Key themes
The 2018 programme of the Film Festival Women’s Worlds is, amongst many other things, shining a light on the topics “Female Genital Mutilation”, physical self-determination and “Rights of girls all over the world” from many perspectives.
Fight against Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM)
Worldwide several hundred million of women are affected by FGM. The effects on physical and mental health are severe. „The Cut: Exploring FGM“ pursues the issue of why the practice is still so prevalent. „Cut: Exposing FGM Worldwide“ refutes the popular notion that FGM is a purely African or Muslim tradition. Comprehensive research traces the phenomenon to 15 countries on six continents – among them: Russia, Australia and the USA. The Senegalese rapper Sister Fa is one of many artists in “Little Stones” who stands up for women’s rights. Daringly she argues against FGM. Accompanying to the film programme, the film festival will host the photo exhibition “Building Bridges to End FGM”. At the exhibition opening experts and activists will discuss ways to end this cruel practice.
From §219a to #AbortoLegalYa
The fight for women’s right to self-determination and the right to abortion is highly topical all over the world. “Birthright: A War Story” shows that radical religious groups have undermined the healthcare system in the USA to an extent, that can make a pregnancy life threatening to women – the maternal mortality rate in the USA is the highest amongst all industrial countries. In “Invisible” an Argentinian girl has to experience what an unwanted pregnancy means when abortion is not a legal option but the illegal possibilities are numerous. “Bloß keine Tochter!“ portrays impressively how women’s bodies become the playball of political interests. Out of fear of a population explosion in Asia, the West has, starting from the 1960s, tied its development aid to a birth control programme that included forced sterilisations and abortions. Subsequently, Asia is today lacking more than 200 million women. This focus area is rounded off with a panel discussion regarding the debate surrounding §219a in Germany during the past months as well as global developments.
Rights of girls all over the world
A self determined and equal life is a distant goal for many girls all over the world. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, TERRE DE FEMMES will start a campaign focusing on the protection of girls. Special attention must be given to stories like the one of 15-year-old Nisha, who is growing up between two cultures as a Pakistani girl living in Norway. When she is caught with a boy, Nisha gets abducted to Pakistan by her father („What will the people say“/ „Was werden die Leute sagen”). In the biopic “Unga Astrid”, young Astrid Lindgren decides to keep her illegitimate child and therefore breaks with her family. “Supa Modo” shows one of the truest screen heroines: 9-year-old Jo from Kenia faces her incurable disease with an unwavering zest for life.
Activists for social justice
Year after year women who stand up for social
justice and against patriarchal structures are the centre of the film festival.
We are looking forward
to welcoming Roya Sadat and Sister Fa in Tübingen. She is the first
woman to successfully work as a filmmaker in Afghanistan after the rule
of the Taliban ended. In her film “A Letter to the President“ a
female police chief fights for enforcement of applicable laws for the protection
of a girl and gets caught in the crossfire of established clans. „The
Song of Scorpions“ tells the story of a healer in the Indian desert
who uses her mythical art of singing to fight against male appropriation.
British- Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A. uses her status as pop-icon to call attention
to human rights violations against the tamil minority and is confronted
with harsh criticism (“Matangi / Maya / M.I.A.“).
