re-telling of the experience of a woman journalist on the frontline of the Iran-Iraq war.

To mark International Women's Day, 8 March 2007, ActionAid will highlight global abuses of women's rights. Women around the world are more likely to live in poverty than men. Women have less money, less protection from violence, less education and less power, simply because they are women. But, women also drive change. Supporting women to realise their rights is essential in the fight against poverty.

ActionAid supports projects around the world to empower women and girls to recognise and claim their rights. Throughout March, as well as highlighting the struggles that women face, ActionAid will also be celebrating the contribution that women make to creating a fairer and more just world.

ACTIONAID SHORT FILMS
[Various, 60']
+ directors Q&A tbc

Friday 9th March ICA CINEMA 1: 6.30PM
Diverse range of extraordinary films by women from developing countries – from hard-hitting animation to engaging drama…

ACTIONAID FILM: Mother's Day
Filmaker Focus: Tsitsi Dangarembga [ Tsitsi Dangarembga, Zimbabwe, 30'] + clips from other films
Plus director Q&A tbc

Saturday 10th March ICA CINEMA 2: 2.00PM
Award winning musical re-telling of a Shona folk tale from acclaimed Zimbabwean author and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga.

ACTIONAID DOC: House of Smoke
[Camila Villate, Columbia, Myriam Ortega,Luz Adriana Duque, 52']

Saturday 10th March ICA CINEMA 2: 6.30PM
Documentary on the charcoal-making families in the slums of Colombia.

ACTIONAID FILM: Goodbye Life
[Ensieh Shah Hosseini, Iran]

Sunday 11th March ICA CINEMA 2: 4.00PM
Story of a female war correspondent in the Iran-Iraq conflict - based on the director’s own experiences.

ACTIONAID DOC: Six Yards to Democracy
[Nishtha Jain and Smriti Nevatia, India, 55']
Plus directors Q&A tbc
Tuesday 13th March

ICA CINEMA 1: 6.30PM

When a politician distributes free saris, hoping to secure women's votes, disaster ensues and a gruesome stampede causes the deaths of 22 women. This beautifully short documentary explores the cost of democracy.

Notes to Editors

Notes to Editors

• Birds Eye View Film Festival 8-14th March 2007 NFT, ICA, Barbican
A 6 day festival showing the work of international women filmmakers
www.birds-eye-view.co.uk

“Cutting edge, urgent, now.” Bonnie Greer
“An important celebration of women filmmakers ” The Independent

Contact ActionAid

For pictures, interviews, film clips, footage and background information contact
Wendy Bailey in the ActionAid press office on 020 7561 7572 or 07770 665512 [email protected]

ActionAid works in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas to fight poverty and injustice.

Join us to celebrate International Women's Day: www.actionaid.org.uk/IWD