16 Days 16 Films – The Short Film Festival and Competition is back for 2024

Today, the short film initiative, 16 DAYS 16 FILMS has confirmed the return of its annual short film festival and competition for 2024. Having launched in 2018 the festival is now in its seventh year, and returns with the continued aim to empower female filmmakers and address all forms of violence against women on a global scale. For the first time, the festival will be hosted in association with global communications agency The DDA Group, as well as annual advocacy partners UN Women, Geena Davis Institute, UK Says No More, Voice of Change and Times Up UK.

Johanna von Fischer & Ginta Gelvan, 16 DAYS 16 FILMS founders, said “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.”

Vicky Tupper, Director of Film at The DDA Group, added “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, Ending Violence against Women and Girls Section at UN Women, said “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. Through this collaboration we aim to elevate awareness of the diverse manifestations of violence against women and girls through the compelling force of film.”

To celebrate the announcement of the 2024 festival, 16 DAYS 16 FILMS are set to host a special International Women’s Day event in London in association with UN Women, BFI Inclusion, Times Up UK & The DDA Group on 8th March. The event will welcome the winners of 16 DAYS 16 FILMS 2023, Lorena R. Valencia’s “Dandelion (Cuanacaquilitl)”, Ciara Kerr’s “Homemaker”, Jo Smyth’s “Smile” and Alice Johannessen’s “Barricade”, back to London to screen their film’s to audiences once more.

Founded in 2018, 16 DAYS 16 FILMS raises awareness for ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence’ and runs from 25th November to 10th December, between International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and International Human Rights Day. It looks to platform female filmmakers and their films which explore, emote and educate on all forms of violence against women.

The festival is open to submissions from female identifying filmmakers from the UK, Ireland, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, USA and for the first time in the festival’s history, Argentina and Nigeria. Sixteen films will be selected by a nomination panel, with one film released each day of the 16 Days of Activism, and a winner will be chosen by an independent jury with an Audience Award open to a public vote. Submissions are open from today and will close on 1st October.

Previous finalists of 16 DAYS 16 FILMS short film festival include BAFTA nominated Molly Manning Walker, Director of How To Have Sex, and Adura Onashile, Director of Girl.