Institute of Development Studies

Real World Launch: Films for International Women's Day

Tessa Lewin - 4 March 2009

Monday 9 March sees the launch of the first round of documentary films produced by the Pathways of Women’s Empowerment Real World scheme. The films will premiere at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London as part of the annual International Women’s Film Festival - Bird’s Eye View.

Real World is a pioneering documentary scheme to create and distribute positive images of women in the developing world. Filmmakers collaborate with academics to find stories in their chosen region. They receive training to develop their skills, and £20, 000 to make a series of innovative short documentaries to help bring about positive social change by intervening within arenas of representation and public awareness.

Real World is a unique collaboration between the Pathways of Women’s Empowerment Research Consortium and the UK Film Council’s South East regional agency, Screen South. The pilot scheme was launched at the start of 2008, and two sets of films have been produced so far, dealing with women’s lives in Brazil and Palestine.

Thorns and Silk tells four unusual stories from Palestine, featuring women who work in jobs that are conventionally associated with men in their society. All four of them have the courage to break traditional rules, though not without struggle. Director Paulina Tervo is a documentary filmmaker who is particularly keen to tell positive stories from developing countries and conflict zones. Her intimate portraits of everyday women in extraordinary circumstances give a rare glimpse of Palestinain society beyond news headlines and images of suffering

A Vida Politica is a series of beautifully shot films exploring the activism of four Brazilian women, as they demonstrate innovative ways of bringing the hidden issues of gender and power into the public domain: A Vida Politica is directed by Kat Mansoor, Brighton based documentary filmmaker, whose film ‘Here’s Johnny’ recently won an unprecedented two Grierson awards for Best Arts Documentary and Best Newcomer.

The Real World scheme is one of many initiatives undertaken by the Pathways of Women’s Empowerment Consortium that recognises the importance of representation in shaping our understanding of reality. The films from this pilot year have already gathered positive press and been accepted at a number of Festivals.

Andrea Cornwall, director of the project, spoke recently to the Egypt Daily News ‘What we are exploring is an entirely different approach: one that is framed by lived experience rather than stereotypes; one that can countenance contradictions and celebrate plural visions and versions of empowerment that fit with the contexts in which they are voiced; and one that can reframe empowerment in ways that restore its power as a concept to serve the struggle for a more just and equal world’.

Monday’s screening will also sees the launch of the next Real World scheme, which will be seeking to extend its impact and reach by developing a partnership with a TV broadcaster.

Buy tickets on the ICA website

Tessa Lewin is the Communications and Learning Officer for the Pathways of Women's Empowerment Consortium.

Photo: Hanan the Videographer from Paulina Tervo's 'Thorns and Silk', by Tessa Lewin.